22
THE CHEMAWA AMERICAN
duced, if there is a vacant field that can receive it. This will reduce
the loss caused by fermentation and leaching to a minimum. The bones
should be collected and ground and mixed with the manure spreader.
Scatter one bushel on the top of the load and then it will be properly
distributed by the spreader with the manure.
The American farmer is wasteful in the use of land area. He has
not been educated to the point that the whole surface of his farm should
be brought into use in crop production. He farms the bulk of his land,
but the odds and ends—the fence rows—are an expense to him. The
land for a number of feet on either side of the fence is not cultivated for
crop use, but merely to keep out weeds and brush—all expeuse, with
no reduction to the cost of living.
May I suggest that farmers use their fence rows in producing some
thing worth while and at the same time increase the interest in keeping
them attractive. I would like to have the Indian Office tender to me
the use of the fence rows on the Salem Indian School farm for the time
that I may remain here as Teacher of Agriculture, be it one year or
longer. I think I could demonstrate how they could be made to render
a profit instead of present loss.
One of our items of expense wherever we may be is firewood. If
there is a piece of timber on a farm, a great deal of this expense can be
drawn from the odds and ends. The trees that have fallen should be
used first, and then those that have commenced to die at the top. I
will venture to estimate that there is enough down timber in Chemawa’s
forests to supply her cook and heating stoves for one year. Some plan
should be devised to save such odds and ends.
Clothing will wear out. How should those that are cotton be dispos
ed of? Burning is the general way, but they should be saved for the
rag man. He will give you thirty dollars per ton for them. The worn-
out rubbers are worth still more per ton.
“ We cannot measure the need
Of even the tiniest flower,
Nor check the flow of the golden sands
That run through a single hour;
But the morning dews must fall,
And the sun and summer rain
Must do their part and perform it all
Over and over again.
“ Over and over again
The brook through the meadow flows,
And over and over again
The ponderous mill-wheel goes;
Once doing will not suffice,
Though doing be not in vain.’’