Democratic Sentinel, Volume 13, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 March 1889 — A Very Fertile Country. [ARTICLE]

A Very Fertile Country.

A few years since there resided at Newton, Kan., a gen al German, by the name of Schmidt, who was general land agent fqr the Atchison Topeka and Saute Fe railroad. A large party of capitalists irom New York and the old country came to Kansas with a view of making heavy investments. Schmiit was called upon to show these men around, and right royally did he do it. Taking them out in the prairies far from the railroad, Schmidt would in a glowing manner, describe the natural advantages of the climate, soil, etc. As one after another would find some fault, and think this or that could not be raised there, he would walk a few miles further and show them just the soil needed for that kind of grain or fruit. At last one of the gentlemen spoke up: “Mr. Schmidt, I find after going around with ymu, there is nothing that you cannot raise in Kansas.” To this, Schmidt quietly replied: “I forgot to tell you, gentlemen, that you cannot raise pumpkins in Kansas,” “Why is that?” they all, with one voice, inquired. “Well, you see, this land is so very rich, and the vines grow so rapidly, that'they wear the pumpkins all out dragging them along the ground.” If any one doubts this, the land is still to be seen.