WHEAT RAISING IN SOUTHERN WIS. 
In Southern Wisconsin since the advent of 
the chinch bug and other enemies of the 
wheat plant, farmers have practiced sowing 
oats with their Spring wheat. They call the 
mixture succotash. They infix one peck of 
oats with seven of wheat to the aero; that is, 
two bushels of grain to the acre, and they or¬ 
dinarily get 1 U bushels of wheat and ‘20 or 25 
of oats to the acre, and t he wheat is more 
plump and better in every way than wheat 
sown by itself. The theory is that the growth 
of the oats is so luxuriant that the insects can 
eat their till and yet in alee no impression on 
the crop. We do not have snow enough here 
to sow much Winter wheat, as it is likely to 
be winter-killed, and Spring wheat sown by 
itself is, of late, an uncertain crop. There are 
mills to separate the oats from the wheat. 
The flour is not always as white as the best 
“superfine, 1 * because a few oats will be left in 
the wheat, but it makes a very good <pm 1 ity 
of bread, and growing succotash is much more 
economical for a farmer than to buy his 
bread. The use of salt on wheat in Spring is 
coming into great favor. It stiffens the straw, 
and the wheat is said to fill better. More 
benefit is derived from the use of it in a dry 
than in a wet season. A Volunteer. 
Walworth Co., Wis. 
Communications received for week end¬ 
ing Saturday, Sect. 3. 
A. S. S.—C. W. H.—G. O. W., thanks for 
careful test, with potatoes.—E. W.—C. E. P.— 
P. B. M.—M. b\ s. I. <;. B.—A. L. J. c. 
W. D., thanks-D. R.—C. J. R.—W. A.—W. 
H. C.—E. J. B.—J. B. (Union, Broome Co., 
N. Y.), thanks.—E. G. S.—J. W. W.—C. A. 
G.—B. F, D —M. E. M.—F. TJ. S.—E. D. M.— 
W. M.— F. 1). C.—R. E. P.—W. S.— P. R. L. 
—J. A. S.—R. R.—D. W. S., thanks.— C. C. 
D., thanks for specimen oats.—B. F. J.— 
W. M. K.—H. X D.—II. R. R.—F. & R. S.— 
M. A. O. N., (Kansas) please write us 
about flax —J. S. AY.—J. P. AAT.—J. S. AV. 
—J. B. (Tioga Co., Penn.), AA r e should be 
glad to receive a potato to test—G. AA r . Pee- 
bles—thanks for oats. Should you kindly 
send us a quart of the White Z., please write 
your name and address on the package, that 
we may enter them upon our records. "Gold¬ 
en Grains" is simply Black-bearded Centennial 
as wo think we can show.—H. McC.—J. S. B. 
—M. N. C. —We shall try—J. 0. & Co.,—D. 
D.—F.—W. E. G.—R. T. I.—D. L.—P. B. 
P. thanks for candid report—we want to get at 
the truth in every instance.—N. L. A.—H. C. 13. 
jVl is eel Igneous, 
TRUTHS FROM KANSAS. 
Statistical Information ot Crops and Stock. 
MESSRS. HOLMES AND SWEETLAND. 
[Special Correspondents of the Rrrui, New-Yorker.] 
“ Droughty Kansas," forsooth ! It had 
not that appearance to t he writer as he picked 
his way through the muddy streets of the cap¬ 
ital city of this great Western commonwealth, 
on the 2fith day of July, clad in a suit of 
water-proof, and further sheltered from a 
pouring rum by a Paragon umbrella. Nor was 
this rain which welcomed us at Topeka merely 
a local shower; for in tho Land Department of 
the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fo Railroad 
we saw a budget of telegrams from points all 
along the line, reporting abundant rains even 
to the western border of the State. Western 
Kansas has really had a greater rainfall this 
season than the eastern part of the State; 
both sections would ha ve had enough for the 
crops, had it been a little more uniformly dis¬ 
tributed, but the unequal distribution has 
here, as in most of the Central and Western 
States, worked great damage both to wheat 
and corn- A good, generous rain throughout 
Kansas two Weeks before wheat harvest would 
have doubled the gathered crop; and if tho 
present copious showers had fallen only a fort¬ 
night earlier, the corn crop would he 25 per 
cent, larger; as it is, tho State lias no occasion 
to be ashamed of her aggregate cereal products 
for the year lsSl. 
