Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1911-08-04

| Agriculture without live stock on
the farm is like bread without yeast.
Live stock not only is the basis of
successful farming, but is it's true
leavening influence as we'll. 1t is the
only practical means Of keeping up
the productivity of the soil. Without
stock the soil will inevitably suffer
deterioration in its plant food. Since
soil fertility is the basis of profitable
farming it behooves the farmer to
give this problem intelligent atten-
ton.
The great need of Western Oregon
is more first-cass COWS and more
good hogs so that much larger
percentage of the crude products of
the farm will be consumed by live
stock and thus converted into finished
products, such as milk, cream, hogs,
etc. To those in touch with the situ-
alton it is Enthusiastically evident that
, the counties where live stock in some
form has received attention have
made the best progress agricultur
ally. Take, for example, Washington
County; last year this county pro-
, duced over one million dollars worth
hogs, poultry, eggs, etc. Dairying
has been the principal agricultural in
dustry in this county for number
of years, with the result that the ear
marks of prosperity are strongly in
evidence all over the county. Before
the advent of dairying there was not
a bank in the county, now there are
eleven of these financial institutions
all of which are in a prosperous con-
r fdition. In addition to this, good
} barns and modern homes dot the
, landscape in every direction. 1t is
truly a progressive agricultural
county, made so by live stock. The
farms are we'll titled and the soil is
growing richer rather than poorer
Under-drainage has been practiced ex
tensively; in fact, the farmers of
Washington County have laid more
tile than have been used in all other
counties in Oregon combined. Dairy
, ing has made this possible. Perman-
ent road building is now in active pro-
gress and soon the county highways
will be well improved. Land values
are also steadily increasing and the
farms are being rapidly subdivided
, and the new farm homes are adding
, constantly to the population of the
county. This is practically all due to
, the COW and other farm stock, and
r what this stock has done for Wash
ington County similar live stock will
: do for other counties.
< Polk county is coming rapidly into
! line in making live stock the domin-
De Co ~
/. has been noted for it's excellent flocks
1 of sheep and goats for some time.
t 70 these the farmers are now add
r ing dairy herds. At present there are
} more high-class Jersey herds in Polk
: County than there are in any other
4 county of the state. This means agri-
g cultural wealth and soon the farmers
q of Polk County will become more
: generally prosperous. This county
a also has some excellent herds of
q swine and the breeding of draft
horses is receiving marked attention
+ This increased production of live
e stock means the growing of more
i clover, vetch, alfalfa and other for
r age crops, which, when consumed
upon the farm, become the true soil
: builders.
> Other Western Oregon counties are
showing a greater interest in live
J. stock husbandry and the ruinous sys.
tenn of exclusive grain-growing, sum,
mer-fallow and burning of straw is
fortunately rapidly becoming obso'
!. lete.
There is ample room and abundant
opportunity for the improvement Of
live stock conditions upon the wheat
e farms of Eastern Oregon. This soil
r although phenomenally rich and re.
S markably we'll adapted to the produc'
!. ton of wheat is also well adapted to
i the production of live stock. Hogs,
5 sheep and draft horses should be
! produced from these farms in great
= :, numbers These in time would great,
y ly increase the value of production
y per acre and at the same time insure
- the conservation of soil fertility. The
g field pea and alfalfa should largely
supersede the summer-fallow. These
c are both good nitrogen gatherers, and
a at the same time furnish excellent
s feed for the growing and fattenins
}. of swine and sheep. Each grain
farm should have some draft mares
e and the growing of good horses
/ should be made a feature of the farm
l. No better horses can be produced
If anywhere than can be grown upon the
wheat farms of Eastern Oregon. Per
e haps however, the greatest field OF
opportunity in live stock production Is
e in swine husbandry. Conditions are
l. highly favorable for the economical
,; production of hogs. These should be
q grown mainly upon alfalfa with
l, small supplemental feed of grain anc
: finished upon peas grazed off in the
open field. This is an easy anc
. profitable way of producing hogs, ant
q at the same time a good method o.
). soil building The peas will produce
a the best of pork and add nitrogen
r and organic substance to the soil
e both exceedingly essential in the con