The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-03-11
AGRICULTURE IN
THE SOUND BASIN
NOT ENOUGH ARABLE LAND TO
SUPPORT POPULATION
Figures Showing Number of Acres
Required for Support of Each In.
habitant-Average Yield of staple
Agricultural Products.


Agricultural Products.
An editor who is an enthusiast on
the subject of the agricultural pos
sibilities Of the Sound basin takes ex-
ception to another writer's statement
that There is not enough arabic
soil on Puget Sound, wereit all clear
ed and cultivated, to support our
population. If the first writer had
reference to the population at pres
ent inhabiting the Sound counties he
probably underestimated the pro-
ductive agricultural capacity of the
Sound basin, although we believe
that the percentage of land in West
ern Washington capable OF yielding
fair return upon capital and labor
invested, whether titled Oh grazed, is
generally exaggerated. If, on the
other hand, he had in mind the pop
ulation which the Sound country will
surely have within a few years his
statement is probably well within
the limits of truth. The area of
what may be called the ''Sound
basin, that is the land on both sides
of our inland sea and not included in
the foothills of the Cascade or Olym-
pic ranges, but including the islands,
is nearly, if not quite, 5000, 900 acres.
If we reject one third as being un-
fit for either tlliage or pasture we
have left 1900, 900 acres suitable for
some agricultural use. This esti-
mate does not include any of the foot
hills which in course of time, when
denuded of their timber, will prob
ably be used for sheep pasturage.
sThe area Of land in crop in the
whole United States is equal to 81
acres per head of the population; the
area in pasture may be roughly ap-
proximated at 24, which brings the
land in tillage and pasture over the
whole country up to 6 acres per cap
ita. We export about one-sixth of
our farm produce, and thus we find
that each inhabitant consumes, in
food, clothing, or in some other way,
the product of five acres The ca
pacity of the Puget Sound basin is
therefore equal to the needs of 400,
600 people on no higher average than
the whole nation. But statistical re-
turns show that the average yield
per acre varies enormously, and that
the state of Washington stands very
near the top of the list. Perhaps it
holds, on the whole, the foremost
position.
We haven't at hand the latest gov
ernment report on crop yields, but
some years ago the following figures
we're published. Later statistics are
probably even more favorable to this
state:
Wheat--Washington leads with 1873
bushels per acre. Average for the
United States, H. / bushels.
Rye-Washington is one OF the
three states which occupy the fourth
place with 1875 bushels to the acre.
Average for the United States, II
bushels.
Oats-Washington is second with
35 bushels. Average for the United
States, rs bushels.
Barley Washington is first with
80 bushels. Average for the United
States, 21.3 bushels.
Potatoes Washington is first with
122 bushels. Average for the Unit
ed States, 1873 bushels.
Hay-Washington is third with l.
35 tons. Average for the Uuited
OLdUeS, 1.AA UOuo.
mo great familiarity with the
weld Of crops in the Sound basin IS
necessary to demonstrate that the
above average for the state falls very
far short Of that Of the Sound basin.
ct is safe to say that more fodder
for cattle can be produced on an acre
Of land in the Sound basin than in
anv other part Of America, and that
owing to the equable character OF,
the climate cattle can be kept here
on as little as anywhere and will pro-
duce better proportionate results.
This is q point Of prime consideration
in connection with the agricultural
capabilities Of the section.