The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1914-09-03
FARMING IS A SCI.
ENCE IN SCOTLAND
II. +. Hynd, In Letter Makes A Few
Contrasts Between His Native
Land and Oregon.
Editor Gazette-Ti

EullOr Gazette-IlmeS.-
Notwithstanding the comparative
poverty so prevalent here, there is
on every hand the evidence of vast
wealth.. 1t requires capital to op-
crate the coal mines, large machine
shops and shipbuilding yards, hugh
factories and mercantile marine
that nearly equals the fleets of all
other nations combined. In addition
to the wealth employed in home in
dustries vast amount of British
capital is invested in foreign coun-
tries and the interest from these in
vestments contributes materially to
the prosperity Of the middle classes.
l find many in this district who have
money invested in the Pacific North
west and the rate of interest they
receive is quite pleasing to them.
In the country districts adjacent
to the larger cities one sees on every
hand the palatial residences of the
merchant princes and all over the
country, in many cases far distant
from the cities, are to be found the
homes of the landlords" some quite
modern buildings and others built
centuries ago. In every case these
homes of the wealthy are located in
the most lovely surroundings, beau
tiful gardens and parks dotted with
handsome trees and evergreen
shrubs, requiring many men to keep
them in order. Quite recently |
spent an afternoon on one of these
estates and many times while ad-
miring the beauties of the place
wondered why one man should have
so much, while so many just outside
the wall should have so little, of this
worlds goods. The residence was
three stories high and would have
covered a Heppner city block, re-
quiring over thirty female servants
to keep it in order. Twenty men are
employed in the gardens, besides
other men to look after motors, hor-
ses, cattle and game. The park
around the residence contained just
one thousand acres and was sur
rounded by stone wall about seven
feet high Beautiful elm, beach and
oak trees were growing in the park,
affording shade and shelter for the
fine thoroughbred cattle and sheep,
and several hundred deer were
roaming around. On one side was
a lake about forty acres in extent,
we'll stocked with fish, while wild
duck, pheasants and rabbits were
abundant. Two much for one man
you will say, but the owner had two
other estates nearly as large and
divided his time between the three.
The revenue to keep up these homes
was derived principally from rents
of farms adjoining, and there are
many such places as this, as we'll as
other districts in Scotland.
The best of feeling seems to pre-
vail between the Landlord" and the
farmers. and it is not unusual for
family to occupy rented farm for
several generations. If farmer
keeps up the fertility of the soil and
takes good care of the farm, his
lease never terminates, being con
tinued after his death by his family.
A farmer who neglects his business
or who does not thoroughly cult
vate his land is soon told to move
as most Of the leases specify a ter
mination on two years notice. The
rents paid are comparatively low,
being less than the interest on the
purchase price of a Willamette val
ley farm, the prevailing rent in this
district being from SIS to 81 per acre.
The cost of working the land is
greater, and there is some outlay for
fertilizers, but they reap crops that
would surprise the average Oregon
farmer. Wheat yields SO to SIS bush
els, barley 65 to 20, oats rs to so;
potatoes, s to 10 tons and turnips
20 to 25 tons per acre, these being
the principal crops crown, and a
yield of Is per cent above these fig,
ures is quite common on some of the