The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-09-23
Kansas Has 1856, 500 Acres, Says
T0day's Report.
Remarkable Appreciation in So
Short q Time.
1 DRY WEATHER PLANT HERE
Feterita Sprang Into Promf-
hence Only Last Year.
Less Than 500 Acres Planted in
Shawnee.

Kansas has 1885, 800 acres of feterita
this year. This information is revealed
by the canvass Of the state board OF
agriculture. just completed. and IL the
result Of the first efforts to secure
statistical data about the crop.
OF the grain sorghums. it appears
none has risen so high in appreciation
in SO short a time. Practically un-
known as a farm crop in the Sunflow-
er state "a months ago. its acreage is
nearly three times as much as that OF
kafir in its statistical birth-year. and
is little less than the 1914 acreage of
milo.
Feterita sprang into prominence in
Kansas only last year. as super!or
dry-weather plant. coming through
the severe test Of that season with fly
ing colors. yielding grain alongside OF
corn, kafir and milo that failed. In
some cases it went all summer with a
drink. and returned creditable yields.
This year it has also given a good ac-
count Of itself. 1t not infrequently
natures forty days ahead of kaf1r
planted on the same dates. This in
dicates it's peculiar adaptability to sec
tions and seasons of limited rainfall
and to regions of comparatively snort
growing periods.
Besides it's dryweather-resisting
qualities and early maturity, the feed
ing value Of it's grain is pronounced as
practically the same, pound for pound.
as that of kafir and milo.
1t Has Rapid Growth.
The rapid growth in popularity Of
feterita is remarkable. When one
considers the long and favorable ex-
perience of Kansas with the sorghums
however, it is not surprising that this
new member of the family should re-
ceive welcome by the farmers. Before
the grain sorghums were introduced.
Kansas was growing the saccharine
kinds more extensively than any other
state. Then came kafir, and it early
met with favor. followed by milo.
which has grown in appreciation, and
feterita, kin Of these. was at once cor
daily received because of the high re-
gard in which it's relatives are held.
For such a recent acquisition, its
widespread distribution throughout the
state is noteworthy. The first acre
age enumeration reveals the crop In
every county in the state except Doni-
phan and Pawnee. 1t also suggests that
the farmers in all parts are alert to
try out new crops that appear of
adaptability and merit.
Butler county, the leader in kaf1r for
the past fourteen years, also ranks first
in feterita, with 5.591 acres. Sheridan
county, in the northwest. is second
5,247, Wilson third with SLIP and Meade
fourth with 4,533 acres. Twelve other
counties, Labette. Woodson. Allen. Ne
osho. Montgomery. Graham, Cowley,
Thomas, Stevens, Sumner. Seward and
Elk in the order named. report over
5000 acres each. Eight Of these coun-
ties are in the southeastern corner Of
the state, which suggests that the crop
is in favor there.
all except four show paintings of more
than 1 200 acres; and all counties on the
southern border, with the exception of
Cherokee in the southeastern corner.
report more than / 100 acres each. An
oblong block of fourteen counties in
the southeast contain almost 81 per
cent. Of the feterita planted this year,
averaging 1855 acres each. Almost 10
per cent. of the states feterita acreage
fs in the southern half. 1t is interest
ing to note that Stevens and Seward
counties. in the southwest corner,
which are first and second in milo, also