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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

In Cooperation with the
Agricultural Experiment Station, State College of Washington

DEPARTMENT BULLETIN No. 1236

Washington, D. C. July 23, 1924

FARMING THE LOGGED-OFF UPLANDS IN WESTERN
WASHINGTON

E. R. JOHNSON, Assistant Agricultural Economist
E. D. STRAIT, formerly Assistant Agricultural Economist,

~ Bureau of Agricultural Economics

CONTENTS

Summary of Results . Accumulation of Wealth by Settlers

Area Studied Methods by Which Profits May Be Increased . . .
History of Agricultural Development Dairy Farming . |

Clearing the Land Poultry Raising

Organization and Management of Farmsin the Area . . Small-fruit Growing

Prices Received for Farm Products Mixed Farming

Changes between 1915 and 1921 on 47 farms Problems Involved in Choosing and Developing a Farm .
The Financial Progress of Settlers Financing Operations

Social and Economic Influences which have affected the Opening and Developing a Farm
success of settlers .

WASHINGTON
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
1924 :

hon aS <a!
ats ee

Fores

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

In Cooperation with the
Agriculture Experiment Station, State College of Washington

DEPARTMENT BULLETIN No. 1236

Washington, D. C. July 23, 1924 |

FARMING THE LOGGED-OFF UPLANDS IN WESTERN WASHINGTON.

By E. R. Jounson, Assistant Agricultural Economist, and E. D. Strait, formerly
Assistant Agricultural Economist, Bureau of Agricultural Economics.

CONTENTS.
Page. Page.
Summary of results........... 5A ASE 5 2 | Accumulation of wealth by settlers.........- 22
JAY Rit 00 tne Ae 8 aA Oo eS ee 2 | Methods by which profits may be increased. 24
History of agricultural development........ Ae DAINyn Armin ey oo 858s a Se ees oe ite 25
Mlesrin eg Phe LAN 3. ~ .c4s - waco sview'= oe oe e~- Se lee OU bE y/ TaISID Panes Cael een ee ees eee 2 27
Organization and management of farms in the SUISSE STOWE 926 oe eee eee 30
SUC a SUT EAR ERR GID PS 1 ORG Dea te oe LS Maxed siarming. 2080 pou lep ec OU ene 32
Prices received for farm products..........-- 16 | Problems involved in choosing and develop-
Changes between 1915 and 1921 on 47 farms. 17 MIG N Eg Oe oe eee ee Meee ee Pane ei eae 32
The financial progress of settlers............. 19: |hInaAneinm OPeratlonss so. see saeeee see ae 33
Social and economic influences which have Opening and developing the farm. .......-. 35
affected the success of settlers ...... 19 |

This study was planned to obtain information which would be
helpful to farmers and prospective settlers on the logged-off uplands
of western Washington on the following points:

1. Clearing of land; the clearing methods used, and the cost and
advisability of clearing by different methods.

2. Organization and management of farms in this region, and the
returns Prot the different types of farming.

3. Methods of increasing profits on farms already established.

4, Progress made by the settlers who have developed farms from
logged-off lands.

5. Fundamental principles which prospective settlers should know
before settling these lands and the practices which settlers should
follow to develop a farm from logged-off land in the most economical
and quickest manner. ipl odd

A detailed study of farms established on logged-off land in King
and Pierce Counties, Wash., was made in 1915 and again in 1921.
Trained enumerators visited about 300 farmers in 1915 and about
400 in 1921 and obtained from each a record of his year’s business,
the financial progress he had made since settling on the farm, and
other allied information. Practically every farmer visited in 1915

Note.—The department of farm management of the Washington State College of Agriculture assisted
in planning the investigation and in collecting the data. ~

74983—-24—Bull. 1236-1

y BULLETIN 1236, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

was revisited in 1921. While the conclusions drawn are strictly
applicable to this area only, yet the general truths developed will
apply almost as well to other heavily timbered areas in western Wash-
ington, Oregon, and British Columbia.

SUMMARY OF RESULTS.

In most cases the selling price of raw logged-off uplands plus the
cost of the clearing exceeds the value of the land after it is cleared
for crops.