Kansas has the best method Of gathering and 
recording agricultural statistics of any State 
in tho Union. The origin and perfection of the 
system are due to the late Secretary of the 
State Board of Agriculture, Alfred Gray, 
whoso death was a national loss; for he would 
undoubtedly have been chosen as Le Due’s suc¬ 
cessor In the office of Commissioner of Agri¬ 
culture—ft position He would have filled with 
rare distinction and ability. Mr. Gray’s ex¬ 
cellent system Is faithfully carried out ill Kan¬ 
sas by his successor, Mr. J. K. Hudson, and is 
now closely imitated in the Agricultural De¬ 
partments of Ohio, Illinois and one or two 
other States. 
20,000,000 Bushels of Wheat. 
From the May and June reports to the Kan¬ 
sas Board of Agriculture, we cull and com¬ 
pile the following interesting statistics ; the 
figures are official, and not the mere osfci nates 
of your correspondents. After deducting the 
re iiber of acres of wheat which were win- 
t'T-killed. and those destroyed by noxious in¬ 
sects, (he acreage harvested this season was 
2,217,000, or about 225,000 acres less than in 
1880 ; but the average yield throughout the 
State will fall little short of twelve bushels to 
the acre, whereas in 1(380 it was only ten 
bushels ; thus the total wheat crop of Kansas 
for 1 hnJ will exceed 25,500,000 bushels, nearly 
a million more than last season, though pro¬ 
duced upon an acreage ten per cent, smaller. 
As late as the 10th of May a practical farmer 
and good gyesser going among the wheat, 
fields of Kansas, would have, estimated the 
yield as high as 22 to 24 bushels per acre ; the 
promise was magnificent. Just prior to that 
date there had been frequent rains, and the 
growth of the wheat was rank and rapid. 
Then followed three weeks of dry weather 
and intense heat, which in the soft condition 
of the grain, scorched and shriveled without 
ripening it. The wheat, however, of early 
planting, did well, neither the heat nor chinch 
hugs affecting it seriously, and the wheat on 
the uplands of the Arkansas Valley, where, 
as a rule, the ground had been carefully pre¬ 
pared, yielded better results than other por¬ 
tions of the State. The Meunonites in Harvey, 
Marion, anil McPherson Counties are probably 
the most extensive wheat growers in Kansas, 
and in many instances they harvested 20 
bushels to tho acre. They have had the best 
success with a species of bearded wheat, which 
they call “ Crim Wheat ” ; tho name being 
derived from the Crimea, in Southern Russia, 
whence the seed was imported. Other excel¬ 
lent wheat counties are Sumner, Sedgwick, 
Reno, Rice, Barton, Stafford and I’awnee. 
We saw a 40-acre tract of wheat in Pawnee 
County, that would thrash 35 bushels to the 
acre. The leading wheat, county in the State 
is McPherson both in acreage and average 
yield to the acre. 
120,000,000 Bushels of Corn. 
