The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-02-25
Despite Warming Kansas Farm
ers Are Planting Recklessly.
IS NE SPECULATION MAD?
Recent Prices Have. Sent
Dreams of Wealth to Kansans.
Banking His Ideas on Demand
for Food From u. s.

ignoring advice to expect a fall in
prices as a result Of a government en-
barge or because of the development
of the European war and to curtail
the acreage, Kansas farmers are
planting millions of acres of wheat
and are leaving little soil for the cul
tivation of other crops. 80 r'
The Kansas farmer is speculation
mad. The vision of 81 wheat has shat
tered his ordinary poise.s He, sees
riches in another bumper crop and he
IL willing to take a chance and risk
all on the chance of getting rain.
His speculation began when wheat
started to rise. The farmer kept what
grain he had left. He wanted 81 per
bushel for it. Kansas granaries are
full and the farmers refuse to empty
them for less than 81 prices
In 1914 there were 9.116,183= acres
planted to wheat in Kansas Over g.
100000 acres were planted in the fall.
The remainder was spring sowing. On
this immense acreage 1OS,924, 885
bushels OF grain were raised.
Last fall. with the price Of wheat
steadily but slowly climbing. the acre
age was not reduced. Crops run in
cycles in Kansas. Statistics of past
years prove that a series of lean years
is always followed by several years in
which bumper crops are raised Be-
have pushed the price Of grain down
to a point at which the farmer made
little more money than II he had rails
ed "a much smaller crop in a lean year
when prices were high.
Depends ON War.
But such conditions do not exist
now, and the farmer knows it. He is
banking on the continuation of the
war with its monstrous demand on the
United States for food. On that as
sumption the farmer sees ready
market at high prices for every bit
H. leo ~
Kansas will be almost one solid wheat
field this year.
Wheat growing weather in Kansas
has been ideal since the fall crop was
planted. Blanketed early with snow,
the ground has never frozen since
winter began. Every drop of mois-
ture, both snow and rain, has pene-
trated into the soil. and farmers claim
that for the first time in the last seven
years the subsoil has become thor
oughIy soaked. The moisture received
has been above the average and 1t has
come at such intervals as will do the
most good.
A touch of spring warmth recently.
accompanied by rains general over
the entire state. has greened up the
wheat and started it growing rapidly.
The crop is in excellent condition,
farmers claim. and the prospects for
a bumper crop are equal to those OF
1914.
But the FARMERS are VIII HOW ONCI
wheat Every available bit of ground
that can be used;is being put in spring
wheat. Corn ground is necessary and
will be kept out. but kafir, cane and
millet are doomed to be ignored. 1t
is estimated that the spring acreage
will be double that of 1914 or in the
neighborhood of 100000 acres.
Taking Risk Says MOhler.
And all the while diversified crops
are being urged by ]. c. Mohler. sec
rotary of the state board of agricul-
ture.
He claims that the farmers are TAX
ing too big risk in banking every
thing on one crop. They may win
out. he admits, if the war continues
and the bumper yield of 1914 is re-
peated. But he advocates a combina-
ton of forage and grains and suggests
live stock as "a mighty profitable side
line.
= The farmers take his advice, read
what he says in the bulletins he issues
and mails to them, then read the pa
pers telling of the PROCESS of the war
and the situation on the Chicago and
st. Louis boards of trade and make
their plans to pillow more ground for
spring wheat.