Jt requires about 50 days of 8 hours of man labor, 34 days horse
labor, 205 pounds of explosive costing $26.39 in 1921, and caps and
fuse costing $4.26 to clear the average acre of stumps and roots, fill
the holes, and level the land.

The proportion of settlers who had accumulated wealth to the
extent of more than $6,000 between the time of settlement and 1921
is as follows: 86 per cent of those who settled before 1898; 78 per
cent of those who settled between 1898 and 1903; 61 per cent of the
1904 to 1909 settlers; 26 per cent of the 1910 to 1915 groups; and 5
per cent of those who settled during the six years previous to 1921.

Financial progress of the farmers has been determined largely by
the quality of the land they occupy, its increase in value, the economy
with which they have brought raw land to production, the persist-
ency and intelligence which they have used in the operation of their
farms, and their ability to adjust their standard of living to their
incomes.

Poultry was the most important enterprise on the farms visited in
1921. On the average, 45 per cent of the total receipts came from
poultry and eggs, 26 per cent from dairy products, and 15 per cent
from fruit.

Feed was the largest item of cash expense in 1921, averaging 70
per cent of all expenses on the poultry farms, 47 per cent on the
general farms, 39 per cent on the dairy farms, 21 per cent on the
fruit farms, and 53 per cent for all the farms visited.

Poultry and small-fruit growing seem to be the most profitable
types of farming for new settlers on the higher-priced uplands adja-
cent to the larger cities. In 1921, 48 per cent of the fruit, 44 per
cent of the poultry, 22 per cent of the mixed, and 16 per cent of the
dairy farms had farm incomes of $500 or over.

The average farm income, that is, the difference between receipts
and expenses for all farms in 1921, was $414. In addition, the fam-
ily had the use of food, shelter, and fuel furnished by the farm,
amounting to $316. In obtaiming the farm incomes, unpaid family
labor amounting to an average of $166 was included in the expenses.

Many of the farmers in this region can increase their farm profits
by increasing the size and quality of the farm business by keeping
some accounts and studying the expenses and returns from their
different enterprises, paying more attention to soil management and
standardizing their farm products.

AREA STUDIED.

The territory surveyed was confined to the uplands of King and
Pierce Counties. The topography ranges from nearly level to rolling,
with steeper slopes descending into the larger valleys and becoming

more rough and broken near the foothills. The soils are of glacia
origin and mostly belong to the Everett gravelly sandy loam and

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4 BULLETIN 1236, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

HISTORY OF AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT.

Looking back into the early history of this region, one finds that
the settlement of the Puget Sound Basin began in the decade 1850-
1860, but the population increased very slowly and little progress
was made in the development of its resources until within the past
40 years. The larger portion of the region was originally sovenist by
a dense forest of cedar and fir, and the lumber industry has been the
main factor in the development of this area. |

Increasing demand for agricultural products by the larger cities
resulted in a rapid development of the most desirable farming lands.
The river valleys and deltas adjacent to these cities were settled and
developed first, as they produced abundant crops and could be made
ready for cultivation at a comparatively small cost. Farming on the
uplands, as discussed in this bulletin, developed slowly. Untilacom-
paratively recent date it was limited primarily to the territory adja-
cent to the larger cities and in the vicinity of small lumber towns
which had grown up along the railroads, shore lines, and larger
streams.

CLIMATE.

The climate is marine in character, as the region is in the path of
the moisture-bearing winds of the Pacific. Temperature conditions
are remarkably even throughout the year, with slow and rather
shght changes. The averagetemperature for January, the coldest
month in the year, is about 40° F., and for July, the warmest month of
the year, alittle over 60° F. The average daily range of temperature
at Seattle, which may be used as a fair average for the section, is 9°
F. during the winter months and 18° F. during the summer months.

Killing frosts sometimes occur as late as May 15, but generally the
Jast one is during April. The first killing frost in the autumn usu-
ally occurs during late October.

Average annual precipitation is 55 inches at Olympia and 35 inches
at Seattle, dilly decreasing as one goes northward. The rainy
season extends from October to April, durmg which the average
monthly precipitation is over. About 75 per cent of the total precip-
itation occurs in the six months, November to April, inclusive
During the period May to September, inclusive, the average monthly
rainfall is shght, the driest months being July and August.

