The Vashon Island record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1916-1919, 1919-01-02
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SCANDINAVIAN
AMERICAN
BARK
TACOMA

duets Of this zone may be grown
here, local conditions make il in
advisable TO attempt some lines on
IA commercial scale. locality has
been capitalized to such an extent
that the assessor has taken cogni-
zance of it, and the would-be pro
dncer finds himself up against a
/ primary investment of from $500
per acre upwards. exclusive of all
improvements except clearing.
Successful farming under such
conditions means intensive cult
vation Therefore thc conclusion
! | arrive at is that the greatest
measure Of financial success for
the average person under average
conditions, owning from five to
twenty acres, 20 be had in poul-
try aud small fruits. This does
not include specalties, such as a
greenhouse, dahlia culture, or any
other line now in operation or
which may hereafter be developed,
where crop Of high value may be
| produced frcm small area.
While the high cost Of land is a
handicap, there are other factors
making for success. For instance,
Seattle is one of the best markets
bin the West and nearness TO il
means top prices for produce,
cheap freight rates, ability to get
stuff to market in prime condition
and an opportunity for the grower
TO meet personally his city custom
er, which is no slight advantage
As TO supplies which The grower
receives from the city, the rule
holds equally coed. And it has
been testified to repeatedly that
nearness to large body of salt
water gives immunity from frosts
severe enough to injure fruit as
instance loganberry plants, which
winter kill to some extent in near
by sections of the mainland while
escaping injury here.
Now, nothing would be further
from my purpose than to convey
the impression that | think moth
ing but poultry and small fruits
should be grown here. There are
successful dairies, hog ranches, or,
chards and general farms, and
fast may they multiply and long
may they flourish. | have long
been consistent supporter of the
idea that every farm should en-
deavor to be self-supporting. That
is, that in so far as possible every
article consumed on the place
should be produced there. The
prosperity of nation may be
gagged by the extent TO which It's
exports exceed its imports, and
the rule applies equally well to
community. Unfortunately there
iare no statistics of this kind avail
able, but inquiry among transpor-
tation men confirms the belief
| already had that we ship in more
stuff than we send out. In fact
every boat to the Island brings
things we should produce. We
ship milk and cream away and
butter in. We send beef cattle
and fat hogs to the city and our
butchers hand us packing-house
products over their counters. We
import the feed for our COWS and
hogs when we should raise all the
hay required and much of the
grain.
Ii is true that under present day
methods farm made butter is at a
disadvantage, but if there is any
valid reason why there should not
be creamery on the Island am
not aware of it. Three of our
poultrymen have combined to take
the entire oatput IF buttermilk
from one Seattle creamery, which
us sufficient evidence that this by