The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-09-12
HARD WORK DID IT
State Fair Agricultural Exhibit
Revealed a Moral.
sPractice Intensified Farming
in Dry Weather"
FINE DISPLAY FOR A DROUTH
Visitors Would Not Know Tale
of Hot Summer.
Meanwhile Farmers Go Right
on Buying Autos.

In spite of the many stories that have
been circulated about the bad condl-
ton of Kansas this year, the agr1cul-
tural display at the State Fair COM
pletely displaces this belief. The varl-
Gus county exhibits shown there are as
good as any other year and in some
cases much better. Corn, believed 10
be a lost article in this part of the
country. has many fine exhibits in the
hall. The fruit is in better condition
than that of the exhibits of the famous
Arkansas Valley fair held i'll Rocky
Ford, Col. this fall. Vegetables never
looked better. Kaffir corn, maize. wheat.
barley and other grains are in fine con-
dition.
Now comes the natural question
How is it that the agricultural exhibits
rank so high in this dry year?
There are many answers to this
query The first one is that the droutE.
though bad. is not like it is reported.
For three months there was not much
rainfall to help the crops. but at the
same time the farmers looked and felt
cheerful. Dry farming in the western
portion of the state and good cultiva-
ton in the eastern part, hindered the
drouth from making an entire ruin of
all crops. In many eastern states a
bad spell like this would do greater
harm. In the part where the drouth's
effects were felt worst the farmers mado
good profits from cattle. Corn is look
ing well in a few counties in the east
and other crops are in a good condi-
ton. The very hot weather helped the
drouth reports along.
The reason why many crops sue
ceeded in our county, Jefferson coun-
ty man said TODAY. lis that the farm
ers worked hard all summer. The diff
ference is marked between the hard
working farmer and the shiftleSS ones.
1t is the man who cultivated his land
to h4 f1fy ncf -bn I10e tI,a wi hi h
it's here and who comes to the fair in
his automobile. bought this year.
There are many such men in Jefferson
and other counties and the result il
this good display.
Drouth Didn't Discourage Them.
That is one of the prevailing opinions
in regard to the success of many farm
ers this year. When their crops We're
planted, special care was taken of then,
and the result was q good beginning.
Everything would be started on the
right path before the hot weather.
The drouth came but did not discour-
age these farmers. All Of the hot sum-
mer they toiled with their crops to keep
out destructive insects, leaving only
the drouth to injure the grain. This
month their efforts have taken fruit
with fair crops to sell and high prices
to receive.
This was not the case with many ce
them. Several did not get started
right others had poorer land and many
did not take the best care of the grains
Another reason for the good crops
is the increased use of fertilizer this
spring.
In the irrigation districts in the state
the farmers depend on artesian wells
to supply the water needed. The ex-
hibits from the few countiesin west
ern Kansas that are represented in
the fair are good. The farmers in the
irrigation districts have had a success
full season this year.
Fruit Brought Returns,
one fruit exhibitor, whose products
carried off many of the honors this
week, said to a State Journal reporter
that he had the best yield this year
of any previous ones. My farm is in
the low part of Leavenworth county
near the Missouri river. This year the
land was planted in all kinds of fruit
peaches, apples, pears, plums and
grapes. Also we had several acres of
wdtermelons and cantaloupes There
were several men working on the farm
during. the summer and everything was
worked out scientifically. Last year
We grew fair amount of fruit, but we
grew it on the old-fashioned plan.
Ir spite of the drouth. the crop this
year exceeded my expectations. The
big prices in the cities. The fruit was
as good as any imported. most of it
free from worms and other insects. My
personal opinion is that the bad years
would be good years if the crops are
kept freed from injurious insects
Intensive farming has begun to come |
into the state: other farmers are using |
the scientific methods introduced by the |
Kansas State Agricultural college; !
many get results from plain hard work: !
others made a point of keeping the /
grains and fruit from insects and !
worms. All of these plans have pur- |!
chased automobiles for the farmers, |
sent their children to good schools. have |
made prizes for them at the state and t
county fairs and have improved the |
farm houses. There are great many |
farmers attending the state fair and /
all seem to be happy and free from |
any worry over crops this year. All I
are feeling well over the prospect of a |
late wheat yield.
The final decision of all is that Kan !
sas is great enough to laugh in the
face of a three months drouth and hot /
spell and prepare for even a better |
year in 1914