Winds of this section are prevailingly from the west. They seldom
obtain a velocity of more than 45 miles an hour, the average high
wind in the winter blowing from 25 to 45 miles and in the summer
at a somewhat lower velocity. The total number of windy days is
small.

MARKETS.

Seattle and Tacoma furnish markets for some of the products of
these farms. Condenseries at Auburn and Kent receive the milk
from the hill farms located east of these towns.

At present a considerable proportion of the eggs produced are being
shipped to eastern markets, mostly to New York, by a cooperative
poultrymen’s organization. Cooperative organizations also handle
most of the berries not sold locally. These berries are canned, made
into preserves, or shipped as fresh fruits.

FARMING LOGGED-OFF UPLANDS IN WESTERN WASHINGTON. 5

TRANSPORTATION.

Most of the farms studied are located east of Kent, which is on the
_ main line of the Northern Pacific, Great Northern, Oregon-Wash-
_ ington Railroad & Navigation Co., Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul, and
the interurban electric line between Seattle and Tacoma. The valley
highways between Seattle and Tacoma are excellent, much of the way
being concrete road. There are some miles of concrete road directly in
the areas studied, and practically all of the remaining roads in the terri-
tory are improved gravel. The farmers around Gig Harbor are
furnished transportation by a municipal ferry line to Tacoma, and
those on Vashon Island have steamer connections with Tacoma and
municipal ferry connections with Seattle. Altogether, local transpor-
_ tation could be considered excellent. The accompanying map (fig. 1)
shows the location of these farms.

TIMBER.

The original forest cover in the area was Douglas fir, cedar, and
hemlock, the fir predominating. In most cases at least a part of the
timber had been logged off at the time the settlers purchased the land,
though a few of the earliest settlers purchased land covered with vir-
gin timber. This stand of virgin timber was exceptionally heavy.

tands running more than 100,000 feet per acre were not at all uncom-
mon, and in some small areas it ran as high as 300,000 feet per acre.
Many of the trees were 200 feet or more in height and from 4 to 8
feet in diameter at stump height. This exceptionally heavy growth
of timber makes the problem of land clearing one of the most difficult
with which the settlers have to contend.

The agricultural worth of the soils in this area is not readily deter-
mined by the plant covering, since the distribution of plants depends
more upon soil water than upon soil composition and texture. How-
ever, since the agricultural value of these uplands depends largely
upon the capacity of the soil to retain moisture, some suggestions may
be gained from the plant covering.

The less desirable uplands, those having excessive drainage, are.
usually conspicuous by an abundant growth of madrona, manzanita,
evergreen huckleberry, and mountain balm. The original timber
stand was also much lighter and is indicated by the smaller stumps.
On the soils which are better able to retain moisture, and therefore
more desirable for agricultural purposes, a considerable amount of
alder, cedar, hemlock, vine maple, salal, and Oregon grape is found.
The ‘‘alder bottoms” are considered among the best soils of the region.

CLEARING THE LAND.

The problem of getting the land cleared after the merchantable
timber has been taken off is not limited to the removal of the large
stumps andsnags. The ground is usually littered with a mass of dead
tops and branches, and a large part of the land which has been lying
idle for a number of years is covered with second growth and dense
underbrush, all of which must be removed before the land can be made
useful for agricultural purposes. Before any attempt is made to
clear the land, the settler should have some knowledge as to the agri-
cultural value of the soil.

6 BULLETIN 1236, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

In clearing the land for agricultural purposes, it is first slashed
then pastured for several years, during which time many of the logs
and some of the stumps are removed. (See figs. 2 and 3.) From
two to six days are required to slash an acre. The slashing had best
be done in the summer. Care should be exercised to fall the slash
so that a good burn may be obtained. As soon as the slash is dry,
it should be burned.

Before burning a permit must be obtained from the fire warden
and precaution taken to prevent the fire from getting beyond control.

If the land is to be used for pasture, clover and grass seed should
be sown in the ashes and scratched in before the fall rains. At the
time of seeding a large amount of small stuff can be picked up and
long logs that would seriously interfere with the grazing cattle may
be burned into shorter lengths.

Fic. 2.—Fir stumps ranging from 3 to 6 feet in diameter. They are about 8 feet in

height. In many cases the larger stumps are allowed to remain for several years
and crops are grown between.

