The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1903-05-28
CHANGE In METHOD
IS RESPONSIBLE
For the Great Prosperity of Whitman
County FarmerS-Some Of the
Changes.

COtaX.-N nltman county is more
pros porous than at any time in its
history and many reasons for this
prosperity have been advanced. The
most plausible seems 10 be the change
in methods of farming during the pasr
few years. Ten years ago Whitman
county raised practically nothing
but grain. The farmers did not pro-
duce their own meat and lard. but
nearly everything used about the
house or on the farm was bought in
town at high prices. Eastern pork
products were used almost exclusive
~. Butter and eggs were shipped
into Whitman county from the states
Of the middle west, and many carloads
OF these were consumed annually by
citizens of Whitman county, which is
the most productive agricultural dis
trict in the northwest AS result
the farmers were frequently in hard
circumstances, although they raised
good crops. They spent so much
money for products they mighr nave
| raised on their own farms that large
per cent. of their profits were eaten
| up in this way.
But there has been a radical
| change in farming methods and the
results are easily seen. Farmers
have been raising as much grain as
ever before, but instead of allowing
a large part Of their land to lie idle
every alternate year as summer fal
dow" they have been raising some
thing on this land and making it
| produce every season. They have
engaged in hog raising, cattle rails
ing. fruit growing and other Occupa
tons which have been conducted
along with their grain growing.
Shipping Live Stock.
AS a result they have made vast
sums Of money from these "by-prO-
ducts, and have become prosperous
Last year more than $500 900 worth
Of hogs were shipped from Whi,man
| county. This year the shipments of
hogs from the county will amount to
more than $l00o.000. Yet hogs are
| being produced at less cost than ever
| before, owing to improved methods
OF raising them. Whitman county
farmers sold $1S3000 Worth Of beef
cattle last year. This year the sales
Of cattle are expected 10 reach half
million dollars.
1t was thought that when the out
side range was fenced up and placed
in cultivation cattle raising would
cease in Whitman county. But today
there arc more cattle in Whitman
county than at any time when the
whole county was a stock range. Cat
tie are raised on the farms and nearly
every farmer has a few head OF cattle
and hogs on his farm, and they live
on what would otherwise be wasted.
From COlfaX 10 PereWaWa. on the
J Snake river. and 10 WinOna, on the
| PalCuse river, great changes are being
made and all through the country.
| Nearly every farm is enclosed with
| hOg-tight fence and herds of hogs
| punches of cattle and flocks of sheep
are seen grazing on the summer fall
! lowed fields or in pastures of alfal-
| ia, bronze grass. or other tame gras-
| es which grow lUXuriantly in nearly
| all parts of the country.
| Nearly every farm has an orchard
If from one to ten acres which brings
IN nice profit each year. On the
| Snake river fruit growing and sock
raising are the chief Industries. and
stOckmen and OrChardists are getting
rich. Few districts in the world
raise finer fruits than the irrigated
| bars of the Snake river. from which
an average Of 400 carloads of fruit
are shipped annually to the markets
| Of the world.