PAGE TWO
Sparks Tells of Home Building
Superintendent of Demonstration Farm Explains Use of Loggcd-Off Lands to Settlers
(This nrtlelo la by II. W. Sparks,
superintendent of tlio demonstration
farm of Uio 8talo Collego of Washing
ton. Mr. Sparks la an expert In lits
lino nnil his srttclo will bo found
woll worth whlfoy Editor.)
Any country within whc-soboumi-rlea
thcro la a bountiful supplj of
water for tho toil nnd temperate cli
matic condition! obtain will seo in tho
near futnro tho greatest development
in tho homo building over teen on
this earth. Perhaps thcro will bo
somo who road this article who will
question my judgment in this state
ment and I will plead that I am an
optimist by naturo but havo been
schooled by experience to believo that
any ono who haa a woll-fouuded tho
ory can justify his confidenco In tho
accuracy of that theory by substan
tial evidence.
Proceeding thus, wo ask: "What aro
tho factors for home bulldlngf And
wo answer: First, tho man; second,
climatic conditiona; third, tho soil,
and, fourth, natural diversified re
sources, which wo will consider in ro-
rcrso order hero named. Strictly
speaking, tho first three factors aro
resources, and tho chief resources, but
as they aro to somo degrco common
with all inhabited countries, wo want
to call attention to thoso that aro
not common, and they aro many and
valuable
I bellevo tho timo will justify us In
the statement that tho means of
transportation, which will include tho
many transcontinental and local rail
roads, urban, interarban and electric
lines; tho splendid system of water
ways; tho natural grades; limitless
supply of tho best material for road
building, together with tho bound-to-build
and-build-right spirit of our peo
ple, is a resource of inestimable worth
to commercial interests, as permanent
commerce always travels along the
lines of least resistaneo and easiest
grades, and to tho homo builders on
tho banks and terraced benches of
the inland sea, lake or river; or back
on tho plateaus or mountain-sides.
Then, tho water power endless,
boundless and "going on forovcr."
Manufacturing is always prosperous
whore tbero is cheap power and ade
quate transportation facilities, and
when we remember that we havo
within reach mines of the precious
metals, vast deposits of iron, coal,
manufacturing coal, ornamental and
building atone, forests of timber, is
there any one who can correctly est:
rnato the possibilities of any place
where naturo has been moro lavish in
bestowing hor gifts
If we were to judge tho soils by
tho amount of mineral elcmonts nec
essary for crop production they eon
tain aa shown by chemical analyses
wo would say that thero are many
places where thero is much more uni
formly good soiL We have on the
Pacific Coast thousands of acres
which can be correctly classed as
good, and considerable that is poor
when judged by the soil chemist's
standard. Indeed, we think wo can
say that the soils are moro varied
here than aro most of our agricul
tural soils. We havo found as many
as four distinct typos of soil on ono
acre, justifying us in using the gen
eral term "spotted In places," but
all these types have a special valoe
when we know how to select and
adapt crops and methods of produc
tion best suited to our soil. But
there is a second factor that asserts
itself here, upsets and completely
Touts some of our preconceived notions
of soil fertility. I refer to climatic
conditions, which havo not always been
fully- appreciated. The most fertile.
soil in the world would be valueless
without water to transfer tbo ele
ments of the soil's fertility to the
growing plant. Temperature of soil
and air, together with sunshino in
season to assist in elaborating and
assimilating these elements. Any com
bination of soil and climatic condl
tlons that has produced a vast for
est of mammoth trees will produce
bountifully of other and more valu
able crops with our co-operation. It
would bo very difficult to compute
tho full value of tho annual rainfall
of this country, coming as it does in
greatest quantities in the dormant
season in gentle, falling rain, without
severe winds and later sunshine and
showers blended. There is untold mil
lions in them. It is no wonder tbo
Egyptians of old while working with
their parched fields would shout and
cry with joy, when they saw It com
ing, "Waterl Waterl Great Is wa
ter! Water Is bread I" It Is true
that the steady downpour of rain is
at times trying, but we believe that
the agonies of wobfeet and mossbaeks
are not so killing as the despair that
comes from seeing our crops dry,
wither and burn for want of water,
I havo often board it said that many,
if not all, of tho farmers of the arid
belt would gladly give three-fourths
of the fertility of their soil for ono
fourth of tho waters represented by
tho annual railfall in western Wash
ington and Oregon. It is also true
that in places tbo exeessivo rains
leach out and carry away much of
the availablo fertility of tbo soil,
oat factor cornea Into action for wo
beliovo that well directed soil and
crop management will mlnlmlre, if
not fully control, this difficulty. Wo
nro making wonderful progress In this
direction, aided nnd supported by tho
efficient corps of workers from tho
United States Department of Agrlcul
turo, our state agricultural colleges,
universities, sub-stntions, and by the
Jiurbnnks and r.disona of overy
branch of production. Those, to
gether with tho creed of n square
ileal, which Is abroad in our land, the
splendid public school system and tho
ever increasing army of tho brightest
nnd best, all conspire to solvo tho
great problems of tho homo builder of
today. Alt the nations havo over pro
duced soldiers of fortune who havo
'beaten their swords into pruning
hooks," and converted camp equip
age into homes of humblo necessity.
