East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1910-06-13
Pendleton, June 13, 1910.

Pendleton, June 13, 1910.
To the Editor:
L crave the courtesy of a little
space to advise the Farmers Union. |
/ suppose that l am entitled to do
this for the two very good reasons
that | am not a farmer and am not
member of that organization. Still
We are all interested in the larger
purposes of any association which ex-
lists for the Improvement of mer and
conditions.
Just at this time when nature has
sent wind and heat over this usually
favored land, and we are in the midst
OF a resulting depression because the
earlier promise Of abundant crops
seems to have been in some degree
at least destroyed, it would seem that
men ought to find a lesson In Ehese
silent but impressive demands Tor
changed agricultural conditions. we
are suffering the occasional curse OF
every country which is dependent up
on a single crop. The failure Of that
crop. or any considerable injury
thereto. must always result in wide
spread misfortune. Wheat, like every
other natural production, will always
have its lean years as well as its rat
years.
1t is quite apparent that what TINS
section needs is diversified farming
I Then when there is a partial tailure
OF one crop there will be an aouhd-
ance of something else, and prosper
ity will continue. Will not the Farm
ers Union take some action toward
that end. Will it not adopt some
method Of experiment and education
nv which land owners can be induced
| TO raise other crops than the cerea's.
| Surely If found successful la1ds WIN
ha Increased in valIe. because 1t VIII
mean that they will be in demand by
small farmers for the establishment OF
| homes.
There are beyond question vast
areas Of land now used solely lor the
production of wheat, which VIII pro-
, duce fruit and vegetables and forage
plants readily and profitably. ms Is
especially true of a large part OF the
Irmatila Indian reservation, all the
foothill land, and much Of the coun-
trv around Adams, Athena and Wes-
ton. 1t is true that such tarlE'hs
would not be as easy as wheat culture
but il would mean an end OF me DON
onza ranch. which everybody except
the bananza farmer realizes is pan
upon any community. If the large
planters would figure closely Tor TWO
years. reckoning interest on iaii'
values as we'll as expenses, the chdh-
ces are that it would be found tha'
few wheat growers are making Iho''
than four per cent upon their invest
uent. II is. therefore, for the inter-
J est of the land owner that some othei
cron he found which will pay better
Otherwise it will be more pro'itapl'
IN sell out and loan the money rea''
ized at seven per cent.
have no doubt that il the officers
4 of the local lHion will request H. th'
5 agricultural department will send al
} expert here to make a study of soll'
ana climatic conditions, to the enc
} that men may know to what crops
their lands are adapted and IL lar
) mers will experiment with new p'aht'
and seeds the same department. WI
4 GLADLY send the same free, upon gnar
anty that the experiments wi'l o'
faithfully made and their results re
ported. Let us not longer bhnoN
cling to the wheat fetch, but arise II
& IN. situation and make this soi'' s
rich and productive, this climate Sc
4 salubrious and healthy, yield to III
> telligent activities in a newer ah'
= wider field, and thus support / gre".
5 er population and contribute It's lu'
z share of c9ntented homes,
Respectfully,
(: STEPHEN A. Lowell d"'