<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS TEXT CONTAINS SUMMARY INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FERRELLGAS, L.P. AND
SUBSIDIARIES BALANCE SHEET ON JANUARY 31, 1997 AND THE STATEMENT OF EARNINGS 
ENDED JANUARY 31, 1997 AMD IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFER3NCE TO SUCH 
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000922359
<NAME>                        FERRELLGAS, L.P.
<MULTIPLIER>                                  1000
<CURRENCY>                                     US DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              JUL-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                 NOV-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                   JAN-31-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                1
<CASH>                                         31127
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  160039
<ALLOWANCES>                                   1542
<INVENTORY>                                    50743
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               254764
<PP&E>                                         601637
<DEPRECIATION>                                 203661
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 764678
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          199286
<BONDS>                                        295092
<COMMON>                                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<OTHER-SE>                                     258153
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   764678
<SALES>                                        334414
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               347056
<CGS>                                          203765
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  277192
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             7729
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                58770
<INCOME-TAX>                                   0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            58770
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   58770
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  0