After seeding, the land is usually pastured for a few years, and
during this period most of the logs are hauled together and burned.
Some may be used for fuel for domestic purposes, and if any burn-
ing method is to be used in removing the stumps, a number will be
needed for fuel to assist in burning.

The time required to haul the logs into piles depends on many fac-
tors, such as amount of waste left from logging and fuel requirements
for the home and for burning stumps, but on the average it takes a
crew of two or three men, with two horses and blocks and line, from
4 to 10 days per acre.

There has elt a great variation in stumping practices. Table 1
shows the number of farmers using different methods in 1915 and 1921,

FARMING LOGGED-OFF UPLANDS IN WESTERN WASHINGTON. ‘|

TaBLE 1.—Stumping practices in uplands of western Washington.

Number of farmers
using methods in—

Method.
1915 1921
OVUM Rel GO MOUTH er Skee eee ek Ae Ree ee ye eee Sie ey let. Wee iS So 37 6
iorsepower capstan and explosive: 7 tess 22st es ee ae Slee ae ee 35 15
Bp LOSIMeS anal DUTT MRS TOUT GE sooo ee oe oe en tare ote ae mete ato ee sjojsln x= 26 9
Block andilimerandrexplosiviekmmset ep witae. tans as. Se Sone Aone ee ona ae oe ces - 24 23
Donkey eneinoss= F-esece. assess = Pee en Ss tele soph elo neee See ee ck AL ise 6 1

A few farmers have cleared by the use of donkey engines. This
method requires a large cash outlay, but land can be cleared more
rapidly than by any other method.

BiG. so.
and burned and enough small stuff picked up to allow stock to graze. Grass seed
was sown in, the ashes immediately after burning.

Early utilization of land for pasture. The young growth has been slashed

When dynamite is used, some use an amount sufficient to shoot
the stump clear of the ground. Others use enough to crack the stump
and then burn it in the ground. Others use a little more explosive,
breaking the stump into smaller pieces and later pulling them with a
horsepower capstan puller or with blocks and line. The use of
blocks and line in connection with explosive is increasing.

Where possible to use, one of the best and cheapest methods of de-
stroying the stumps is by the char-pit method, but unfortunately soil
in this area does not contain enoabh clay to permit its use.

Burning methods are extensively used, particularly by those who
have little cash and plenty of time. Some bore intersecting holes
into the heart of the stump and fire at the point of intersection; others
dig the earth from around the roots and fire. Aside from the time
consumed, the other objection to all burning methods is that there is

8 BULLETIN 1236, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

a tendency to leave unburned roots close to the surface. One method
of burning is described in Bulletin 195 of the Oregon State College
of Agriculture. Prospective purchasers of farms should satisfy them-
selves that the cleared land is free from all roots to below plow depth.

Accurate data were obtained on the time and money required to
remove the stumps from 25 tracts between October 1, 1920, and
October, 1921.

The size of these tracts varied from 0.5 to 8 acres, with an average
of 1.9 acres. All had been slashed, burned, and seeded. Practically
all the logs and small stumps had been previously removed and the
land had been pastured several years.

The stumps were fir, averaged 24 per acre, and ranged from 2 to 7
feet in diameter where cut. Explosive was used to break the stump
into pieces that could be handled with a team or horse with blocks
and line. In some cases a stump puller was used on stumps that
could not be well handled by the use of blocks and line.

It required 50 eight-hour days of man labor, 34 days of horse labor,
205 pounds of explosive costing $36.39 and caps and fuse costing $4.26
to clear the average acre of stumps and roots, fill the holes, and level ~
the land. Most of the work on these clearing operations was done by
the operator and his family, so the cash cost of clearing seldom ex-
ceeded $50 to $75 per acre. At $3 per day for man labor, $1 per day for
horse labor, and $4 per acre for use of equipment, the cost of clear-
ing would have been $228 per acre. The same year the contract price
for similar clearing eperations was from $225 to $250 per acre.

THE ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT OF FARMS IN THE AREA.

A complete record of the business of 157 farms for 1915 and of 150
farms for 1921 was obtained from their operators. (See Table 2.)

