Johnson County, Missouri - Chapter 34: - Agriculture, 1918

CLIMATE - WEATHER - METHODS OF SOH. CULTn'ATlON DETERMINED BY EARI.Y CONDITIONS - ADAPTATION TO NEW CONDITIONS - RELATION OF STOCK RAISING TO GRAIN PRODUCTION - CORN - WHEAT - OATS - RYE - HAY - ALFALFA - SWEET CLOVER - SORGHUM - TOBACCO - FRUIT - NUTS - IRISH POTATOES, STRAWBERRIES, ONIONS, TOMATOES - LIVE STOCK - CREAMERIES - HORSES AND MULES - HOGS - SHEEP - POULTRY - PREVAILING SYSTEM OP LAND TENURE - DAMS AND TILE DRAINS - AVERAGE SIZE AND VALUE OF FARMS - FARM LABOR - GENERAL PROSPERITY - CO-OPERATION - DAT.V ON AGRICULTURAL CONDITIONS IN 1910 - EXPORTS - HORTICULTURE.

Climate. - Johnson county lias the typical "continental" climate of the central part of the country, normal moderate temperatures at the different seasons, broken by excessive periods of heat, cold, drouth and rainfall lasting from a day to a whole season. The following are authoritative accounts from the Agricultural Department's Survey of 1914 and by George Collins, in charge of the United States weather station :

"Climate. (Department of Agriculture Survey.) The winters are mild and short,, and periods of extremely cold weather usually are of only a few days' duration. The falls are characterized by long periods of warm open weather, which often continues to the middle of December.

"The mean annual rainfall, although less than the rainfall in the eastern part of the state, is sufficient for the successful production of corn and other crops if the soil moisture is properly conserved. The average rainfall within the growing season is about twice as heavy as in the other months of the year. Droughts of four to six weeks" duration sometimes occur in summer.

"Fruit is sometimes injured by late spring frosts. Such frosts are especially injurious to peaches . Frequently there are periods of wet weather in the spring which delay tlie planting and cultivation of crops, particularlv on the soils where drainage is deficient. The climate as a whole, however, is well suited to general farming."

United States Weather Station at Warrenshurg and has all the records.) Weather. Johnson county is located in that section of the state classified by the weather bureau as the southwest plain, and has an average elevation of 880 feet above sea level. The first recorded weather records were made in 1868. fifty years ago, and this is one of the oldest established stations in Missouri. There were some breaks in the records however, until 1878. when the station was regularly established and continuous records have been kept from that date to the present time.

This forty year period serves to give a reliable general average of the conditions in the county as to mean temperature, maximum and minimum readings, average monthly rainfall, dates of earliest killing frost in fall and latest in spring, with average dates for both, number of days in each month with .01 or more precipitation with the yearly average.

The dryest summer on record was that of 1901, which was also one of the warmest. The highest temperature recorded that year was 110 on July 26. Other years in which there was a marked deficiency of rainfall were 1886-87, 1897 and 1917. The average yearly rainfall covering the entire period of observation is 36.50. while in 1886 but 20.66 inches fell and in 1887 only 26.68. In 1901 there was 24.20. and in 1917, 28.42. On the other hand 1904 was the wettest on record, the annual rainfall being 61.12 inches, while in 1915, 56.43 fell and in 1908, 53.09. The greatest continuous rainfall recorded was on May 26. 1915. when 7 inches fell from 1 :00 P. M. to 2 A. M. of the 27th.

The annual mean temperature is 54.7 and the highest maximum 110 on July 26, 1901 while the minimum is - 26 degrees recorded on February 14, 1889, and again on February 20, 1905. The coldest winters were those of 1899 and 1905. In 1899 the thermometer recorded zero or below for a period of 26 days, and in 1905 for 19 days. The warmest summer was that of 1901 when a maximum of 100 or higher was recorded for 32 days.

The earliest killing frost in the fall was on September 29, 1898, and the latest spring ]\Iay 4, 1909. The average date of killing frost in fall is October 17, and in spring April 18, giving an average growing season of 182 days.

