The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1915-05-13
BY E. II. BROWN.


IN the country roads, one comes
upon strip that has been
broken up and planted to crop. A
llttle further along, perhaps, one sees
the road all grown up to ragweed
quack grass, sumach, or the like, and
wonders why there are not more
farmers who farm clear out to the
road.
Why not, to be sure? Probably
the principal reason is that there are
too many shade trees, fences or other
obstructions in the way. Local con-
ditions must determine whether or
not 1t will be wise to attempt the
+. cropping of the strips along the roads
and lanes. Our purpose, however, is
to tell OF cases in which such a ven
ture has been tried and the results
accomplished thereby.
OF all places for raising root crops,
the last that would suggest itself to
a sober minded person would prob
ably be the lane down which the
dairy herd is driven to pasture daily.
Mr.. l.. c. Cornell, of Michigan, has
such lane. He plowed it up this
year, and by running the back fur
row in the center of the road, made
1t so that 1t shed water. The fur
rows looked 80 nice and straight that
he could not resist the temptation to
try some rutabegas, and SO he sowed
a quarter Of pound of the seed
about July 10, and dragged it in.
On September 20 the writer drove
down the lane and found that there
were rutabagas growing. among some
weeds to be sure, and promising a
yield of $50 bushels. The lane is
about 80 rods long, and there can
not be much more than one-fourth
OF an acre into the roots. Mr.. Cor
nell thinks he can turn them off at
As cents a bushel without much trou-
BILE.
Several years ago, Mr.. ]. Fred
Smith. Holstein breeder at Byron,
Mich, had roadside that was full
Of brush. There being no fence to
hinder, he plOwed clear out to the
, road, and put the field into sugar
beets. That Summer there were Bel
gians who looked after the wedding,
that being part OF the contract with
the sugar factory Perhaps 1t was
rather hard on the Balgians, but Mr.
Smith took great deal of satisfac-
tion in telling how he was smooth
ing down the roadside, and getting
1t in shape so that he could seed 1t
down later and have it free from
brush or weeds.
Mr.. j. j. Seel is fruit grower and
since no stock is running loose, he
needs no fencing on his farm. The
roadside was all grown up to June
grass. Two years ago the whole
length OF the road, which divides the
farm in two, was broken up. To get
rid of the sod, Mr. Seel forked ii into
wagons and hauled it off to certain
parts of his sloping orchard, where
gullies and washouts had formed.
These sods, together with corn stalks
and other refuse, made splendid ma.
terial to soak up the rain and pre-
vent further erosion in treacherous
places.
After working the roadside down
with the drag until the sods were not
much in evidence, Mr.. Seel planted
Beauty of Hebron potatoes, and took
good care as to spraying, using b0r-
deaux and Paris green. The roadside
potato patch was an object lessen
to all the passers by. The foliage
was so luxuriant, and the weeds so
we'll subdued that one would think
the land had been cropped for all it
was worth. At harvest time Mr..
Seel dug 225 bushels of marketable
potatoes along his roadside patch,
comprising some one and half acres.
This year he repeated the perform
ance.
Perhaps these examples are suffi-
cient to show what may be done by
anyone who crops the roadside. As a
usual thing, he may expect good
yield of potatoes or corn, at least so
far as the fertility of decaying sod
will contribute to the welfare of
these crops There are several ad-
vantages to be gained. aside from the
use of the land free from taxes or
rental, when the roadside Is used for
cropping purposes.
The fact that the crop is being
watched by all the passers-by is an
advantage in that one feels spurred
on to make as good showing as pos
sible for the public inspection. The
long, narrow rows are much easier of
cultivation than numerous short
rows; less time is required in turn
ing the horse at the ends The nest