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more largely grown in some sections because readily turned to money by selling 
at government posts, &e. Our Doniphan reporter says : 
Corn, hemp, and potatoes are the principal crops in this county, but wheat, oats, and bar- 
ley do well. An average corn crop is from 40 to 50 bushels per acre, but frequently 75 to 
80 bushels are raised under fair cultivation. Our corn is mostly put into beef and pork, and 
thus made profitable at present prices. 
Another correspondent in this county says: 
Corn has this year averaged 60 bushels per acre, and this is about an average year for the 
crop. A few years since I raised 834 bushels to the acre and sold the crop for 50 cents per 
bushel, but this was an extra yield. , 
In Jackson, stock raising is considered the most profitable branch of farming 
operations. Our Saline reporter writes : 
Corn is the principal crop as yet, because most profitable, there being no good mills for 
making flour. Our country is better for wheat, rye, oats, and barley. 
In Marshall “it is not uncommon for persons here to take wild land and pay 
for breaking and fencing and the price of the land from the first crop.” Hops, 
castor beans and flaxseed have been successfully cultivated in Johnson county, 
and our reporter thinks the crops will be trebled the coming season. From 
Franklin our reporter writes : 
Corn, wheat, potatoes, and Hungarian grass are the principal crops. Cotton, of fine 
texture, was cultivated to some extent during the year. The great detriment to the produc- 
tiveness of our county is skimming the surface. Deep ploughing is the only remedy against 
drought. In 1860, the ‘‘ dry year,’ I raised 300 bushels of corn. I ploughed my com as in 
ordinary years; some persons thought this labor lost. Winter came, and this class of per- 
sons had no corn, but received ‘‘ aid’? which the charity of other States sent to Kansas. 
Sorghum is a valuable and sure crop, but is not largely cultivated. In Wyan- 
dotte and Leavenworth vegetables and fruits are largely grown, and find a 
ready market. 
5. Both spring and winter wheat are cultivated in Kansas,-preference being 
given to each in different localities. The Club, Fife, Rio Grande, Tea, Red 
and White Mediterranean, Red and White May, Walker, and Blue Stem are 
the principal varieties sown. Spring varieties are more generally cultivated in 
Marshall, Saline, Doniphan, Pottawotomie, Nemaha, Clay, and Washington 
counties, but in several of them the preference for winter wheat is gradually 
increasing. Mediterranean and May varieties are preferred in Wyandotte, 
Johnson, Leavenworth, Miami, Franklin, Chase, Woodson, Linn, Jackson, and 
other counties; the May wheat for its early ripening and freedom from rust and 
chintz bugs, though it is not so productive as some other kinds; the Mediterra- 
nean for its hardiness and productiveness. The Blue Stem is sown in Potta- 
watomie, the Walker in Allen; while of spring varieties, the Club, Fife, Rio 
Grande, and Tea are all highly esteemed and successfully cultivated. 
Winter wheat is generally sown from the middle of September to the first 
week in October; spring varieties during the month of March; while the har- 
vest commences the latter part of June and extends to the middle of July for 
the spring-sown crop. A very small proportion of the acreage is drilled, in 
many counties none at all, though our reporters anticipate the early adoption of 
the drilling system. As in all the new States, the culture of wheat in Kansas 
is upon the principle that the soil is inexhaustible and requires little assistance 
from the farmer for the production of a full crop. In Marshall they often har- 
row in wheat without ploughing, upon ground that has been used for corn, and 
our correspondent says : 
If land has been broken in the fall, we harrow in the wheat in March, and get a good 
crop. If farmers would take more pains, this county would excel in wheat production. 
In Clay county the ground is ploughed, sown broadcast, and harrowed, and 
the harvest awaited. Our Miami reporter writes : 
The crop, when sown broadcast and harrowed in, is 15 to 25 bushels to the acre, but we 
have raised from 20 to 45 bushels by sowing one and a half bushels, and putting it in with 
double shovel, or with a drill. 