For many years the agriculture of Johnson County was directly determined by pioneer conditions, even long after these conditions had disappeared. Soil waste and continued cropping without rotation or rest were common. Originall}- land was the cheapest and easiest thing to get, of all the needs for a crop. Machinery, labor, fences were all relatively scarce and land abundant. .-\nd when these conditions ceased to exist and land became dear, the methods of cultivation that had been established when land was cheap, continued, naturally, to prevail for some time.

Since al)out 1895, however, there has been a general and systematic developnient and adaptation to new conditions until today, Johnson County is agriculturally one of the distinctly progressive counties.

An authoritative and accurate account of our agriculture is given by the Department of Agriculture in its Soil Survey of 1914. This has been summarized and brought down to date by the editor and is now given.

"The extensive range lands of the county made the raising of live stock profitable from the beginning. In later years the feeding of hogs and cattle for market was undertaken and developed rapidly into a profitable industry. This combination of the live-stock industry and grain production is the prevailing type of agriculture in the county at the present time, differing from the earlier form only in that it includes the production of a greater variety of grain and hay crops and more systematic methods of handling the stock, ^^'ith the exception of wheat, practically all the crops grown in the county are fed to stock.

Corn is the most important crop. The 1910 census reports a total of 133,995 acres in corn in 1909, with a production of 3,957,990 bushels. In 1912, according to the Missouri Crop Review, published by the Missouri State Board of Agriculture, the total' area in corn was 136.861 acres, with a total production of 5,200,718 bushels. The acreage in corn has increased in recent years, owing partly to the extensive reclamation of bottom lands along Blackwater River and other streams. Of the white varieties of corn the Boone County White and Johnson County White have been found by the State experiment station to do best in this locality, while of the yellow varieties Reids Yellow Dent and Leaming are preferred. The Boone County \^'hite and Learning are large-growing varieties and seem to be best adapted to the liottom lands.

Next to corn, wheat is the most important crop. In 1909, according to the census, a total of 27.808 acres was sowed to wheat, producing 365,063 Inishels. In 1912 the Missouri Crop Review reports 27.245 acres, with a production of 463,165 bushels. In 1913 a total of 508.351 bushels was reported from 29,943 acres. The \Aheat is of good milling quality.

bushels. in 1909, according to the census. The area in oats in 1912 is reported by the Missouri Crop Review as 15,298 acres, with a production of 566,026 bushels. The prtitits from this crop vary widely. In some years it is an almost comiilete faihn-e, largely on account of injury from rust. Smut is also injurious at times. Through the introduction of hardier varieties, better yields are now obtained. The crop is used largely for home feed. It is important as a nurse crop. The Texas Red Rustproof and Kherson varieties do best.

Rye was grown in 1909 on 241 acres, with a production of 2,422 bushels. Kafir and milo were grown on 551 acres, producing 12,206 bushels. Little barley is grown in the county.

The production of hay is an important industry. According to the census, 63,592 tons were produced on 56,657 acres in 1909. Of this quantity 24,018 tons were timothy and 32,214 tons timothy and clover mixed. Timothy is extensively grown on all the soils of the county. It does especially well on the Summit silt loam. According to the census, red clover was grown on 4,652 acres in 1909, with a production of 5,320 tons of hay. In addition there were 28,910 acres of mixed clover and timothy. In the last few years the production of cowpeas has received considerable attention. This crop is grown to a greater or less extent in all parts of the county and produces good yields. farmers drill the seed with the corn and use the vines either for ensilage with the corn or for pasturage or hay. On Blackwater bottom cowpeas planted in hills with the corn have been harvested for hay after the corn was cut up and yielded 1 3-4 tons of hay per acre.

The 1910 census reports 3?2 acres in alfalfa, with a production of 970 tons of hay. The acreage has increased considerably since that time. This crop can be grown successfull}- on a wide range of soils. pro\'ided they are well drained, well supplied with plant food, and in good tilth. Liming is frequently necessary. The alfalfa is grown mainly on the alluvial soils, where it does particularly well.

