The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1902-08-26

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Yankees something New
Durine the dry spell last SKINNER
John Duane. New Yorker who nad
money and time to spend in expert
menting came up along Pleasant ri7er
buying all the abandoned farms he
could purchase for reasonable rates.
When asked what be intended 20 10
with 30 much run-out land he replied
that be was going TO raising hay fJr
sale.
This made the natives laugh. They
knew the land, what II would produce
and what q HOPELESS task was before
any Qns who attempted 10 restore the
lost fertility. Resides having lost all Of
its mineral wealth from repeated crop
pings the soil was filled with the creep
ing rootstaiks Of the witch or crouch
Fi7ss. 50 the moment a furrow WAS
opened In the root-bound land the
<tFass came up and overran every kind
.pf ecoD which was planted. - -
But es Soon as MIR. Duane had Sc
cured about one thousand acres of laLi
he hired men with horses ana machin-
cry and set ,ntm 10 ploughing No The
lNi7iM objective fields, Then he laid out =
piat IN the middle OF his purchase and
began to dig cellar capable OF hold-ug
many cords over the cellar he put up
$4,000 barn. When he returned TO
New York more than half OF his farm
had been turned over.
Early in the spring he sent men and
horses to his farm and began 10 harrow
and gsir up the bolted sods. They
worked constantly for weeks ana the
f,ss n y
arrival OF the owner When he can't e
delegation waited upon him for the
purpose OF giving him some acvice
One evening In May he stepped odt at
the railroad station and took bulk
board for the hotel. and while he Was
eating his supper the committee oi
safety filed in and began TO ply him
viii iestions
Toe new farmers replies were Ltis.
bat s-urteous. He Was not go,ng 70
grow potatoes or beans or ocrn. he did
not intend to buy any barnyard dress
ing or phnsphates OF fertilizer of auy
kind. HN was just going to Level of
his ploughed land and let It grow Up 10
grass.
"And yev amt going TO put any ma
nure on to that run-out land, did you
say?"
That's tusi what said or intended
to say" replied Mr.. Duane
And you think you're goin' to ruia'
hay thout any dressin'?'
"Yes. Im going to fill that big barr
this year. Next season hope to bnil,
another barn-must do SO, II plow th'
rest Of the land
"wen. I've heern tell OF fools afore.
said the spokesman but fer res lal
cussed mother foolshness, yew tal'
the fust prize
The new proprietor thanked them fe
their information, and strolled out a.
give some directions to his farm fore
man. He took charge of the work tn
next day, and returned 70 his home h
the city by the night train.
The spring rains came down copiouS
~ wettlng the land until II drippe
with moisture Then the little spike
of witch grass began TO poke up alon
the brown surface Finding no On
with cultivator or hoe TO oppose thei
growing they soon covered the grount
and the bound-root stalks, liberate
from their fetters by the plow and har
row. shot out new sprouts by the mi
lion every one OF which lired itsel
Eloft and turned 10 a stalk OF grass.
There are now nearly 500 acres g
waving green above those aoandone
farms. and the farmers say that MI
Duane win harvest more than $50 ron
OF fine hay this year. He is putting II
two new barns 20 hold his cruz tn
men who criticised the operators ha'
hired out 10 help construct the barn
fully convinced that there is DO prof
in farming South Sebec Letter
New York Sun.