Image provided by: Library of Congress; Washington, DC
About The Chemawa American (Chemawa, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (June 1, 1913)
16 THE CHEMA W A AM ERICAN acres, which will be planted to apples, pears, cherries, prunes, logan- erries and strawberries. For a few years I will grow some row crop between the trees so as to cultivate the orchard, and at the same time realize some money from the land, and thus reduce the cost of produc- ing an orchard. The five fields will be planted in different crops each year as follows- Clover or vetch, corn, oats, potatoes and wheat in order to restore the ertihty of the land. If I planted the same kind of crop year after year the soil would become exhausted in a few years. Aside from restoring t e fertility to the soil I can have different crops which will furnish a variety of feed for my stock. I intend to have livestock of good blood as it is a constant drain on land to haul away crops and sell them. More money is realized from t e sale of livestock, and it is quite reasonable to expect good breeds of livestock to command a good price. Some of the land on my tract has been logged off and will have to be c eared before it is of any use as pasture, or for crops. There are three methods of removing the stumps, that of grubbing them out which is a slow process; blasting them with dynamite, and the charpit ting process, which is said to be very good if properlv done. I will use dynamite to clear my tract of stumps, it being a quicker method, even though costing more money. As soon as the clearing is done I will plant it in potatoes, as new ground yields well. I have several acres of land known as tide flats; being covered with water during the rainy season and when the river rises. This land as many of us know, is the most fertile of any in the country along Puget oun . To keep the water out I will build an embankment, or dvke about three feet high. It requires a little work to get the tide flats ready for the plow, as it is usually covered with driftwood which has to be disposed of. Tide flats are noted for the large crops of oats that can >e raised year after year. The water rising over the land deposits a sediment which enriches the soil. After my fields are fenced, which I hope to accomplish within the next two years, I will turn my attention to other improvements about e lawn and the farm. I intend to have a lawn surrounding the house, which will be kept in good condition at all times, and made attractive with flowers, trees and shrubbery. Being located on a main road many people will pass who are sure to judge a farmer from the appearance of le home and its surroundings. Every good farmer keeps his fences free from weeds and brush, which adds materially to the sale of his land if he wishes to sell it. I hope to put into practical operation the many things learned while attending school here.
