<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS TEXT CONTAINS SUMMARY INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FERRELLGAS, L.P. AND
SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET ON APRIL 30, 1997 AND THE STATEMENT OF
EARNINGS ENDED APRIL 30, 1997 AMD IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE 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>                                 FEB-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   APR-30-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                1
<CASH>                                         14942
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  102931
<ALLOWANCES>                                   0
<INVENTORY>                                    43807
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               171291
<PP&E>                                         604646
<DEPRECIATION>                                 208359
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 675877
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          108767
<BONDS>                                        298780
<COMMON>                                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<OTHER-SE>                                     255890
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   675877
<SALES>                                        181426
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               192873
<CGS>                                          108018
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  168914
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             7334
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                13658
<INCOME-TAX>                                   0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            13658
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   13658
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  0