The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1920-10-22
SPECIALIZE,

Editor Gazette
should like to find space in your
paper to say something that Is being
continually pressed upon my mind by
what | see and hear in every direction
In our valley. 1t is something that, if
mad known 1t when / came to this
section. would have saved me time
money and worry. that could lily af-
ford to lose.
! am positive that we must special
lze or go bankrupt We must find
something to raise that will produce
enough money from a small acreage,
ten acres or less to support a family,
pay water expenses and taxes. ana
gradually pay back the price of the
land. If We cannot do that, the sooner
We sell or abandon our land, the better
for all Of us, except the few that have
capital enough tor un herd of stock
on the hills and make it pay
What shall this specially be? Opin-
ions differ, but 1t must be something
that brings high price. Some have
done well with tomatoes this year but
that is only for those that are within
reach of the cannery and hardly any
one would care to risk everything on
a tomato cop in view of the fact that
blight might destroy the crop. We must
have something in addition. think
poultry should pay here but not every
one can succeed with poultry no mat
ter how favorable the conditions. I'm
q kn MI q,
high grade cows on sweet clover pas
ture and sufficient silage. but high
grade cows are scarce and very
high. Strawberries can be grown here
profitably, but the acreage probably
will have to be limited by the labor
supply. Probably canteloupes would do
we'll and sell we'll shipped in carload
lots. Some of us are trying out the
manufacture Of sorgum, this year, and
that may prove profitable. Mr. Ramsey
tells me that he will specialize on Gel
cry next year. Of course my friends
expect me to say "apricots". Indeed !
do say "apricots. peaches, prunes,
cherries, grapes" and some other
things in that line but know that
most of us must have something to
carry us along until those things come
in.
There is one class of landowner that
has hitherto taken little interest in the
specialties. These men hold larger
tracts which they wish to sell at a
good price. By the help of good agent
some will be able to do this. but just
sell. 1t has a tendency to brighten the
prospective investor He wonders what
is the matter with the country when
everybody is trying to sell out. These
land owners are really vitality inter
ested in specializing If they know il,
for land will not sell here except 20
specialists or to the blind. Those Of us
that bought land here for genera,
farming purposes were foolish, but We
are excusable at that time, for no
one knew then what we know now.
But now it is very blind and gullble |
stranger that comes in and buys for |
general farming. We cannot expect any |
large influx of such immigrants in the |
future. Therefore our large land own
ers are destined to stand or fall with
specialties.
In this connection would it not be an
excellent thing for us to meet and go |
over the situation thoroughly. 1t is
not possible, of course, for all Of us
to plant the same things, for our soil
differs, but it would be good thing If
we could plant together as much as
possible so that We can present such
a volume of products of like kind that
we can attract factories or buyers from
a distance I am convinced that we
have large problems to solve and that
we must solve them or lose our place
Let us get together and talk it over.
Very truly yours,
PAUL MOHLER. |