Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1922-03-23
RAISE CHICKS AND PRUAES
Chickens Fertilize Land Good Only for
Raising 2runes-Farner's Discov-
cry Leads to Rapid Growth
in the industry.

unconventional Plain, now a
community with the thriving village
Of Orchards as the center, is expect
ing to come into its own in few
gears. The reason is system of ag-
yiculture known to Orchards residents
as the "two-story crop" If the Or
chards residents make their present
system work. it will be the first plan
for filling the scanty Fourth Plain soil
that has proved success since the
land was first cultivated by the Hud-
sons Bay company some 90 years ago.
The Hudson Bay farmers made the
land pay. Until very recently, the
only other people that protited from
Fourth Plain were the real estate men,
who frequently sold the same tract
of land two or three times year.
Soil Looks Fine.
The soil of Fourth Plain is fine look
Ing on top. In fact, what soil there is
is good soil, but II exists only in very
small quantities. An inch or so be-
meath the surface gravel is Mound.
Eastern people, lured into buying
small farm, soon found that 1t could
not be made TO produce. Even prunes
failed, this being about the worst
thing that can be said for southern
Washington land. The prune crops
were usually small, although occasion
ally big crops are harvested.
X. j. Kenny, well-known chicken
man, discovered the "two-story crop"
In searching for a farm for chicken
ranch, he found a place at Orchards
that was well drained and otherwise
suited. On the farm when he bought
was prune orchard Mr.. Kenny cul-
tivated the orchard and raised the
chickens In addition. He soon found
that the chickens fortified the prune
orchard, the light soil being well
adapted to the purpose. AS general
rule animal fertilizer cannot be used
for prune orchards except on light
well drained soil
Mr.. Kenny specialized on quality
stock, and his birds and eggs command
far better than the market price.
Others of his neighbors tried out the
experiment and it was soon found
that practically every Orchards farm
Is as well adapted to the two-story
crop as the Kenny place. Ten years
was located at Orchards. Now the
number In the district is probably
close 10 500, and every flock is being
increased.
Chickens Fertiize Land
A thousand chickens In the hands
of an experienced chicken man will
produce comfortable living at Or
chards The chickens occupy the
ground floor" on the farm and fer
tilize the prune trees. occupying the
second story. While the prune trees
are not remarkably productive as
prune trees 80. nevertheless they rep.
resent practically all profit.
AS over 80 chicken ranches have
been established in the last six months.
II Is conseryatively estimated that at
the present rate of increase two more
years win make Orchards the great
est chicken country in the United
States, not excluding Petaluma, Cal
Practically every chicken raiser, in adj
dition to his flock of birds. has an or
chard, and the receipts from both fruit
and chickens make farming a sue
cess.
Orchards Is six miles from Van
couver. Wash, and but ten miles from
Portland. Ore, and as street car line
runs through the new chicken country,
tho growers have little to fear about
finding q market.