338 ELLSWORTH COUNTY, KANSAS. 



The variety mostly raised here is Red May. I raised forty acres 

 the year after the grassliopper raid, on corn stubble plowed in 

 with a cultivator. It stood at harvest six feet two inches high, 

 and yielded when threshed, thirty-four bushels to the acre. It 

 sold on the farm for fifty cents per bushel. Since then I have 

 raised but one crop — the price going so low that it does not 

 pay the cost of production. Spring wheat in this locality has 

 never paid ; the same land in Fall wheat will yield four times 

 as well as Spring wheat. Oats vary from twenty-five to sev- 

 enty-five bushels per acre ; barley about thirty. 



Owing to altitude and the conditions of soil, we in central 

 Kansas are experimental farmers. Old methods as practiced in 

 the States east of the Mississippi, fail oftener with us than they 

 do there. Eight years ago the larger part of the farmers here, 

 coming from wheat-growing States, thought that it was impos- 

 sible for us td make wheat a success. They plowed early, 

 deep, and sowed broadcast, and covered with the harrow, sow- 

 ing in August. This did not produce paying crops. The next 

 trial was to plow later, and shallow, and sow in September. 

 This plan worked a little better. Now the most successful 

 wheat raisers commence plowing soon after harvest ; they plow 

 deep enough to cover the trash and weeds, and let the ground 

 rest until near the 10th of September ; then harrow, and sow 

 from a bushel and a peck to one and one-half bushels to the 

 acre with a drill. 



The Fall of 1879 I sowed wheat with a drill after cutting 

 and shocking the corn on the stubble, without even harrowing 

 the ground. I commenced sowing the last day of September. 

 I had a fine stand, and it has the appearance of having sufficient 

 root to stand a "Winter. 



CORN. 



Corn is the crop. In the valleys, if planted early and well 

 looked after, it will produce from fifty to seventy-five bushels 

 per acre. I plow early for corn, about ten inches deep. I plant 

 in rows, four feet apart, harrowing after planting, and cultivat- 

 ing twice each way. In 1879 I had one hundred acres worked 

 in this manner. The corn is sound, heavy and firm on the cob, 



