The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1909-01-01
RESULTS FROM ODD
MOMENTS PUBLISHED
Looking After the Small Details
of the Orchard and Farm.
Nell Neshitt and His Resolve to Al
ways Bring Something for Sale
When Coming to Town. Raises
Corn on Summer FaIIow Land

Several weeks ago The Gazette made
mention of the successful raising of corn
on four acres of land by J. T. Arrasmith
on his farm four miles east of town, and
the results that came from it. This
article was widely circulated by the press
OF the state and favorably commented
on in some Of the leading daily journals.
1t clearly demonstrated what could be
done on summer fallOw land, as a result
OF which we may expect to hear OF ex-
periments. not alone in corn, but along
other lines of agriculture.
Our attention has been called to Nell
l. Nesbitt, who two years ago was street
superintendent of Colfax, just about
pulling out even each month on the sal
ary he received, Nell having a numerous
family to support. He concluded to try
farming, leasing 160 acres four or five
miles east of town. He raised wheat, Of
course, but started out with the purpose
OF devOting some of his time to other
things, making it a point whenever he
came to town to bring something to sell,
enough, at least, to replenish the Iarder
on the homestead. His wife paid special
attention to the chickens, and eggs and
poultry found their way to market at
regular intervals. Mr.. Nesbitt bought
several hives OF bees, and while he was
working in the harvest field the bees were
gathering honey from the flowers, pro
viding another source Of income, for he
has sold 80 pounds of honey this season,
besides providing his family with all the
delicious sweets from this source that
they wanted. The vegetable garden and
the orchard were not neglected, but have
produced enough and to spare.
A piece of summer falOw land was
planted to corn and the result has been
great. Specimens Of corn raised by him
this season can be seen at the COlfax
Implement Co.'s store. 1t will do any
one good to take look at them and see
the uniform size and piUmpness of the
ears, as well as the bearing quality of the
stalk, as many of them are still on the
stalk. He also grew popcorn, specimens
OF which are shown equal to the best
grown in the so called corn states.
The work along these lines has not
interfered in the least with the work in
the wheat field, only claiming the odd
moments and days that come to every
farmer, but which were devoted diligent
ly TO the task in hand. Perhaps the
resolution adopted at the beginning, to
always bring something for sale when
coming to town had largely to do
with this, for how else could there be
something to sell unless the by products
OF the farm were made to yield their sur
plus? The land where the corn was
raised will be planted to wheat next sea
son. The cultivation of corn this wear
instead Of letting the land remain idle
as summer fallOw land, has shaded and
kept the humus in the soil and will make
it better for wheat next year.
Another thing to emphasize is, Mr.
Nesbitt and his family are not only liv.
ing on the fat of the land but are getting
ahead so far as this worlds goods are
concerned. 1t comes, however, from
good management, looking after the
small details too often neglected on the
farm, and demonstrates the possibilities
that lie in store for those who look to the
land for living