East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1907-12-14
HOT HOUSE LAMBS
FOR EARLY MARKET
NEW INDUSTRY IN v1R-
GINA AND MARYLAND
Abandoned Farms OF the South Prove
10 BE Valuable for Growing Lambs
for Early Markets-Many Sheep
Growers Taking Advantage of the
Opportunity - Abandoned Land
Can Be Bought Cheap.

Inc NdllOndl LlNeStoSk builellli
published at Washington, D. c., gives
the following account of raising "hot
house lambs" on the abandoned
farms of Virginia and Maryland, an
enterprise which promises to become
highly lucrative:
A few weeks ago, as the writer was
walking down Pennsylvania avenue,
in Washington. D. c., he was hailed
by an old friend from Indianapolis,
says the Bulletin. In the course Of
the conversation that followed the
unexpected meeting, the Indiana man
remarked that he was just on his
way back home, after having made
a tour OF inspection over parts OF Vir-
ginia and Maryland where tracts Of
land known as abandoned farms" !"
are plentiful.
He had, he said, practically made
a choice OF the farm he wanted-a
Virginia tract lying close enough TO
two railways to make the question
Of transportation an easy onei and
the farm he had decided to buy, he
said. was ideal for his purpose.
He launched into a lengthy de-
scription of the place; there were
about 500 acres in it, he said, partly
wooded. and some cleared land that
had grown up 10 bushes and saplings;
fairly rolling, with several fine
springs. two small creeks and num-
Der Of spring branches, insuring an
excellent water supply.
The old house on the farm came in
for a word picture full Of humor and
appreciation-the deep windows, the
wide southern gallery" or veranda,
running around three sides the high
ceilings. the old-fashioned fireplaces,
the tall. fine red brick chimneys. and
the general air Of decay and neglect
over everything.
When the writer could edge in a
word he asked, But what in the
world are you going to do with such
a place If you buy it? And isn't In
diana good enough for you-what do
YOU want to move away from Hoos-
ierdom for?"
I'm going to raise hothouss
lambs" was the answer; lambs for l
the Christmas and eastern market in
Philadelphia and Washington and
Baltimore. and even as far as New
York. il possible. There is more
money, and more profit. in that line
Of business right now than anything
I know of that has to do with live
stock. Land-the kind l wants
cheaper down here than it is in In
diana, Ohio or Illinois; there are
more and larger markets and heaV-
ier demand at higher prices, than can
be found in the west; and, altogether
I believe there is money to be made,
with less outlay and risk, producing,
hothouse lambs down here than can
be made in almost any other branch
OF the business elsewhere"
Now this statement will probably
sound like a rather large order to
lot OF farmers and sheepmen; II dld
10 the writer, and that's fact. But
investigation showed that the Indi-
ana gentleman knew pretty nearly
what he was talking about; and max
ing due allowance for western enthus-
iasm and the western American ten
dency to exaggerate, his statement
covers the c.se very fairly.
Those Abandoned Farms.
The east. everywhere east Of the
Allegheny mountains, is dotted with
abandoned farms. Most Of them are
in much the same condition as the
Virginia farm described-growing up
to brush and second or third-growth
timber, and with houses and out
buildings falling into decay. the
fences are either gone or rapidly 60
ing, and the places are gradually
lapsing into a condition almost prim-
tive In its abandoned wilderness.
Such places, ranging in size from
so acres to 500 or more, can usually
be bought very cheaply; in many
cases these farms can be had for the
accumulated back taxes, and 81 to
s5 an acre is a common price.
They are generally located wlthlh
reasonable distances Of large cities
with railroad transportation conven-
iently close at hand; the water sup
ply is usually excellent and abundant
and only a small investment, in most
cases. is called for to make the
places ideal for the production Of ex-
tremely early lambs for high-class
city trade.