The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1869-11-06

4 Experience teaches us that the ng-
4 lriculturalist of this State have to cnl-
tivate too much land each year, that
is, they have tried to cultivate more
than they could do tcett. This prac-
tice has resulted in their not raising
very much grain, and what they have
raised has been an inferiorquality. III
each one was to till one half Of the
ground in the future, that he has form
.ly TILED, and apply the same amount
of work to the part SO titled, he would
produce nearly rs much and that of n
superior quality, and in this way he
could continually improve his soil.
The Oregon farmer has been too much
inclined to follow the beaten track, to
pursue the course pursued by others,
and to rely upon the fertility of the
soil, the seasons, and good fortune for
u crop, indulging III the win hope that
high prices would compensate for di-
minishcd quantity and nm inferior
quality. He has never taken into con-
sideration, that the soil needs food and
nourishment us much as the patient
team needs to be fed, in order TO per-
form well Neither has he studied the
nature of the soil, and the adaptation Of
the kind of grain to each particular
kind of soil Too often has he sown
one kind of grain on the same piece of
ground year after year, thereby ex-
hausting the particular properties Of
the soil, which Is required TO grow that
particular kind Of grain. A better
practice would be, never to raise the
same kind Of produce on the came
piece Of ground oftener than once IN
three or four crops, this would give
the soil time - regain the peculiar
properties destroyed by the crops.
Again Our farmers have not taken auf-
iic!ent rains in selecting the seed used
aud sown by them. They have very
frequently sown the same seed which
was raised Oh the same ground for sey-
elal years II succession. This course
idegenernlea aud destroys the vitality
winch the seed originally possessed,
and small crops are the inevitable con
| sequence. Ih3 better practice would
be t0 change the seed every year and
obtain thnt, If possible, raised IL some
distant locality and upon soil posses
sing ~ many dissitnilar properties as
| possible, Ii this way, the quality OF the
/ grin II produce raised would be ma
| .ially improved. No one should ever
expec. 10 realize large crop unless
Lis ground IS first prepared for the
seed and this cannot be done unless
| his ground j. iirst desply and thorough
lis piowed. The system of shallow
| plowing, or slsimming over the ground,
has been completely exploded III Ore
eon. The drouth here Is such after
the crop il planted IN the spring, and
before b same natures, that every
effort is required to give the seed
moisture and nourishment. Deepplow-
ling. and having the ground otherwise
prepared, will Aaye this result. Faliand
winter plowing has also had the same
effect, hen prepared in the same way.
Summer-failowing has been neglect
ed more in Oregon than any other
process of farming. No piece OF
ground should ever produce more than
three crops without being summer
lfallowed, If the farmer wished to keep
his ground free from obnoxious plants
and weeds, and III proper condition.
Lii it was summer-fallowed every other
crop il would be far better and more
profitable III the end. But / turn from
this subject.
i The early settlers of Oregon have
had many advantages over the early
Isettlers of the Atlantic States, in being
provided with bountiful donation ol
land, and finding here broad and ex
tensive prairies which had been pre-
pared for the plow without toll and Ia
Dor; in finding the soil rich and pro
{ ductiye, destitute of stones and rocks
i that yex and annoy the Eastern farm
: er, all these conyeniences they hay,
: possessed from the beginning New
= ertheless they have labored unde
: many disadvantages. The mineral re
g sources of this State have retarded
Z the progress of agriculture and manu-
e factures, by inviting the husbandmal
e and mechanic from the toll and labo
incident to his occupation or trade t.
: the mining camp, there to delve AM
J.. labor for untold treasures too frequent
( ly only realized III Imagination. 1t +
: true many have succeeded and realize
u wbaI their most sanguine expectation
/ had anticipated, while others have sic
2 nally failed. All have returned t
s ther homes and nresides with differ
n ent habits and inclinations, whic
have rendered them less qualified t
G be successful farmers or mechanics
" and, consequently, less qualified t
, be useful members of society. Ih
II possession of mineral resources b
IS q State, does not always produce miI
) eral wealth or permanent prosperit
> for It's inhabitants. The prospect {
n Immediate gain operates SO powerful
il upon the human mind that it not III
$, frequently induces individuals
IF pursue a phantom, until real an
lie substantial prosperity is beyond the
n reach. 1t also creates an inordina
ID desire for speculation, thereby attemp
t. ing to acquire wealth by some 9th
t, process, than by patient toll al
is silent perseverance. 1t has recent
er been stated by a distinguished edit
e. III the Eastern States, that the dar
I'd est day in any mans earthly career,
lg that wherein he first fancies that the
IS IS some easier way of gaining doll
a. than by squarely earning it. a grei
III Ier trulsm has never been uttere
an either IN ancient or modern time
Whenever a man plans how he can c
ut tain the first dollar, without getting
,at fairly and bn,,aofIxy bo hoe taken +