The Monte Vista journal., 1898-04-09
FOR THE FARMER.
VALUABLE EXPERIMENTS.
Attsmpts - H1nd saisaele 0eassss - Grow
o. Desert LAada,

Attempts - Hlnd Suitable 0saesss - 0Few
On Desert LAads.
The Oregon River and Navigation
Company IL about to undertake line
OF experiments, which, II they prove
successful. will result in the reclama-
ton Of miles Of land along Its route
for cattle grazing purposes. that are at
present unit for any purpose what
soever. BY Its experiments the COM
pany hopes to nAcertain what kinds OF
grasses can be made to grow on the
hundreds Of thousands Of acres of bar
rem land along Its right of way. Differ
ent grasses for different attitudes will
he experimental with until the right
varieties for the various localities are
FOUND, going on the supposition, Of
course, that some can he made to grow
upon the present practically barren
plains and mountain sides.
The vast area Of lands which this line
hopes to reclaim by the results OF Its
experiments II they prove successful,
are located in the valleys of the
Snake and Columbia rivers and on the
foothills leading up to and the sides of
the Blue and Cascade mountains In
Oregon and Washington.
The experiments this railroad CON-
pany propose to make are upon the
lines that other larger and more
wealthy roads have unsuccessfully
tried in the past to induce the govern
ment to make for the general welfare
Of the West. incidentally. and primarily
for the pecuniary interests of the
roads which proposed the venture. The
government has refused to appropriate
money sufficient to carry on the exper
iments
Throughout the West there are
thousands OF square miles OF land
along the routes OF the various roads
that are barren Of grass that might be
utilized by stockmen for range pur-
poses for large herds. 1t IL the pur-
pose Of the Oregon River and Naviga-
ton Company to experiment with var
ious kinds Of grasses and learn. " pos
sible, which can he made to grow upon
these barren lands. The company has
established twenty-,hree experimental
stations at various points along Its
line at different attitudes where the
many different kinds Of grasses will be
grown on small tracts Of land. Those
that thrive the better will be selected
TO be sown over the plains and valleys
In that vicinity.
The road is long one and the coun-
try 1t traverscs has many climates,
owing to the attitudes. Consequently
II is necessary TO select grasses In ac-
cor'iance. Experiments have shown
that fruits. grasses and similar
growths thrive differently in different
attitudes and climates. For that rea-
son the road has TO learn from practi
cal tests what grasses are the better
adapted to the sections along its line.
These twcnty-eight experimental sta
tions are under the personal supcrvis-
ion of Il. G. Judson OF Portland. Ore
gon. the Industrial agent Of the road.
who was II delegate to the recent
Stockgrowers' convention and n mem
her OF the present executive committee
of the national organization. Mr.. Jud-
son Is practical horticulturis, and
agriculturist. having given those two
Industries years OF study. The gr;lsses
that he is at present experimenting
with are the Austrian Braun. Japan
clover and the Persian.
The profits the road anticipates will
he DERIVED from the Increased traffic
over Its line. both In freight and pas
xenger. by the settlement Of the land
along Its route by Immigrants from the
East. II 1t can be made tenable by
sowing them with grasses. i, will he
a comparatively easy matter TO induce
eastern farmers and stockmcn 10 come
west and take them up.
After Mr.. Judson has concluded his
experiments with the grasses. and not
only satisfied himself. ns well M the
officers of the company OF the fensa-
bility of the scheme. he will turn his
attention TO the raising Of both cotton
and tobacco on the barren lands along
the road. He will ascertain by expert
mems. whether II Is possible TO raise
those products 50 far nor,h.