Increasing attention is being given to the production of sweet clover. This crop supplies a cheap and efficient means of increasing the organic-matter and nitrogen content of the soils. It is also valuable in preventing washing and gullying on hillsides, as it has a \'ery deep root system, which penetrates the heavy subsoils.

Little fruit is grown on a commercial scale, although there are some successful commercial orchards. The local demand for fruit is largely supplied within the county. There are good markets for fruit, but the climatic conditions are not particularly favorable to its successful production on a large scale, the frequent occurrence of late spring frosts following warm periods l^eing very damaging, particularly to peaciies. Formerly little systematic care was given to tlie small orchards, and insect pests and fungous diseases are quite prevalent. According to the census, 100,223 bushels of apples and 10,198 bushels of peaches and nectarines were produced in 1909. The value of all fruits and nuts produced in that year is given as $80,969. In 1917 a number of orchards were systematically sprayed, with highly profitable results.

Irish potatoes were grown on 1,150 acres, producing 109,000 bushels, and sweet potatoes and yams on 35 acres, producing 4,073 bushels, in 1909. Strawberries, onions, tomatoes, and other truck crops are grown in small patches and do well.

The annual value of live stock sold or slaughtered and live-stock products sold is reported in the 1910 census as $3,418,250. The census reports a total of 21,437 cattle, 5,902 horses and mules, 89,852 hogs, and 12,552 sheep and goats sold or slaughtered. Besides the large number of cattle raised each year, many feeders are shipped in and fattened for market. The quality of the cattle is generally good. There are many herds of purebred beef cattle. Herefords and Shorthorns predominating.

Creameries have been established at Holden and Warrensburg and the marketing of dairy products receives consideral^le attention. There are some dairy herds in the county in which the Jersey breed predominates, as w-ell as several purebred Jersey herds. The greater part of the milk, however, is produced from grade beef cows. The excellent bluegrass pastures, the abundance of fresh water, the absence of danger from disease, the low cost of providing buildings and feed, and good markets favor the development of the dairy industry. To-day dairying is increasing rapidly. Since 1915, 25 to 30 dairymen have begun to ship "A" grade milk to Kansas City from Warrensburg.

Hog raising is a very important 1)ranch of tlie Hve-stock industry. Large numbers of hogs are kept in conjunction with beef cattle. Many purebred hogs are kept and the stock as a whole is of good quality. Poland China, Duroc Jersey, and Chester White are the most important breeds. The development of hog raising has been seriously retarded by the prevalance of cholera and much attention is now given to inoculation and other measures for combating this disease.

There are several flocks of sheep in the county and thev are increasing rapidly. Recent price increases (1918) have been remarka1)le. At a public sale March 1, 1918. 25 ewes averaged over $31.00 each.

Poultry is kept on all the farms and constitutes an important source of income. Large flocks of turkeys and some ducks and geese are kept. There is a good local demand for poultry products, and much attention is given to the improvement of poultry breeds.

According to the census of 1910, only 65 per cent, of the farms in the county are operated by owners. Recent studies by the Department of Farm Management of the Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station in four townships in the western part of the county show that owners of farms grow less grain and devote more land to pasture and hay production than part owner and tenants. The tenant devotes 50 per cent. more land to corn than the owner and nearly twice as much land to wheat and oats. The yield of corn is about 15 per cent, lower on the tenant farms than on farms operated b}^ the owners, with a smaller difference in the wheat yield, and the yield of oats is a1)out one-thirrl lower. In general the farm owner derives one-fourth of his income from the sale of crops and three-fourths from live stock, while the returns to the tenant from the two are about equal. The owners buy hack in the form of feed about one-half the quantity of the crops sold, while the tenants buy back about one-sixth. The prevailing system of land tenure is not such as tends to bring about a general improvement in the productiveness of the soils. Rents range from $3 to $8 an acre, depending on the location and productiveness of the land. When land is worked on shares the owner usually receives one-third to one-half of the crops.

county consists of building a clam of earth or stone across the gully in the lower part of the field to hold the surface run-off. A pipe passes through the dam and connects with an upright pipe on the upper side to conduct the water away after it reaches the height of the vertical pipe. The sediment is checked by the dam and soon fills the depression. Sometimes several dams are constructed along the course of a single gully. A tile drain is usually so placed as to dispose of the water left standing below the upright pipe.