In the production of corn Kansas will be 
one of the foremost States this season. In 
view of the unfavorable reports from Illinois, 
Indiana and Ohio, we look to see Kansas take 
fourth rank among the States: Illinois, Mis¬ 
souri, and Iowu alone will probably exceed 
her crop. Two weeks ago our estimate of the 
total crop was 150,1)00,(XX) bushels, but the 
prolonged heat will cut this down at least 20 
percent. AA’e think the reviving rains have 
come in time to prevent greater loss than this; 
120,000,000 bushels from 4,000,001) acres gives 
an average yield of 30 bushels per acre, which 
is low for Kansas. Her rich bottom lands of¬ 
ten produce 75 to SO bushels, and in a very 
favorable season the State at large, has aver¬ 
aged 40 bushels. The populationof Kansas is, 
in round numbers, 1 , 000 , 000 ; the foregoing fig- 
uses give 120 bushels of corn and 25 C' bushels 
of wheat grown for every inhabitant. Let us 
add to this the live stock statistics, and we 
find that Kansas will not suffer at present for 
lack of bread or meat. The people will not 
only be able to meet the home demand bounti¬ 
fully, but to export largely both east and 
west. 
In point of numbers there is little difference 
in cattle, swine, or sheep in Kansas at tho 
present time. Sheep number about 1,000,000 
or one for eacli inhabitant; this is au increase 
of dive per cent, over the number here in 1880. 
There ure 100.000 more swine than sheep, 
and 100,000 more cattle than swine. All of 
these stock interests are daily increasing in 
magnitude, hut. the sheep interest is growing 
far more rapidly than the others. The partial 
failure of the grain crops in 1879 and ’80 taught 
the funnels of Kansas, especially those of the 
Western half, a lesson which most of them 
have wisely heeded; that was the insane poli¬ 
cy of confining their farming t<> field crops of 
whatever sort. They began at once to diver¬ 
sify their crops and to purchase stock, so that 
all the “eggs should not be carried in one bas¬ 
ket." They recognized what they should 
have seen before—that they were living- in the 
most favorable climate for stock raising in the 
United States, the very place of all places for 
flocks and herds. South Central and South¬ 
western Kansas have a latitude which insures 
exemption from prolonged and excessive heat 
in Summer, and from the rigors of a Northern 
AVinter. Ordinarily sheep and cattle can 
graze the year round. Tliis is made possible, 
not by the climate alone, but by the character 
of the prairie grasses. The nutritions Buffalo 
and Gramma Grasses afford pasturage in 
Winter ns well as in Summer, and it is but 
rarely that the snow prevents grazing for a 
week at a time. Last Winter was exception¬ 
ally cold in Kansas, as all over the country, 
and much longer feeding of stock was required 
tha n is usual. 
A Profitable Experiment. 
But a single instance of success in sheep rais¬ 
ing during the past, year will show that, not¬ 
withstanding the tew extra weeks of feeding 
and shelter, this industry was more profitable 
than any other species of fanning in the same 
locality. A number of Topeka gentlemen last 
Fall invested 83,500 in 1,000 grade Merino 
ewes and 10 thoroughbred Merino rams, and 
contracted with a practical sheep-raiser in 
Pawnee County to take charge of the flock'. 
The sheep were simply loaned to the man for 
a term of three years, he to bear all expenses 
of keeping and feeding, and to be responsible 
for all losses in the original flock, as well as 
for all the increase that should reaelnnaturity. 
His compensation for tho labor and risk was to 
be oue-half the wool clip each year and one-half 
the total increase at the end of three years. 
It was our good fortune to see the first sea¬ 
son's balance-sheet of tliis enterprise, and we 
think the items will he of interest to many 
readers of the Rural New-Yorker. It 
should have been stated that 300 of the original 
ewes were yearlings that, did not, breed; the in¬ 
crease from the remaining 700 was 000 lambs; 
the wool clip from the flock was 5,008 pounds, 
which netted 20 cents per pound, or $1,140; 
one-half of this sum equals 8570, which is more 
than 10 per cent, on the investment, of 83,500. 
