The Meeker herald., 1900-09-08
Can Make Grass Grow on Al
kali Land.


A thorough review Of the industrial
work of the Oregon Railway Il Navi-
cation company. giving the results at
tie experimental grass stations has
been entered into by Professor H. R.
Leckenby. United States agrostologist.
in charge of the experimental farm at
Walla Walla, says the Portland Even
ing Telegram.
From experiments made under the
direction OF Traffic Manager Campbell.
of the Oregon Railway and Navigation
Company. varieties Of grasses have been
raised which will grow successfully on
semi arid aikali lands. This means
that very large territory In Oregon and
Washington which is now practically q
desert, will be reclaimed and made q
valuable stock raising country.
Where now there are only scorched
sand, clouds OF dust, saaebrush and sst-
tie snakes, soon will be millions Of head
of stock feeding on nutritious grasses.
1t is slow work. is this evolution of des-
ert and arid lands into nutritious feeding
grounds. but is surely being brought
about, according to Professor Leckenby.
who is practical enthusiast upon the
subject. AS the studying Of grains and
grasses has been a life work with him.
and he is besides botanist and recog-
nized BY the United States department
of agriculture as an authority on such
matters, his judgment carries weight
in agricultural circles.
1.-The seeds Of Turkenstein alfalfa
sowed by the department" said he.
shave terminated finely, and will bear
good results. am nov experimenting
with view to selecting the varieties Of
grasses most suited for different local
titles, according to climatic and other
conditions. Entirely new varieties have
been produced through the experiments
carried on at the Oregon Railway &
Navigation Company's experiment al
farm at Walla Walla, and each ono Of
these varieties has some special quality
to recommend 1t for certain lands. In
this manner the arid portions Of the
Northwest will gradually be clothed In
verdure. At the farm no less than ten
distinct varieties Of bronze grass, each
one OF which is valuable In itself for
some special quality. shall segregate
these and SOW them where they will do
the most good.
1.-The same. thing applies to alfsifa.
In fact, many Of the varieties are val
liable for certain kinds Of dry soil For
.iastasae. takA tbAexpaetsnsetsl sts1ann
at Blalock. ovsr which ~. o the
Oregon Railway q Nayisatio91p1psny's
agent, 10 20 enthusiastic. Thsee on the
Smead farm 10 an acre and = quarter Of
alfalfa grown In the sand. ffty feet
above the river, and in soil that cannot
be irrigated. The rainfall was only nine
inches. and the sun shed its rays to the
tune of 100 and ll9 degrees. Yet it
grew luxuriantly and stood test which
will insure its successful growth along
the dry lands of the Columbia.
II have other individual plants mark
ed in the various sections with which to
experiment next year. Mr.. Judson will
save the seeds in dry lands surrounding
Stokes, and there 0 no question in my
mind about the result.
1.-The conducting Of experiments with
grasses by the Oregon Railway Il Navig-
alton Company at the different stations
along the lines, certainly shows broad
gauge policy, which other roads would
do well to initiate. predict that the
management, should it continue the
work, will have the land from Grants
Pass through to Pendleton and beyond
covered with luxuriant grasses. whereon
will be Rrxzed vast herd of cattle and
other stock.
"As MIR. Judson has taken hold of the
cooperative creamery proposition look
to see that section Of the country made
a great dairying belt. It is the inten-
of Mr.. Campbell, understand, to have
Mr.. Judson continue his experiments
and SOW large tracts Of bronze grass Oh
the dry lands. and Turkenstein and
other varieties Of alfalfa on the alkali
laLds near Echo. In other districts will
be sown Australian salt bush and white
sage, and experiments are to be made
with blue grass seed. which am saving
at the Walla WalIa station, and which
were taken from lands on the Pacific
coast washed BY the salt water.
80 far no irrigating has been done on
the plat at Walla Walla, and the grasses
Of all varieties are doing finely. The re-
suits obtained from the farm this year
will be a marked step in advance of re-
suits obtained last year. Mr.. Jndson
visited the farm Thursday in company
of Mr.. McGahey, the farm superintend-
ent, and was more than pleased with the
results obtained. As result of the
visit he will turn over to me more land