Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1904-09-02
APPEAL TO THURSTON COUNTY
FARMERS.

Have you ever compared the re-
sources, possibilities and capabilities
of Thurston county with any other
place on earth? Did you ever realize
that the stars never rose on better
country or healthier one? We do
not claim it is a treasurc-house of
gold, or silver. But fortunes are
wrapped up in her forests and treas
ures are buried deep in her soil, the
keys OF which are in the hands of
those who will dig and plant with an
honest purpose to succeed. Look back
to the States, or counties, from which
you came with some of the woes that
affiict humanity, malaria, cyclones,
storms, giggers, venomous snakes,
fearful heats and dreadful colds,
whilst here you have wonderful com.
bination of harmonious blending OF
many things that makes this pleas.
ant country to live in. The oppor-
tunities will increase with population.
1t is no place for the lazy ones or the
dissatisfied; there is no place on earth
for such. Heaven cast them out and
earth has no use for them. One of
the first commands to mankind was
"In the sweat of thy face thou shall
eat bread" Work with natures gifts
and you will see the fruits OF the earth
unfolding and developing, then burst
ing in the full bloom of her most pre-
cious gifts. Here can be grown all the
cereals of the temperate zone, as well
proven by the magnificent exhibit
grown by Mr.. Bush and now at the St.
Louis Exposition, comprising as it does
some hundred and fifty different va
rieties. Every fruit grown, except
tropical, grows here to perfection, as
proven by the only gold medal award
ed by the Buffalo Exposition for WASH
ington fruits. Profitable growth OF
cereals belong to the vast plains of the
world. 1t was so in ancient times, as
it is to-day. Heredotus says: "The
blade of the wheat plant is often four
finger in BREADTH" The fertility of
Babylonian soil was remarkable, yield
ing commonly 200 sometimes 800 fold.
But of fruit trees the varieties were
very few. The reporter of those days
gave us no description of the fruits
that tempted Mother Eve but we
know Thurston county fruit would
tempt the palate of any maid. This
fruit was not raised with the flavor OF
irrigated land, but has the vinous
taste OF the forest. 1t is the fruit from
such land as described in parts of the
7th and 9th verses of Deut., "a land of
water of fountains and depths that
spring out of the valleys and hills
a land whose stones are irOn."
Look where you will over the earth
and you will find all the great bearing
sections, where fruit is grown to per.
lection, are along great water courses,
and most successfully of all about the
deep fluctuations OF the sea coasts.
There it is that the home OF the or
chard is, where the atmosphere comes
laden with the moisture of Natures
reservoirs. For this reason Thurston
should become the greatest orchard OF
the Pacific and her market the rendez.
vous of the merchants in choice fruits.
We have considerable orchards but
they need more of such kinds as will
fill market demand. OF cherries, we
have much valuable sorts. We under.
stand that there was shipped from
Olympia about fourteen tons this sea-
son. Some of the choicest we have
seen were grown by ]. w. Seed, on
Gen. Hazard Stevens ranch, amongst
them Bling cherries which measured
four inches in circumference. Mr.
Safely has grown figs to perfection. and
during the meeting of the Horticul-
tural Society last Saturday, Albert Nc
Cay, of Gull Harbor, exhibited fine
perfect tomatoes Of the Burby and
Livingston Beauty varieties, which
measured from III to 81 in circumfer.
ence, showing that perfect fruits and
vegetables could be grown here.
The popular taste for fruits is in
creasing from year to year, We are be-
coming more of vegetarian people.
But the demand is for extra quality !;
that sort OF produce never overstocks
the market. For these reasons our
farmers and horticulturists should
raise the best.
The Chamber OF Commerce and
Horticultural Society has appointed a
joint committee to gather an exhibit
for the Lewis and Clark Exposition to
be held in Portland, Ore, in 1905, and
this committee appeals to every raiser
of cereals, fruits and vegetables to aid
them by endeavoring to raise some
special production in their orchards
and gardens for which their soil is
adapted, during the forthcoming year.
No matter what that apecialty may be,
SO that it may show the possibilities of
the resources of Thurston county, all
such specimens furnished will be we'll
taken care Of, and proper credit given
to the producer. ELIAS J. PAYN.