, 1889-02-07

"a round, smooth and sleek hog as +
have ever seen. There WAS also In the
same pen Q registered Poland China SOW
pounds, just as black and sleek - the
other.
He then took me to another pen where
there were between 80 and 100 Poland
China from months to one year old, 80
tame, and looked just like the pictures that
have often seen In stock journals. Most
Of those he intended to save for breeding
and he said he had three different stYains
and was sending to the East Tor another:
there was az fine Q herd Of registered
thoroughbred shorthorn cows and hsifers
as IL has ever been my lot TO see.
He opened the stable door and there
was as fine 2.year.old registered full
blood short horn bull rs ever grazed a.
pasture, just as gentle and quiet as q
lamb.
We next went To the hennery and there.
were all kinds OF poultry, chickens, ducks,
turkey; ys sna geese and Su' ponns Sss' to mao
great large rooster said: Have yon ever
seen as large Lanpshan ~ that2' and
then to large Partridge Cochin, Those
two are my favorites." There was large
flock of snow white ducks, about as large
az common geese, the genuine Pekin
duck. Just then mammoth bronze COB
bier strutted around the corner. Mr.. Reed
noticed thnt he attracted my attention.
said: THAT turkey cock has taken the
first premium at the state fair held ut st.
Louis, Missouri" Ny attention was next
called to large flock Of dark gray geese.
Those were the Toulouse and my fayorites
too. They are the hardest and easiest to
fat.
noticed the hennery was built accord
ing to the latest improve plans and also
saw several eggs in the nests.
Just then Mrs. Reed rang the bell for
dinner, which put u stop to any further
Sightseeing. We were soon seated at q
table that would have been credit to any
6rst-class hotel. After dinner we went
into the sitting room and the first thing
that attracted my attention was his fine
library of stock and poultry books. which
are well worn, besides several journals
upon the same subjects.
be no doubt. He has made dillivent
| study Of the soil and climate Of the Pa
louise country, and has many q night burn
ed the midnight oil poring over some
! stock journal and has reached the
conclusions as the result Of his investiRa-
tion that the Poland China swine and the
Sborthorn cattle are the easiest TO keep
and the most profitable for the Palouse
rancher.
The two hours that spent with Mr..
Reed were both pleasant and profitable
and every farmer in Washington territory,
and especially in the Palouse country,
would be benefited by visit to his fine
stock farm.
We farmers are apt to forget the past
and rush into that business which will
give immediately the largest profits. Let US
20 back for q few moments and reason to-
gether. We all have read Of and some of
us have been in the Red River valley, that
year after year yielded from twenty We
to forty bushels Of wheat per acre, and the
soil seemed to be inexhaustible. and the
farmers gave up raising everything excetp
wheat, wheat, wheat. Bye and bye the
air and soil or something gave out, and
we hear no more of that once famous Red
River valley Of the North, except in song.
But every day we meet men from there
| seeking for government lands, as they have
| no money to bny improved farms.
Are we going 10 make the same mistake,
because we now have railroad and can
| raise about twice as many bushels OF wheat
| to the acre as anywhere else on God = green
| footstoolf 1t is true that our soil contin-
ues to yield her abundance and seems to
be inexhaustible, but we know from the
past that something must be returned to
the soil, and every farmer in the whole
Palouse country should keep the stock
| and aocks which he now has and keep i'm
proving it by adding thoroughbreds.
Let US have and keep variety Of every
| thing-a few sheep and hogs, a few cows
and horses, a few acres of wheat and oats.
of hay and barley, rye and corn. and or
chard and garden. and we shall be in the
future as we have been in the past the
most prosperous and happy farmers in the