Year: 1863

This Society, we are pleased to be able to
state, is now in most fourishing and progres-
sive condition, and bids fair to be the means of
materially advancing our Agricultural interests
In more ways than one. Struggling for long
time with the want Of interest felt BY the CON-
munity in its objects, it has, during the past
winter, through the energetic efforts of President
Bailey. gained position as regards numbers and
talent, that will make it controlling power in
our agricultural districts, and cause the farmers
to look upon it as truly an institution for their
benefit The Society now numbers over one
hundred Life Members, including some of the
best practical farmers in the State, and cannot
fail to move onward to success.


The Society during last winter held several
meetings, at Topeka, as q Farmers Club, and
many interesting facts were elected. 1t was
conclusively proved that We need not depend
upon corn, or even corn and wheat alone for
staple crops, as many do in this section, and ut
time when many other products are paying
much better. Tobacco, it was shown. could not
only be raised in this State. but raised at ON
immense profit. Hemp. barley and fax it was
proven are admirably adapted to our soil and
climate while cotton, at the present high prices.
would be largely remunerative. The cultivation
of the grape opens a new source of revenue to
our farmers, offering. pecuniarily, great induce
ments. Our farmers have been hesitating about
engaging in the culture of new crops fearful of
failure. They knew that corn and wheat could
be raised. but were skeptical about other and
better paying crops. They have been so too
long. 1t has been but a short time since our
farmers have realized the fact that they could
raise wheat successfully, and there are some that
still doubt. although it is well known that this
whole section of our State is supplied with the
very best kind of flour, and of its own raising
While there has been SO many waiting in doubt,
with their hands in their pockets, We have had
few stirring, energetic, progressive men who
have been at work. Not content with putting in
. crop of corn. to gather and sell at twenty cents
bushel, they have been experimenting. and
finding out what our soil and climate will do.
and what will. and will not, pay. They have
been successful, and by their enterprise have
demonstrated that it pays to farm in Kansas.


But these successful experiments and demon
strated facts might have gone for naught but for
our State Agricultural Society, and to that all
credit should be given. 1t has brought these
successful farmers before the public and elected
these facts, and published them for the benefit
OF the State. And for this, if nothing more, it
deserves the support and encouragement of every
man in Kansas. Our future advancement de.
pends almost entirely upon our success in Agri-
culture and whatever tends to that success
should be cherished by the people Let every
farmer, then, become q member of this Society.
and add his mite toward its usefulness.


The Society designs holding q fair about the
middle of next October. Let Western Kan.a.
b fully represented With the product. of her
coil. If our farmers will only try. We doub, no.
but she will compare favorably with any other
section of the State. Now 10 the time to com.
mence preparation.