The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-02-08

mails, but rather would seem to EN-
phasize that need-malxe it more i'm
perative.
while the total value of stock Oh
hand March l. last year, was the
greatest in the history of the state.
the livestock census showed fewer ami
mails than in many previous years,
while our agriculture has steadily ex-
banded and developed. Larger areas
are devoted to the growing of crops.
Last year there were more than IL
million acres in crops. as against
about II million in 1904. We are
raising about four million acres more
wheat than in 1904, about million
acres less in corn, considerable more
in oats, and not far from million
acres more of alfalfa. with decided
increases in the sorghums. the grain
sorghums especially.
Going Backward.
We lull ourselves into a feeling of
supreme complacency and self salts
faction by singing paeans of praise
about the wonderful development of
our agriculture and the wealth pro-
! duction of our fertile fields. In the
aggregate, we raise soil products of
vast value, ranking fourth if not third
among the states in gross returns
from the principal crops. While this
! is gratifying in some respects, we are
retrograding rather than going for
ward in the upbuiding of a perma-
nently profitable agriculture. One
phase of this is shown by the records
cited that the livestock industry is
declining.
There is little incentive to produce
more forage, more katir, more alfalfa
and like dependable crops that may be
grown each year we'll nigh regardless
of whether the season is wet or dry,
If there is not stock to eat the feed.
| DrOduCed
in Kansas in the past two years than
there We're animals to consume it, and
for the bulk of which there is no
other profitable market except as it is
converted into milk on the farm
where grown.
Not engaging more extensively in
the feeding business, the natural tend
ency is to turn from the sure-feed
crops and cattle fattening to wheat,
for example, or some other cash crop
IA gambling proposition and one
that reduces the fertility of the soil
has had its influence in increasing
wheat-growing, as did the circum-
stances of a dry season which proved
unfavorable for corn in 1913 induce a
largely increased sowing to wheat in
the fall of that year. We had nearly
nine and one-haR million acres.
Robbing the Soil.
Naturally, our corn acreage suf-
fered because of the increased atten-
ton to wheat. The lack of cattle, OF
perhaps the lack of confidence that
money might be made in cattle is un-
doubtedly a large factor in this also
The cattle situation is forcing oul
farmers to face about in the direc-
ton exactly opposite to that which
sound business sense and good judg-
ment commend. 1t is forcing them tC
grow crops that find ready sale on the
markets for cash, instead of givin Z
more attention to producing the raw
materials for manufacturing into the
finished product on the farm. To q
certain extent our farmers are by the
very force of circumstances, unable to
follow practices known to be scien-
tifically correct, and for which the
agencies for a better agriculture have
been steadfastly contending for years
Conditions are. against their better
Judgment, compelling the adoption Or
the part OF our farmers, of systems
that rob the soils of valuable plant
foods and deplete the fertility of the
land by selling crops direct from the
farm. By SO doing, there is con-
slant drain on the farmers capita
stock-the fertility of the soil-and
which, if continued, will eventually
leave him with a bankrupt soil. We
cannot go on forever taking from the
soil and returning nothing to it, with.
out paying the penalty"
Second Annual Meeting.
Cattlemen and representatives OF
packers, railroads and banks of the
Missouri Valley were here today fol
the opening of the second annual con
vention of the Kansas Livestock asso
citation.
; Baby beef" marketing problems
grazing, public lands, stock yard IA
cilities, livestock paper, the foot an(
mouth disease, state and federal san
itary regulations, railroad rates, ex
ports and imports of livestock and the
taxes on meat and oleomargarine wer,
among the topics to be discussed. The
convention will continue three day:
and will be concluded with a banque
Thursday night.
w J. Tod of Maple Hill, president
called the association to order thi!
morning. The men who produce anG
market the states meat were welcom
ed to Wichita by Mayor Bentley, AL
; bert Tucker of Eureka responding TO
/, the association. In his annual address
J Mr.. Tod urged a larger cooperation
between cattle producers on thu
ranch, cattle feeders on the farm ant
the packers.
Other speakers on today's program
were ]. e. Poole, of the National Live
ter B. Shirk, Kansas City, genera
livestock agent of the Missouri Pa
: cific Railway company.
With the exception of the final da,
! no night meetings will be held, TIL
evenings being given over to enter
tainment.
l Much interest was manifested b,
: the delegates in the sales of Stoke
: and feeder cattle and horses AM
} mules, to he held each day of the con
: vention. at the local stock yards.
Uncle Nose, your first wife tells m