The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1877-10-24
ruE WEEKLY INTE1.LlGENCER.
Official Press OF King County.
Wednesday, Oct. "a. 1877.
A TALK TO THE FARMERS.

It has been SAID tnat tnere Is no us
ease for which nature has not provided
some remedy. While the rain is the
great benefsctor of our agriculture in
general. it is the greatest enemy OF the
harvester. The Cslifornian's chief ad-
vantage over US is 10 this immunity
from the destructive agency of the damp
In gathering and marketing bis crops.
But if nature has imposed upon US a
curse in this regard, she has at the same
time provided an antidote. We have
on nearly oil our farms, or convenient
10 them. plenty of fine cedar. A man
who industriously improves all our
rainy days can rive out boards enough
in . few winters to pretty nearly roof
over his farm, so that there is no excuse
for not keeping stuff dry after it is got
il out of the field. And really tine
worst discount on our stuff is the dam
sgc it receives from getting wet and
staying wet in harvesting. and before
reaching the consumer.
The general unhealthiness Of the po-
tato crop is perhaps due to exposure to
weather and rough handling through q
series Of years. 1t 10 noticed that ap.
Piles or pears il not delicately handled
and kept dry will quickly show disease
and decay. Potatoes though tougher.
require at least modicpm of the same
delicaoy of treatment. As they are
propsgsted from the tuber itself instead
Of from the seed, any deterioration in
the stock develops itself more decidedly
in the new crop It may be answered
that potatoes cannot be handled in this
painstakiDg way like eggs or choice
fruit without losing money, at current
prices. Then drop them. 1t must
como to tina. in the end. Care enough
must 30 given to the culture to keep up
the grade, or they will run out Of their
own accord, and save further trouble.
and then the price will have to como up.
This or that expedient will not
tf6gs sroNn-nRt, Dc to lay it all to
hsve seen those raised on uplands more
rot-smitten. wormier. scabbier. and
saslisr every way than those valley
grown. Changing the variety 10 not
"a infsllibie specific. We believe the
spores Of disease infest the ground from
the contact of successive crops of blight.
1t 10 safest to let the ground have q
long rest whenever the slightest symp.
toms Of unsoundness have been mani
Tested. BY this policy prices will gradu.
ally come up to such a degree Is to
admit Of the article being tended ana
put up in proper keeping shape Puget
Soand farmers are placed in mos: favor.
able circumstances. Having never to
fear drouth, our facile navigation aud
commercial facilities will soon place US
in a more favorable position with re-
spect to reaching the San Francisco
market than any counties in California
not directly upon or near the Bay of
San Francisco. and Sacramento and
San Joaquin rivers. But a. in Rome,
We ere expected 70 do as tho Romans
do. % in order to obtain access to that
city market we will have to put on city
style. They will have need of our
produce. II il only necessary for our
ssrmers to acquire the reputation there
OF knowing bow 10 raiss and put up .
tip.sop Article In tip-top shape. Moth
ing will pay better. There will always
Be more money to the producer ~ we'll
~ more satisfaction to the consumer in
. small quantity OF flrst-class stuff sold
1t . good price. than great quantity
sold ct about cost or below.