The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1913-12-06

sorbed very slowly and in limited guam
tIty, the run-off after tOrrentiaI rains
Is tremendous and evaporation is ex-
tremeIy rapid.
That the fertility also must be main
( tanned is demonstrated by the fact
that the poorer the land the greater
is the quantity of water necessary to
produce a crop. When the soil is
rich, the soil solution which feeds the
plants is rich in plant food and, there
fore, it takes less water to bring a
certain amount to the plant than when
the solution is too thin. A poor soil.
therefore, is more subject to drouth
than a rich soil
Sixth: Every farm should have
two or more dairy COWS, not only 10
provide milk and butter for the table
the year round, but to be a constant
source of income by the production OF
milk and cream
Seventh: Poultry is cheaply pro
duced on any farm where feed crops
are grown and cattle are fed and is
as easily produced in Western Kan
sas as in any other part OF the state
Every housewife appreciates the val
ue of poultry products and the wonder
full help they are in supplying the
table the year round
Eighth: The home garden is alb
SOlUtely necessary for economical liv-
ing and experience has shown that a
successful garden is possible in semi
arid climates by proper cultivation,
winter flooding and summer irriga-
ton of the small plat by windmill or
engine.
These things are elementary but
fundamental and must be emphasized
again and again. The demonstration
agent in Western Kansas helps to en-
phasize them and to convince the
skeptical that if fundamentals are OBJ
served a full and rich living is posi-
Bile in this region.
To lay down hard and fast rules for
the guidance of the dry-land farmer
is not within the province OF any man
and is not attempted by the demon
stration agent Each farmer must
rely largely upon his own judgment,
experience and observations, but if he
is willing to learn he can receive
many suggestions from the man who
knows the results of the different eX-
pertinent stations, who travels from
one county to another. who notices
the methods of farming in the differ
ent regions and becomes acquainted
with all the agricultural practices.
both good and bad Suggestions are
valuable to every man with intelli-
gence and those who are progressive
are always willing TO receive them.
That suggestions are willingly re-
ceived is shown by the fact that each
one of the agents III Western Kansas
tors to put into practice one OF more
of the fundamental methods of soil
handling and crop growing here men
toned. Each one has already been
instrumental in getting Il number OF
farmers to put up silos- Each one
has aroused greater interest in the
dairy cattle and better beef cattle
than has existed heretofore. In addi-
ton one man has been instrumental
in shipping in a large quantity of suit
able kafir. milo and sorghum seed to
be planted in place of corn-
One has contracted for the pToduc-
ton in his district OF 10000 pounds OF
Sudan grass, 500, bushels of feterita,
$50 bushels of Gold Mine millet. 400
bushels Of red amber sorghum, $1,000
pounds of alfalfa seed and 500 bushels
of dwarf kafir, the greater part of
which will later be distributed to re-
sponsible parties over Western Kan
sas.