The average size of the farms is reported by the census of 1910 as 132.6 acres and 87 per cent, of the land in farms is reported as improved. Land values range from $10 to $150 an acre, depending mainly on location. Over a large part of the county land sells for $60 to $70 an acre.

Farm labor is difificult to obtain. Monthly wages range from $25 to $40, with board and lodging. Day laborers receive from $1.50 to $2 a day. Labor-saving machinery is in general use.

A condition of general prosperity prevails throughout the county. The organization of rural districts for the purposes of cooperative l)uying and selling and the promotion of agricultural enterprises, such as cooperati\e live-stock breeding and the pre\ention of live-stock diseases, is receiving attention in dift'erent parts of the county. One of the first rural high school in the state was estaljlished in Johnson county. A county farm adviser is employed to study the agricultural conditions of the county with a view to their improvement. The general tendency is toward a more permanent and scientific system of agriculture."

The Lfnited States Government collected a great deal of interesting and valuable data on agricultural conditions in 1910. This information for Johnson county has been compiled in the following tables:

Exports of agricultural products from the county have steadily increased in value. But a much larger proportion of such shipments are in live stock nov\^ and much less in grain than formerly. (The livestock business is such that frequently grain for feed is shipped into the county.) The following are the shipments for the year 1917 through the ^\'arrensburg railway station alone, as compiled by T. J. Bunn, cashier Missouri Pacific Railway Company freight office, in a report to the United States Government:

One of the earliest agricultural products of this county was the Huntsman's Favorite apple. This is a standard variety of today. The following interesting account of its origin was given by Judge Harvey Harrison to Mr. W. E. Crissey, in 1889:

"About 1831-32 or '33, John Huntsman entered eighty acres of land west of where Fayetteville now is in this county. He and George McMahan and Joseph Hobson went to John Ingram's place about ten miles north of Lexington and bought each of them one hundred seedling apple trees and set them out on their farms. In John Huntsman's, farm or orchard, there was the Huntsman's Favorite. This was the tree at the north end of the orchard near the barn.

"Ingram's nursery was in a pawpaw patch, or thicket, and my theory is that this particular young tree grew on the root of a pawpaw tree and mixed and gave it the choice flavor of the Huntsman's Favorite apple."

Samuel Workman, of Washington township, had an early orchard. As late as 1840, the young trees were destroyed by the deer. Another early orchard was put out by the father of A. H. Gilkeson in 1839. This was located just west of Warrensburg. By 1840 he had a good neigh-

The earliest commercial orchard in the county was that of Mr. Mock, who is shown by the records to have had an orchard here in 1850. This and the Park orchard in Clay county were the earliest two in western Missouri. From them 'and their successors went wagon loads of young trees to all eastern Kansas and Arkansas.

A. H. Gilkeson set out his first orchard just at the east edge of W'arrensburg, in 1873. beginning with ten acres, and increasing to seventythree acres.

Some of the early varieties of apples were: Maiden Blush, Missouri Pippin, Limber Twig, Willow Twig. June Apple. Geniton. Large Romanite. Rambo. Pekin. Russet, and the Greening. The Ben Davis came in later but since then has always remained a leading variety on account of its looks and keeping qualities. (This apple has had twenty-three different names in different states before the present name was fixed.)

Early orchard yields were uniformly greater. This was due to the absence of orchard enemies. With the increase of all fruits has come an increase in all of its enemies, until now spraying is absolutely necessary.

The chief essentials of successful production today are continuous cultivation, insect fighting, and thinning. Successful marketing has not yet been solved.

The fruits best adapted to this county are apples and cherries. The best paying varieties are the Ben Davis, Gano, York. Imperial, and Jonathan apples, and Richmond cherry. There is no strictly commercial orchard in the county. There are many good home orchards, and the product of these is increasing. Spraying and insect control has come into the county generally only in the last year through the efforts of County Agent Gougler. The results are most apparent and from now on yields will be much better.