Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1894-07-06

while Thornburn's Late Rose yielded
2154 bushels per acre. Although grown
on clover sod, no fertilizers were used,
and the results obtained are regarded as
quite satisfactory under the circum-
stances.
Some farmers in alkali districts be-
lieve that the alkali observed in their
soils, and which often prevents the
growth of crops, is the result of an ex-
cess of potash in the soil. This, unfor
tunately is not the case. We're it so
such spots would become among the
most valuable on the farm, for potash is
of absolute necessity in the growth OF
nearly all plants produced upon the
farm. 1t is an excess of the carbonate
of soda in the soil which shows as "alkali
spots,' aud which are SO great draw
back to farming in many parts Of the
arid belt, Very little soda is used by
plants ordinarily produced upon the
farm, hence its presence in excess in any
soil is detrimental, 1t may sometimes
be leached away by irrigation and drain
age; and by the free use of gypsum on
such lands the effects of the a.kall may
be neutralized to a very great extent,
1t is alleged by experienced fruit grow
ers that pears NAV be successfully grown
upon alkali land where ouher fruits will
not grow.
For the calendar year 1898, there
were imported into the United States
4,061 1859 bushels of potatoes, at an in
voice valuation ut ports of export of
$1,99S, 708. The amount of beans I'M
ported during the same period was
1854, 3l2 bushels, ,lued at $1,525, l54.
To pay for these wheat was exported at
a farm value of less than 81 cents per
bushel. 1t would seem as though such
object lessons as these would soon teach
the American farmer the supreme folly
of continuing on, year after year, in the
same Improbable rut of raising wheat
at a very low price in order to- purchase
his potatoes and beans in foreign coun-
tries at high prices. 1t requires little
more labor to produce crop Of potatoes
t,, ho thon nf
wheat, acre for acre, but when it is re-
membered that a good home market
nearly always awaits the former while
the latter must be sold abroad, or at
least that the price is fixed abroad, it
must be clear that some changes are
needed in our system of cropping.
A hopeful sign of increasing prosper
ity in the north Pacific states is the
awakening interest, shown especially in
Washington and Oregon, in the estab-
lishment o. creameries, says the Irriga-
ton Age. The abundant pasturage
procurable over SO wide an area IN the
two states named has long been stand
ing protest against importing from the
east or from California SO large a per-
centage of tie dairy products consumed.
1t is gratifying to observe the increas-
ing interest ak an in the dairy in the
in the sound states, and the prospect
now is that but short time will elapse
before those states will be large export
ers of dairy products ra Their than I'M
porters. TO considerable extent the
same may be said of poultry. 1t is
found much easier, cheaper and In every
way more satisfactory to produce a
home supply of poultry and eggs than
to produce them by selling wheat at
the rate Of bushel for two dozen eggs.
To produce home supply of food is
not only privilege of the farmer, but
it is his first duty to himself his family
and the community in which hs lives. -
Review.