East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1908-11-07

In a general way there is about the
same comparison between diversified
and specialized farming that there Is
between the tortoise and the hare in
the classic fable. And the lesson Of
that fable Is altogether missed when
the moral is all used up in endorsing
the persistence Of the out-classed. Di-
yersified farming is safe. but il isn't
anything else The diversified farm
er can only outstrip the specialist fl
nancially by working while the latter
sleeps. And il isn't very comforting
in either foot races or farming TO
know that our only chance to win is
10 let all the other starters get so far
ahead that they forget anyone else
IS running
There are conditions, however, un-
der which specializing grows increas-
ingly difficult and there may be two
sides 10 the question when it comes
70 the case of those who live on dlt-
ficult farms, miles from railroads and
markets and with bad roads at least
q part o. the year. am not prepar-
ed to admit that specializing is out
Of the question for such, because l
know good many farmers who nave
become successful specialists under
lust such conditions. But undouoted-
Is the opportunities are more llIhl'eu'
Testimony From Ohio.
wuiam H. Culbertson of Guernsey
countv. Ohio. is one Of our state farm
s~s. institute lecturers who believes IN
diversified farming under such con-
5irions as I have named, and defend
Cd it vigorously when l visited Ms
farm. .-..ao
Mr. CuIbertson. with the assistance
NJ his aged father. manages a l5o-
acre farm with very little hired help.
while he tries TO farm intenslVely lh
the sense Of cultiyating small heIas
for maximum yields most Of his farm
il necessarily in pasture. He keeps
stock enough to use the pasture anu
raises the grain necessary 70 ieed OUT
the stock. He keeps "a good many
sbeep-so many in fact that ! would
n. ustified in calling him sneep
srecialist if did not. for the SAKE
of srgumaul admit his claim 20 oe
o. diversified farmer. in addition 10
tre sheen. however. he keeps te"
,oy-s h9gs and chickens. and raises
small areas Of corn. wheat, oats, clo-
,.s- and timothy. and is signing for
more crops 20 conquer. The farm ls
bfrrv limestone soil. and while Mi'
r,,lbe-ts,n Is too practical 70 run l.
d shov farm. Il Is unusually clean
and well Kept in this extremely "eeuy
war T did not ask what the income
was from his farm. 1 never 1'll 10
ask specialists what they are getting
,pt of the game. but haven't the
n.sr+ to ask for such statement
f-o-o those who are handicapped oy
,re limitations that accompany di-
yersined farming.
About Pure Breeds.
Mr. Culbertson contends that tHe
5trersif.e5 farmer has nothing TO gain
bv keeping pure bred stock and ]
.5t,t, he &. altogether right-and that
is another argument against that soiI
or farming. Obviously the man VINO
lxaeue horses merely to work the farm
and a general line Of livestock TO con-
sumo the feed raised cannot keep
enough of any one kind TO get any
credit as a breeder. and the butcher
knows no distinction between goo1
grades and pure bred stock. There
ls a certain pleasure in knowing mat
All the farm stock from chickens to
horses IS pure bred. but there can De
NO direct advantage from that unless
the owner is a skillful breeder, that
Is. a specialist.
Mr.. Culbertson has given much
,boueht 10 the maintenance Of fertil-
itv and is full Of figures TO show That
the fertility taken out Of the soil by
any given crop is relatively very small
ana he thinks the difficulty Of keep
ing up fertility in cultivated fields II
the summer wash. He follows a i've
wear rotation with his cultivated land.
starting with a corn crop he sows rye