Who shall say what they can not do
today!
Aa an evidence of what man can do
wo will briefly call attention of tho
reader to tho splendid results achieved
at Hood Itlver, Oregon, and Puyal-
very best, but thcro la nothing In
them, or about them, but what can
bo duplicated a thousands of places.
It Is also truo that thoro was much
of hard work, patience, nnd at times
failures that wero discouraging, Tho
land hnd to bo cleared of tho stumps
nnd brush on tbo sur,fnco nnd under
tho surface. Sometimes thero seemed
to be moro under tho surfneo than on
tho surface,
I beliovo it Is fortunato for this
favored country and tho good people
who inhabit it that tho land Is ex
ponslvo to prepare for cultivation tn
that we arc practically treo from that
class of undesirable adventurers who
havo been for generations moving
from ono pieco of virgin soil to an
other, exhausting tho accumulated fer
tility, giving nothing In return, whoso
solo motive has been that of exploit
ation, crowding out neighbors and all
tho better results that como from com
munity co-operation. Tho cost of
clearing makes most of tho extensive
methods prohibitive. Naturo seems to
havo conspired and by proclamation
of stumps and brush served notice to
When Niagara Falls Ran Dry
Many Year Ago Ico Dam Shut Off Water and Cataract
Became Silent for a Brief Timo
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Only ouco In history has ' tho roar
of tho mighty falls of Niagara been
silenced. This startling phenomenon
occurred on March 31, 184S. Knrly
on that morning pooplo living near
tho falls wero surprised by a strango
hush as startling in effect as would
be an unexpected and tremendous ex
plosion in nn ordinarily quiet com
munity. Many persons thought they
hnd boon afflicted with deafness,
and all wero oppressed by n sensa
tion of dread.
With tho coming of light tho am
mod pooplo comprehended tho reas
ot for tho disquieting silence. Whero
they wero used to see tho great fnlli
was a baro precipice down tho face
of which a few amnll nnd constantly
diminishing streams trickled. Above
the falls, Instead of a rushing river,
much greater execution when tho
ground is full of water. This is etpo
dally true tn tho light or open soil,
such as tho light ash or loam soils,
tho sandy or gravelly lonms. Again,
when thero is somo old, water-soaked
lugs, shoot thorn early iu tho season
thus giving them nil tho timo posslblo
to burn so that they can bo dried
out. And tho slashing should also bo
done as early as poudhlo after the
foliago is out and soma cam taken in
falling tho brush and timber In places
whore tho material is not thick. A
llttlo extra effort to fall portions to
gether In windrows or heaps Is rou
duclvo of bottor burns. Wo hn
seen somo wonderful results from a
good burn, practically everything
cleaned up from tho first fire.
Thero haa been considerable prog
ress tn tho power methods of clearing
land. Klectricity, stenni, and horse
power aro utilized now as never be
fore, and tho application of firo to
tho roots of tho big stump, called the
charplt method, is steadily growing in
favor. This Is especially adapted to
tho needs of tho homo builder as no
expensive equipment Is needed) but,
like all new methods, it iia Its adap
tations and limitations. Wu havo ob
served In traveling over our territory
that there is a constantly Increasing
number making uso of this method
When attending any gathering of
farmers now it rarely happens that
thero aro not somo thero who lme
been successful, and quite frequently
wo hear tho expression! "Our only
regret is that wo did cot learn of
this years ago." Wo are learning.
Wo are making real, progress. Wo
shall take way a large part of tho
hard labor by planning our work so
as to take advantage of season, meth
ods and artificial aid that comes from
the well directed uso of power ns
represented in powder, steam and with
horses. Wo shall learn much from
each other and we are all thinking
nnd putting our thoughtsinto action.
was only n linked channel, with In
significant brooks splashing among
tho rooks. All day long this astound
lug condition continued, nnd persons
wnlkod, dry shod, from tho Canadian
side, along tho very edge of tho prec
ipice, as far ns Goat Island, oil tho
American side.