Then there are the hunks, which in the Fall (one 
year from the time of investment) will, at a 
fair estimation, add at least 24 per cent., mak¬ 
ing 10 per cent, in all for the first year. The 
increase of the second year, at 80 percent,, 
would lie soil iambs, and of the third year 1,040 
lambs; the wool clip will increase in an equal 
ratio, and it is hardly likely that the price will 
decline, so that at the expiration of the con- 
tract, after giving the keeper his share of the 
flock, the company will have more thtyi 
double the number of sheep they commenced 
with, and will have received an average 3 r ear- 
Iv dividend of over 50 per cent., less, of course, 
deduction for any losses beyond human fore¬ 
sight to guard against. 
What branch of business will pay equal to 
this? And our illustration is by no means an 
unusual case. If putting out sheep on shores 
is thus profitable, how much more profitable 
cannot a practical sheep farmer with a little 
capital make the raising of his own flock. Tho 
climate,tin-soil and the pasturage of the Arkan¬ 
sas Valley are all admirably adapted to pro¬ 
mote the health of sheep; foot-rot there is un¬ 
known, and scab is rarely met with. Thous¬ 
ands of Kansas faiWera are going into this 
profitable industry, and many sheepmen from 
other Stales, and especially from Western 
New York, are bringing in large flocks; at 
the present rate of increase the number of 
sheep in Kansas next yea r will be 150 per cent, 
greater than now. 
KANSAS STATE FAIR. 
No State fair lias boon held in Kansas since 
1874; but this year a now and vigorous asso¬ 
ciation has been formed which promises to 
get up an exhibition of the agricultural re¬ 
sources of Mu- State, that will be creditable 
and truly representative. The fair will be 
helil at Topeka from Sept. 12th to 17th inclu¬ 
sive: great interest has been awakened in 
every county and the display promises to bo 
one of the finest ever made in the A Vest. The 
Fair Association offers liberal premiums for 
the exhibition of fine stock, and some of the 
leading stock-raisers in Missouri, Illinois, Ohio, 
Pennsylvania and New York have made ap¬ 
plication for entries of their best blooded ani¬ 
mals. The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe 
Railroad will make a magnificent display of 
productions, agricultural, mineralogical and 
industrial, from along their various lines. The 
preparations of this company for the State 
Fair indicate a much more extensive and 
more artistic exhibit than they gave at the 
“ Centennial," which many of our readers will 
remember as one of the attractive features of 
that great world’s fair. After the State Fair 
the “ Santa Fe" Company will transfer their 
entire exhibit to the Grand International Cot¬ 
ton Exposition at Atlanta, Ga. 
This sort of enterprise by the railroads of 
Kansas has done more to stimulate immigra¬ 
tion to the State than all other instrumentali¬ 
ties, Recently a tendency on the part 
of the better class of white people in 
the South to migrate North ami West, 
has been noticed by the shrewd observers 
in this section; and it is a wise policy 
on the part ot extensive land-owners to foster 
and encourage this movement. Two years 
ago Kansas was the goal of the colored “Exo- 
dusters?’ from the South, although the number 
of negroes wlio came was not nearly so great as 
has been represented by the press. This new 
exodus is more desirable, and will, it is hoped, 
assume large proportions. The Prohibitory 
Law is seriously affecting foreign immigra¬ 
tion, but proves au inducement to an excel¬ 
lent. class lit American fanners and tradesmen 
to locate where their sons are not subject to 
*the temptations of open saloons and liquor 
domination. 
THORNS AND ROSES. 
CHAPTER I. 
On a hot Summer afternoon, when not a 
breath of air is stirring, it is possible to find a 
more agreeable seat than in a close railway 
carriage; or at least I thought so, as I gazed 
through the window at the ever-changing 
scene. For the last hour I had been alone, 
and had made myself as comfortable as pos¬ 
sible under the circumstances. I could not, I 
thought, be very far from Stanton, and I 
tried to think the way was becoming familiar, 
though there was no reason why it should, as 
a child can scarcely retain a very vivid recol¬ 
lection of railroad landscape; and as a child I 
had last beheld the pictures along this route. 
f begun to dream about my past life—a very 
unromantic life it. was, and that was singular 
as my name had long been linked with ro¬ 
mance; how many Lovels were there left on 
earth now, I wondered. Myself, Kate Lovel, 
my aunt Dorothy, an unknown cousin, and a 
distant relative alone remained. 
