The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-01-01

OlEI LIZ " ULO40OC LA40 C4LCGNs 49,
winter of 1S97-9S was unusually favor
able to the fall-sown wheat. and the
spring rains still further advanced the
crop beyond all question. The same
conditions, i. e., thoroughly mellowed
soil, through freezing n abundant
moisture until June, put most s9rlng
\ grain beyond the hazard of drouth.
\ Conditions so favorable TO the cereals
were such as to produce also luXurIant
range grass and a bountiful crop OF lu-
Germ, clover and timothy. The root
crops were never better. taken as a
whole, while the fruit yield vas fully
UP TO The general average Of the past
twenty years
Not only a bountiful harvest. but
also a lively demand and consequent
fair prices contributed TO the gratifying
classes.
Disasters to other states proved d
boon to Utah. The drouth-stricken
ranges of California called for every
pound OF surplus hay in Utah UP to
harvest; the Vicissitudes of the Colo
RADIO climate made Denver and the
lesser cities of our ~neighboring state
ready markets for Utah fruit; Idaho
bought Utah potatoes and tons of pro-
duce were shipped to Nevada and Wyo-
ming.
The conditions above stated serve to
6lL4B-AaE41C 44AEN LIN ~ 1900
as an agricultural state. Not alone
the fertility of soil and abundant water
supply, but the equable climate also
adds to the certainty of full n regu-
lar crops in Utah. 1t is this certainty
which makes the Utah farmer bold II
eliminates from the problem the factor
Of doubt so e~nervating to the husband
man in so-called rain belt" districts.
AN AGRICULTURAL STATE.
Because of actual necessity. the Dio-
neerS IN Utah became tillers of the
soil. The resulting crops served to
supply every demand for feod. since all
other sources were too far distant 10
be drawn upon. From the production
of the simple ne~cessaries for the few
early settlers, the business grew un-
9ff the valley of the Great Salt "a
became the granary for the mining
camps of Montana. Idaho and Nevada.
With the settlement of those neighbour
ing states came more or less agricul-
tural development therein yet not IN
frequently do they still call upon Utah
TO supply their lack OF cereals, forage,
root crops or fruit. And the RESPONSE
is always prompt, for whatever or
droutl and failure may come in the
future, Utah has never in her past his
tory failed to produce farm products
for expectation. Certain secluded val
leys may at times fall short in some
GllE GIOB- L NAC SClACI q "a
production throughout the state al
ways cOmpensates for mere local fail
ores
WIDE RANGE OF PRODUCTS.
No state in this Union could so well
survive were every avenue of inter
course with surrounding states cut off.
Even a Chinese wall about the
daries of Utah could entail no suffer-
ing, and only slight inconvenience upon
the inhabitants Of the state, so far as
The physical wants of man are con-
cerned. The productive wheat fields
OF the wonderful Cache and Bear River
valleys; the fertile garden and richard
lands of Box Elder, Weber. Davis. Salt
Lake and Utah counties; the veritable
of the SanDete and Sewer
counties, each an empire in itself: the
semi-tropical regions of the Grand and
the Virgen rivers; the boUndless ranges
from north to south where cattle and
sheep are upon ten times "a thousand
hiils"-these are the regions OF varied
climatic conditions constituting a range
OF far more extensive than
any sister state in the Union. From
these different sections comes annually
enough wheat to bread ten times the
present population of Utah; potatoes or
unsurpassed quality and IN quantity to
b make the export trade a considerable
factor; of oats and rye n barley there
Is always d CEQD eACCEullS IA quantity
per acre the best Of other states, every
vegetable used by man cores from the
gardens as if by magic; fruits of every
class and varieties endless. thrive
throughout a scope of country four
hundred miles from forth to south. And
all this comes annually. There may be
shortages in localities. but never yet
has there been a failure of the stables
for mans s-ustenance.
THE SMALL FARMS.
THE Utah plan," is a phrase now
frequently quoted. and has been used
by writer's IN describing the custom of
the farmers in this state. However. it
is doubted whether or not the eastern
farmer can, from reading, get a true
conception of The" Utah plan" of farm
ing. 1t is simply this, 10 so diversity
the crops that nearly every food pro-
duct required for the family IS grown
n quantity sufficient for home use.
with some Of each to sell. Let the far
MGR who had been accustomed TO put
all his effort TO the production of one
crop, say wheat, or corn, or potatoes,
just pause inc consider for a moment
the results of diversified farming. AS
an illustration, tax the experience of
a Utah farmer who cultivates forty
acres of and. Ten acres to wheat yields
at least 900 busnels-200 bushel TO sell
after breading the family; ten acres to
1ucGln ylelQS IOflN-uFe tons OF nay,
which feeds the work horses. a half
dozen dairy COWS, and leaves a surplus
of, say five tons, to sell: ten acres in
corn, mangel, wurzels, pumpkins.
squash, turniDs and carrots provides
food for a dozen beeves. one hundred
hens and twenty hogs, which. in turn,
produce more han the living expenses
OF an ordinary family; two acres of
potatoes makes a product of more than
four hundred bushels for market: five
acres OF orchard OF properly selected
fruits yields at least $500. The remain
ing three acres may be devoted to
buildings, lawn, garden and barnyard.
Thus a spot Of ground considered by
the farmer Of the grain section only a
garden patch, brings to the Utah owner |
a comfortable living, and each year a
small sum TO add to a bank account.
The figures given above are cOnserva- |
tive. and may be more than verified by
actual experience Indeed. many far
meFs in Utah with but twenty acres of
lard annually produce more than is
stated in the foregoing estimate for
forty acres. Sixty bushels of wheat.
instead Of thirty bushels per acre: ten
tons of iucern, instead of five, per acre:
four hundred bushels Of potatoes, one
hundred bushels of corn, twenty tons
of squash per acre; these yields are so
common as to cause only slight COM
ment, while the fve-acre orchard may
be made to yield $1,000. instead of $500. |
AS fnal proof of the proposition that
the small farm does pay. there are in
Utah today scores of farmers with
money 10 loan. and the n is the