Knrly In tho morning of April lit
tho familiar thunder of tho great
cataract was nsjaln heard, and linn
iiuver stneo been silent, though sim
ilar conditions, with liko results,
might prevail any spring. Tho
winter of 1M7 IN w oo of
extrvmo sovnrltv, mid leu of un
precodonted thickness furinml on Iiftko
I'rlo. When tho break up onino,
toward tho end of March, a strong
southeast wind was blowing, nnd tho
Ico was piled Into banks as largo ns
Iceberg. Toward thn night of Mnrcb
nuth tho wind amldonly ohongod to
the opposite direction, Increased to n
terrific- gain and drove tho leo Into
the entrance of Niagara river with
such force that a htigo dam was
formed, of such thickness nnd solid
It)' r. to bo practically" Impenetrable
nnd strong enough to hold baek tho
great mass of water pressing against
it. At last, In tho early morning of
April 1st, tho Ico dam gave way
under tho tremendous pressure of re
strained water, and tho falls wero
unco again ono of tho sconlo wonders
of tbo world,
lnp, Washington, two notable ox
amples among many others wo could
namo if spaco permitted, but these
will suffice. Here wo have a develop
ment that ia very remarkable and bo
lievo we could challenge the world to
produeo records of equal development
in the same length of time, llere tho
forest and jungle havo been trans
formed into the moat productive fruit
and berry lands, orchards and gar
dens in a very few years. And there
arc thonsands of acres of soli, whero
the climatic conditions aro just as fa
vorable as at either of these places,
practically undeveloped, waiting for
tho man who can organize, co-operate,
give leadership, and livo the square
deal. Wo have always had men. Yes,
but there is a difference. We live in
a progressive age. The little school
house all over the land has dono a
splendid work. The consolidated high
school will do, and ia doing, better.
The next generation will be better
qualified for tho world's work and
here in this favored land the founda
tions will bo laid deeper and broader,
and the superstructure better adapted
to all the needs of all the people.
I bellevo there are few, if any,
places in all our land that offer as
many inducements to the borne build
er as parts of western Washington
and Oregon, possessing, as it doej, a
combination of climate and soil that
produces wonderful results. Wo have
seen measured and weighed twenty
seven and eight-tenths tons of tho
best quality of forage crops for tho
dairy cow per acre. We have seen
three crops from the same land in
one seasontwo of vetches and grain,
followed by corn that matured suffi
ciently for excellent feed. We have
seen strawberries literally cover the
ground with their luscious fruit which
yielded tho owner at the rate of
11,700 per acre. We have seen a
cherry treo produce $30 worth of fruit
per year, and pears growing equally
well, with many other varieties of
tree, vine and cane fruits yielding
abundantly. We havo seon the dairy
herd feeding on tbo green meadows
practically overy day of tbo year,
and tho advantages for poultry rais
ing aro not to bo questioned all of
this, and more, on tho logged-off
lands, And tho best part of the story
of these record producers is that they
nil beliovo they can do better yet.
When wo have learned to employ
those methods and crops best adapted
to our local conditions and not farm
as wo did in other places or as our
fathers did, as this has been the cause
of many failures. It Is true that
It is now that the fourth and great- some of the figures given aro of the
all tho soil robbers "here aro homes
in plenty for tho workers. Drones
need not apply." Bocanso of these
seeming barriers, and also tho fact
of tho unsurpassed climatic conditions,
the demands of the ever Increasing
population of consumers, we shall see
the small farm rule; the constantly
improving intenilvo methods prevail,
and the practical communities making
for better social and industrial con
ditions. Homes hero will be well worth tho
price. By experience, wo are learn
ing to clear the land with much less
expense and labor. We aro learn
ing that there are seasons when parts
I of tbo work is accomplished to much
better advantage than at others, thus
a given amount of powder will do
The Only
White Leghorn Farm
in the World
that can make the following
statement:
Storrs Agricultural Experiment Sta
tion, Atom, Conn., Aug. i, 1011.
To whom concerned:
In the course of our White Diarrhoea
investigation during tbo past season,
wo have used a large number of eggs
from the flock of 8. 0. White Leghorns,
owned by Mr. A. M. Pollard. Wo were
unable to discover, either by bacterio
logical examination or practical test,
any evldeneo of baclllary white diar
rhoea infection.
LEO P. BETTOEB,
Bacteriologist, Sheffield Scientific
School, Yale University.
P. H. 8T0NEBUBN,
Professor of Poultry Husbandry,
Connecticut Agriculture College.
All stock have free range on 89
acres We are booking orders now for
1019.