Of my father I had only a dim recollection; 
he had been an only son idolized by his 
parents and sisters: he had died a true gentle¬ 
man. a gallant soldier; I could well remember 
listening to his praises, mingled with stories 
of Lovel glory, from my father’s elder sister, 
mint Dorothy, at that time established as mis¬ 
tress in my dear mother's place. Besides 
aunt Dorothy, I had another aunt, but had 
never seen her. I had caught whispers of 
a quarrel between her and my father; and as I 
grew up. I could guess pretty clearly what Bar¬ 
bara Lovel’s story had been; and that she had 
robbed her sister of the lover for whose sake 
aunt Dorothy was still Miss Lovel; as my only 
playmate, I recollected a dark-faced hoy who 
was often at our home, and to whom I used to 
nui at any time, for we had. been as brother 
and sister. 
On my father’s death, I. a child, was his sole 
heiress; he had left instructions as to my edu¬ 
cation. and desired that his house should still 
be his sister's home. I had been sent to school 
and had remained there until this day when 
I was returning home. 
My school life was happy and tranquil; I 
grew up there, outstaying m 3 ' first friends, 
until masters and mistresses might have re¬ 
garded me as a fixture. I do not know that 
the fact of my being a Lovel helped me in my 
studies, or solved more easily the problems of 
decimals: but I w as proud of my name and its 
historical glories. 
I was called proud also; yet I won the love 
of mistresses and fellow pupils, and they had 
pai-ted from me with tears. It was good to 
remember that I had won some affection anti 
scattered seeds of kindness by the way-side of 
my life. School da 3 r s ended, I had had a brief 
sojourn in Paris with a friend; and at last—at 
last—I was grown up, tolerably accomplished, 
and, best of all, free as air in heart and mind. 
I began to speculate on what I should And 
at the end of my journey—if all would be 
strange, or would come back to me as well 
known and familiar. To aunt, who had re¬ 
ceived my mother when a bride—who had 
stood beside tuy dying father—my heart was 
drawn strongly. 
My other aunt had died when I was at 
school; she hail married a Mr. Ha 3 r s, who, by 
ni 3 r father’s desire, had assumed the famity 
name. 
The sisters had met but seldom after the 
marriage, Barbara having deserted our quiet 
country for gaiety and society elsewhere. 
She had left one daughter, Edith, the cousin 
whom I had never seen yet; and Mr. Hays 
had married again very soon after the death 
of his first wife. In the kind letters aunt 
Dorothy had written me she told me that 
Edith ami her father’s new wife did not agree, 
through whose fault it was she did not know; 
and tliis was almost all that I knew of my 
cousin. Miss Edith Lovel-Hays. 
There was one face which l longed to see— 
the face of m 3 ' little playmate and kinsman, 
Brandon. Little he would be no longer, as he 
was older than myself; and must be greatly 
changed. He had been frequently mentioned 
in aunt’s letters; Brandon, slio told me, had 
been brought home from school long ere, in 
her eyes, his education could be properly be¬ 
gun; hut he was more like a man than a boy. 
Then, Brandon's father had died very sudden¬ 
ly; and the child is like you, Kate, an orphan; 
though in calling him child I err, for he is a 
young man, already master in the house. I 
don’t wonder at this, for his father was a 
merely nominal master; and, blit for Brandon, 
I verily believe the property would have been 
lost. 
What Mr. Brandon Lovel’s relationship to 
myself or family was I did not know, nor, I 
am sura, did aunt Dorothy; he was not broth¬ 
er or cousin, and I suspect his relationship to 
us consisted in the fact of his bearing the 
name and belonging to the same county 