TABLE 2.—Distribution of farm area on 157 farms in 1915 and 150 farms in 1921.
3 1915.

ey EU EE eles DEL Average acres in crops.

| farm.
staf Number
Type of farming. | of Mme === a= ee
Tint mm eas d ‘i nee Other
Total. | Cleared. Total. Hay. | Potatoes.| Fruit. crups.
a obs arr eee pep ear me meme ey vy th SY ey
DRT (2am cen eae 79 47.1 17.2 14.1 11.8 0.5 | 0.9 | 0.9
IR OUMlinyeet a cereceeeee i) ileal 7.2 Oe 9 3 ae .6
IM HULSE arn sae eros 12 16.0 10.5 9.7 2.4 1 TeOr} =2
WEXGG: Ses) See ee 1] 24.4 11.2 9.9 4 8 4.0 “if
AL farms, soos. 157 32.6 sais 10.5 | 7.5 | 4 1.9 51
Bh ui Aub ys PaaPOUSE CASS: el
1921.

Dairy: sO St ae | 57 43.7 19.7 15.7 13.1 | 0.4 1.0 1.2
Bowltrys as Sheet eee | 43 13.5 &.6 id 23 4 2.0 1.0
| >] bk reper mE”. Py hi 16.7 9.3 8,1 2.0 .4 5.3 4
Mixed! ee eee 23 34.0 13.0 11.1 7.4 1.0 1.3 1,4
; eke 5 Roe » Celt

The average size of the 157 farms in 1915 was 32.6 acres, with
12.8 acres cleared; of the 150 farms in 1921 it was 28.7 acres with
13.6 acres cleared. Compared with other farms in logged-off land
sections throughout the United States, these farms are small. Among

FARMING LOGGED-OFF UPLANDS IN WESTERN WASHINGTON. 9

the reasons for this condition are (1) the high price of the land, due
partly to the proximity of large seaport cities, partly to the limited
amount of available land suitable for farming and partly to the great
demand for land in this section by people who have been attracted
to the locality by the climate and scenery; (2) the difficulty of clear-
ing, the cost of which in many cases exceeds the purchase price of
the land; and (3) the widely current idea that a small farm is ideal.

It is not surprising, therefore, to find that the types of farming in
this area are mostly of an intensive nature. They divide easily into
four groups: Dairying, poultry raising, fruit growing, and mixed farm-
ing, the latter representing those farms in which the various enter-
prises are small and no one is of outstanding importance. Table 3
shows the size of farm which seems to have been most conducive to
the development of the different types. In 1921 none of the farms
with 5 acres or less of cleared land were dairy farms, while of the poul-
try and fruit farms, only 1 had more than 25 acres of cleared land.
Judging from the number of farms represented in both years farms
with 5 acres or less of cleared land are slightly better adapted to poul-
try raising, those with 6 to 15 acres to fruit and mixed farming, and
those with larger areas to dairying.

TABLE 3.—Relation of type of farming to area of cleared land, 157 farms in 1915 and 150
farms in 1921.

CAPITAL INVESTED.

Comparison of the farm capital in different groups is shown in Table
4. The dairymen and those following a mixed type of farming have
the largest amount invested in land because they have the largest
farms. The poultry and fruit farms show the greatest value of real
estate per acre, largely because they are near the cities. The largest
amount of working capital! is required on the dairy and poultry farms
and the smallest amount on the fruit farms. The larger portion of
the working capital is in form of productive livestock—cows and poul-
try.

1<¢ Working capital ”’ is that portion of the capital invested in livestock, machinery, feed, and cash to
run the farm.

74983°—24

4 a

10 BULLETIN 1236, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

TasBie 4.—Average distribution of farm capital on 157 farms in 1915 and 150 in 1921,
| 1915.

| Real estate. Working capital.

|
i

| | Machin’) other | Other

Total. |Peracre.| Total. oe live- | working

Stock stock. | capital.
tick tee Uy taste ore tee ay | $7,469 $159] $1,316, $348| $734 $234
Pavileryc® coke SE pees ES ” 908 287 779 | 233 | 433 | 113
Rani pie nT UES Oyo 6, 104 382 516 | 235 146 | 135
NET eg Dearne ROS Ce RaNRE REMC 6,914 283 580 192 300 88
Ali fammiesY: Loik Poa ay 6, 429 | 197 | 1, 015 | 2s7| 5a 174

Chickens and dairy cows are the most important livestock on these
farms. Ninety-five per cent of the farmers, both in 1915 and 1921,
kept chickens. There was an average of 223 hens per flock in 1915,
and 298 in 1921. Cows were kept on 93 per cent of the farms in 1915
and on 88 per cent in 1921, the average for these farms being 5.2 head
in each year. On the farms having young cattle, there was an aver-
age of 3.7 head per farm in 1915 and 2.5 in 1921.