ECKJ8 13.60 per IS SIB per 100.
Looking It Over
The Grandview
Poultry Farm
A. M. Pollard, Manager,
Mansfield Centre, Conn.
Member National 8. 0. White Leg
horn Club.
New York Masons raised 1,800 to
redeem a gold Knights Templar In
vitation to President MeKlnley. Tho
invitation plate was found In tho
stock of a pawnbroker, who refused
to sell It for less than 1S00. Tho
Invitation was sent to President Me
Klnley from California.
John Allen, a farmer living near
Enid, Oklahoma, is 13,800 hotter off
through a kiek by a mule, ills skull
was fractured and ho was taken to a
hospital, where ho submitted to an
operation. After the surgeon was
done with biui, Allen remembered
whero ho bad bidden tho 13,800. Dur
ing tbo panlo of 1007 Allen becaino
timid about leaving bis money In a
bank in Enid and withdrew it. lie
burled tho money. A few days after
ward be was Injured in a runaway
and lost all memory of his cache
After his second Injury and tho re
sulting operation, Allen went out and
recovered bis fortuno.
Oregon gamo laws and tho United
States parcels post aro In conflict, it
is said. Under tho government mall
regulations birds, fish and animals,
weighing less than 11 pounds, may be
shipped through tho mall as easily as
a dozen oggs. A game wardon may
investigate all suspicious freight and
express shipments, and, If ho finds
contraband, he may arrest tho Bond
ers, but the United States post Is
closed to him. He may not investi
gate and no postal clerk Is allowed
to answer questions concerning otbor
pooplo 's mall.
Soda Crackers are ex
tremely sensitive to
moisture.
Before the advent of
Uneeda Biscuit the only
persons who ever tasted
fresh, crisp soda crackers
were the people in the
bakeries.
Now that we have
Uneeda Biscuitwe have
perfectly baked soda
crackers perfectly kept.
No moisture can reach
them no contaminating
influences can effect
their flavor- -their good
ness is imprisoned only
to be liberated by you,
for you, when you open
the package. Five cents.
NATIONAL BISCUIT
COMPANY
The Call of the Bell
It is music to Johnny's cars if lie starts tho day with
a warm, nourishing breakfast of SHREDDED WHEAT
and it's so easy to get him off to school without fuss or
worry because it's ready-cooked and has in it ovorything
ho needs for study or play. It's the wholo wheat, cooked,
shredded and baked to a crisp, golden brown.
Simply heat tho biscuits in tho oven a fow momonts
to restore crispness, then pour hot milk over them, add
ing a littlo cream, and salt or sweeten to suit the taste.
A muscle-making, brain-building food for childron and
grown-ups, for athletes and invalids, for outdoor men
and indoor men, for workers with hand or brain.
The Only Breakfast Cereal
Made in Biscuit Form
Mode only by .
The Shredded Wheat Company
NIAGARA FALLS, N. Y
Make the Farm Pay More Money
Bun your farm on a business basis and It will pay big Mr. K. J. Novak, First National Dank Bldg., Chicago,
d,T,d.end, u , ., (ll A J? T.rn"l?fn arm ,n tho 8ou'. to mo on Augisi
Let me help you to weed out unprofitable crops and 10 b, 1018, "Somo time ago I purchased one of your FaYm-
venturesto so plan your work as to make your farm ot't Slmplox Itecords and consider that the best invest.
more profitable, mont I havo over made. I don't soo bow anybody sin
I have perfected an eaay-to-keep Record Dook which got along without it." anybody can
Wm,at,youraprofltagoe0o live atock and individual mAY0nftW"r' i?lmp,e.x.?eS2r,1',youJnj: wiUo t0
crops .the coat of labor and mlscolloneoua expenses- "?'.. .mS" ,,,,rtouth"KM of Your
which coat ia too great for what It prpduees-Ueresgo d?I,J.7hle0B,OI,i3rou A,ml '
yields-monthly snT yearly gain or loss-bow much ySu .&,") fc0" t,b.e, b,0D,cflt o'yrs devoted to the
owe nd others owo you, etc., etc. "'!!" of tbo,Il,ra("' business difficulties.
This Record is tho Best, Easiest and Simplest ever de- T Vn tme t0"? You obligate yourself In no way, and
vised for the Grain, Truck and Fruit Farmer, Stock J w,u Blvo rou Information that will be of much value
Breeder, Dairy and Poultry Man. It coats but little and t0 J""1'
will be worth hundreds of dollars to you each season. A. O. REICH, Dept. I, a, stlrerdale, Chicago 8L
i
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