The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1922-06-01

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Atwood of Hays, who have purchased
approximately 200 head of pure bred
galloways; c. G. Cochran & Sons
who have pure bred shorthorns and
herefords; George Palmer of Hays,
who has herefords; P. J. Deane who
has herefords and duroc hogs; F. A.
Meier Of Hays, who raises Herefords;
A. W. Logan of Hays, who also raises
herefOrds, and Alex Philip & Son of
Hays, who also raise HerefOrds, and
many other pure bred owners who
are al factors in the raising of the
standard of the cattle industry in
the county and western part of the
state All of these men still maintain
very extensive ranches and one C
the largest ranches in the state
operated by the State Experiment
Station, located at Hays, which owns
1900 acres and rents 5000 acres.
Hog Raising in Ellis County
Hog raising besides being a bust
ness in itself, is q. very profitable side
line. The hog will give better and
quicker returns on the investment
than any other animal. For every
six to eight pounds of feed given him
he puts on a pound of meat, conse-
quently the hog should have a place
on every farm where he can CLEAN the
many wastes and especially is this
e 1o.-4 =
those who did feed hogs have been
realizing approximately sixty cents per
bushel for their corn 10y putting it in
a ''pig skin" This was done while
the market price on the grain ranged
from 20 to 80 cents per bushel.
Pork is, generally speaking, the
cheapest source of home meat supply.
The bright sunshine and dry climate
of Western Kansas and Ellis county
is conducive to vigorous thrifty hogs,
free from diesase and parasites. Such
hogs are in demand as feeders, hav-
ng developed the frame work and
lean meat to such an extent that when
fed out on corn they make splendid
gains at low cost, producing meat of
the finest quality.
Intelligent care, proper feeding and
good management of hogs are as I'M
portant here as in the corn belt
where hogs are grown as a business,
Good results, however, are obtained
by good care, and more hogs should
be raised in Ellis county.
There are 8,791 hogs in Ellis coun-
ty mainly of the Duroc Jersey and
Hampshire. The alfalfa pasture is
excellent and the future of the hog
industry in the county is very promis-
ing as soon as the farmers living here
realize the value of such an auxiliary
farm occupation and the income to
be derived therefrom. There are
several herds of pure bred hogs IN
the county. Not many hogs are
marketed as they are used for home
consumption, yet there are wonder
full opportunities here for develop
ment and making of this section OF
the state one of the important hog
production centers. Close proximity
of markets, excellent climatic condi-
tions. abundance of feed holds out
q wonderful future for the industry.
Sheep in this County
While Ellis county is not a sheep
raising county it is the opinion OF
those who have studied conditions
here that there is a possibility for the
development fo the industry on
small scale. The great profits that
can be obtained from sheep in con-
nection with general farming is just
beginning to be realized. Alfalfa,
peas. and the cereals that grow in the
county are most excellent sheep
feeds. In addition, almost every farm
has more or less waste lands where
sheep can be grazed at a very small
expense. Artificial pastures Of sweet
clover or some of the tame grasses
have in many localities produced
large returns when pastured to sheep
and small farmers could proftably
raise small fiocks in Ellis county.
Sheep would utilize much roughage
now being wasted. They could be
pastured on the heavier soils. They
could be well protected from bad
weather on the farms and could be
proftably grain fattened. Sheep viii
convert much waste into edible form
and will forage and Craze on lands
where cattle cannot find enough for
sustenahce. There are only about $50
head of sheep in the county. The in
dustry has been discouraged, how