~The dairy farms in 1915 averaged 7.9 cows per farm. This was
increased slightly, to 8.7 cows, in 1921. On the average, very few
hens were kept on the dairy farms, there being only 55 hens per farm
in 1915 and 43 in 1921.

On.the average poultry farm the flock was increased from 458 hens
at the beginning of the 1915 farm year to 697 in 1921. Dairy cows
were comparatively unimportant on these farms. ‘There was an aver-
age of less than 2 cows per farm in both years.

Work stock was kept upon 90 per cent of the farms in 1915 and 86
per cent in 1921, with an average of 1.6 head on the farms with work
stock in both years.

Hogs were kept on less than half the farms, and on these farms
there was an average of only 4.2 head in 1915 and 2.91n 1921. Hogs
were sold from only 29 per cent of the farms in 1915 and 19 per cent
in 1921. The fact that all grain must be purchased and the absence
of skimmed milk make the raising of hogs for market unprofitable.

CROPS.

Hay occupies a greater acreage than any other crop on all except
the fruit farms. It is sractically all fed on the farm, many of the
dairy farms buying additional hay. About 83 per cent of the crop
area of the dairy farms was in hay in 1915 and 1921 and for all farms
average 71.4 per cent and 65.7 per cent, respectively, for the same

FARMING LOGGED-OFF UPLANDS IN WESTERN WASHINGTON. 1]

two years. Hay is made from timothy, clover, and grain, which is
usually oats. Oats are grown for hay only and are principally used
as a nurse crop for clover and timothy. On account of the heavy
dews and occasional rains during the harvest, the hay is usually some-
what inferior in feeding qualities to that imported from drier areas.

Fic. 4.—A typical planting of strawberries. The value of the strawberry crop ex-
ceeds that of any other small fruit in the area. In 1921, 39.2 per cent of the
farm receipts on the fruit farms came from this crop.

Potatoes are grown almost entirely for home use. The yield is
usually low. (See Table 5.) A few farmers living on the lighter
soils have increased their incomes considerably by growing potatoes
for the early market.

TABLE 5.—Average yields of principal field crops.

EB BULLETIN 1236, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

Production of small fruits is increasing. Strawberries are the most
important small-fruit crop, with raspberries and Logan blackberries
gaining in importance upon soils which do not dry out too early in
the season. (See fig. 4.) Logan blackberries seem to be particu-
larly adapted to the climatic conditions of western Oregon and Wash-
ington, and, as yet, have not been grown with success in other sec-
tions of the country. The future commercial importance of this crop
may have some bearing on the development of the logged-off lands
in western Washington and Oregon, to which the crop is best adapted.
Blackberries require a moist soil and therefore are not extensively
grown on the uplands. Currants and gooseberries do well on the drier
soils, but as yet have not been generally grown for commercial pur-

oses. | :
: The yields as given in Table 6 are the averages for the farms
included in the investigation of the amount of fruit harvested on bear-
ing acreage. No account was taken of the loss caused by waste and
spoilage in the field. The yields, especially of blackberries and rasp-
berries, are considerably less than in lower and more favorable areas.

The ‘other crops”’ consist of orchard fruits and vegetables for live-
stock (kale, mangels, and carrots) which have little commercial sig-
nificance. |

TABLE 6.—Average yields of berries, 1921.

-Average yield per

Number acre.
Kind. of farms
reporting.
Crates. | Pounds.
Strawberries 2-22 S422 se ac cone hens Ce a ee ee ne eee ee eee 45 348 5,742
Raspberries... .4. oat ese de i hc atwoc SEI ee ees om on eee ce 24 234 3, 861
oper) