The Washington times., 1914-09-08
MAKES FARM FADS
PAY HER BIG PROFITS
Owner of California Ranch
Raises Pampas PIumes and
SpineIess Cactus.

LOS ANGELES. Sept s-That So
called "fads" in farming can be made
10 pay big profits has been proved bv
Mrs. H. W. r. Strong on her 220-acre
ranch near Whittier. Mrs. Strong is
one of the best Informed. scientific agri-
culturists in California. She believes in
fsds. enjoys them and knows how TO
make money out Of them.
A few years ago Mrs Strong became
interested in pampas grass-the grass
on which South American cattle Led
and fatten. She thought it might be
grown in Southern California She tried
Il and found she was right Then sre
hordered the driveway between her
home and the road with pampas grass
and pomegranate trees. The grass grew
r-ll-taller than the trees. II pluned
FGIaZngll until, one day, Mrs S;~0ug
discovered that Berlin was paving 81
'"o.u'" for rampas grass pluwes |" ht.
used as decorations. and London i.b"u,
hall as much.
This led her 70 believe there might
he a market for the plUmes nearer home.
There was, and 1t paid her 5000 in
Two years.
A year ago last month Mrs Strong
bought 1880 spineIess cacti. largely -
IN experiment, and set them out On
the ranch. The plants cost her $500
and were bought from the Ocean Villa
Intensive Farming Colony. Since then
Fpineless cacti have advanced in price
Mrs. Strong's cactI have grown am;.z-
ugly. and recently a representative of
the same company estimated their pres
"ut value At close 10 $4,000. Mrs.
Strong admits that she has had s"v-
eral offers TO sell at fancy prices, out
has refused them all.
Incidentally Mrs. Strong believes In
her fads to tho extent OF informing
herself thoroughly on them. For in
stance. sh" Investigated the food VaiE'
o. pampas grass. having il analysed
by DR.. Harvey Wiley. who reported #
=" be more nutritious for Cattl" than
alfalfa or clover and second only 20
Eastern timothy. Her reason fo~ HAY
ing that ANALYSIS mad" was simply that
= team Of driving horses she owned a {
the time developed = great fondness fOr
the grass. and She wanted 70 know If II
was good for them.
Similarly she has investigated rnc
food value Of spineIess cactus. find
iuG Il Is somewhat less nutritious for
cattle than alfalfa, the difference in
tons being fifteen Of raCfi as against
twelve Of alfalfa: but finding also
that II is balanced food for hogs
~ other words. that hogs will fatren
Upon II il given no other food The
cactus today, however. j. far too cy-
pensive for cattle fodder. having
much greater value for planting pIr-
poses. the demand being constantly in
excess Of supply.
The strong ranch. punningly named
RanchitO del Fuerte. which, transIa-
ted. means the Little Ranch OF the
Strong" was bought from Don Pho
Jlco, last governor Of California be
fore American occupation. and was the
f'rst land he sold in this state. The
price paid was S2J an acre. and Don
Pho offered Mr.. Strong his entire hold
ings Of 500 acres at a price of s. an
acre. The ranch adjOins the old Pho
dobe house which the governor called
hH home" during his two terms in Of
ice and which will soon be presented 10
ire State by the city Of Whittier. which
now owns it, TO be preserved as a his