Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-05-11
What One Marion County
Farmer Is Doing Now
By W. C. Cowgirl.

BY W. C. Cowgirl.
Born in Illinois in 1850, and removing
to the west in 1880, "Tom' Walker
has operated of one form of $50 acres
on the outskirts of Salem, the capitol of
Oregon, fir the past So years, and has
only recently ~rcmodelled his dwelling
bull new barns, installed an electric
lngh' plant and system Of home water
works, which supplies his house and
barns with running water, both hot and
cold.
As treasurer of the Middle Grove
Red Cross society, he has just completed
a canvass of his neighborhood, and thru
his efforts every farm in that distric,
with few exceptions, is plastered with
Red Cross, War Savings Stamps and
Liberty Loan bonds, instead of mort
cages.
Grain Is Walkers Big Crop.
Years ago Mr.. Walker conducted {;
dairy farm, as well as made an attempt
to raise grain, but he did not ges the
big results that he thought he was en-
titled to, so a few years ago he SOLD
off all his cattle and other live stock.
retaining only sufficient for home use
and sold all of his high priced farm hor
ses and bought a large trae ion engine
which eats gasoline and oils, instead OF
hay, and when idle costs nothing for its
keep, while idle horses must have hay
and grain, three times a day just as
though at work in the fields.
One hundred and twenty-five acres of
land had already been planted to wheat
a. a cost of 81 per acre for seed alone
whila So acres of oats has been planted,
these two crops being part of Mr.. Walk
er's plan of complying with government
call for more foodstuffs.
Not Only Bond Buyer, But Loaned
His Son to sns Nevy.
When his only son joined the navy
about two years ago, Mr.. Walker began
buying Liberty Bonds, War Savings
Stamps, and is a regular contributor 20
the Red Cross and Y. NJ. c. A. war
funds, as we'll as heading his entire
neighborhood in supporting the govern
ment financially, as well as raising
wheat.
When it comes to blowing and plant
ing time this spring, Mr.. Walker, who
has been compelled to hire a good mar
to help him run his tractor, since his
son left home, in Ending to build a new
fence along the county road this season:
had the old one removed, and in blowing
-
the adjacent wheat field he ran his pillow
ten feet onto this county road right OF
way, and thus gained about ten add
tional acres for grain raising, to which
he county court raised no objection.
Other farmers in the neighborhood
are taking their incentive from this &C
ton, and are are utilizing every foot of
land available, The adjoining farm OF
S. b. Hill just about the same size or
about $50 acres, largely under eultiva
ton and whose ''boys are all girls, has
not vet bought a trac Jon engine but is
assisted in his farm work by his dau
ghters-all Red Cross Workers-who
can ri19 a sulky pillow with any of the
young men, and plow just as many
acres in a day, while in the house they
assist ia the house work, and knit fol-
the Rcd Cross society, of which the EN-
tire family of six girls are members.
The one great secret of Mr.. Walker
success in farming, is the principle nc
uses, and always has, of rotation OF hi
crops, and the use of fertilizers of tn
right kind on fields which require it.
1t is one notable fact, that Wake.
and his %neighbors have the satisfaction
that ,heir section of the county was one
of the first to $50 over the top" with
the balance of Marion county, and the
state of Oregon, through the stupend)
Gus efforts of just such loyal farmers
as hese, has up to date, according to the
latest advices from Washington, over
subscribed its quota of the Third Lib
erty Loan bond sales upwards of $36,
900, 900, or 100 per cent increase.
The Burning Question of Farm Labor
AS a member of the Middle Grove
school board Mr.. Walker is advocating
a policy in line with a general senti