The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1913-02-14


EThis article is hy II, W. Sparks,
superintendent OF the demonstration
farm On the State College Of Washing
ton. Mr.. Sparks is an expert 10 his
line aud his article viii be found
we'll worth while Editor,l
Any country within whose bounda
rios there i bountifnl supply of,
water for the soil and temperate eli
matte conditions obtain win see In the
near future the greatest development
III the home building svar seen on
this earth. Perhaps there win be
some Who rcad this article who win
question my Judgment in this state
ment and will plead that am an
optimist by nature but have been
aehooIed by experience to believe that
any ono who has welI-founded the
Dry can justify his eosfideace in the
accuracy Of that theory by substan.
tiaI evidence,
Proceeding thus, we ask: What are
the factors for home buildlngf And
We answer First, tho man; second,
climatic conditions; third, the soil,
and, fourth, natural diversified re-
sources, which ws win consider in re.
verse order here named. Strictly
y
speaking, the first three factors are
resources, and the chief resources, but
a. they are 10 some degree common
with All inhabited countries, We want
10 call attention TO those that are
net common, and they are many and
valuable.
l bciieve the time will justify us in
the statement that the means Of
transportation, which win include the
many transcontinental and local rail.
roads, urban, Internrban and electric
lines; the splendid system Of water
ways; the natural grades; limitlcss
supply Of the best material for road
building, together with tho bound-to-
build and buiid.right spirit Of our PEG.
gle, is resource Of inestimable worth
10 commercial interests, as permanent
commerce always travels along the
lines Of least resistance and easiest
grades, and 10 the home builders on
the banks and terraced benches Of
the inland yea, lake or river; or back
on the plateaus or mountain.sidcs.
Then, the water power--endless,
boundlesc and "going ON forever. z
Manufacturing Is always prosperous
whore there IL choap power and AIDE.
quate transportation facilities, and
when We remember that we have
within reach mines OF the precious
metals. vast deposits OF iron, coal
manufacturing coal, ornamental and
bnilding stone, forests Of timber, IL
there any ono who can correctly esti.
mate the possibilities Of any place
where nature has been moro lavish In
bestowinE her giftsS
II We we're TO Judge tho soils by
the amount Of mineral clements nee
essnry Tor crop production they con
tain 40 shown by chemical analyses
We would say that there are many
places where there is much more uni
formly good soil. We have on Oh,
Pacific Coast thousands Of acre.
which can be correctly elassed al
good, and considerable that is poo
when judged by the soil chemist z
standard. Indeed, we think we ear
say that the soils are more varie,
here than are most Of our agricul
turai soils. We have found as man.
~ four distinct types Of soil on on
acre. justifying us In using the gen
erAi term "spotted in Places bu
al these types have special valu
when We know how TO select AM
adapt crops and methods OF produc
tioa best suited 20 our soil. Blu
thorc is . second factor that assert
itself here. upsets and completed
routs some Of cur preconecived notion
81 soil fertility. refer to climati
conditions, which have net always Doe
fully appreciated. The most fertil
soil Ia tAe world would be valueles
without water 10 transfer the eIs
nents Of the soIl 3 fertility to ID
growing plant. Temperature Of sol
and air, together with sunshine /
season 10 assist In celebrating an
assimilasing these elements. Any con
tination Of soil and climatic eond
lions that has produced a vsst FOL
est o. mammoth trees win prodne
bounsifully Of other and moro Walt
able crops with our cooperation.
would be very difficult 70 eemput
the snli value Of the annual rainfa
o. this country, coming 40 Il does !
greatest quantities in the dormar
season Ia gentls, falling rain. withou
severe winds and later sunshine ar
showers blended. There IL untold mi
lions Ia them. II Ia no wonder II
Egyptians Of old while working wit
thar x.mrmhaa ffafan svassla akattk AN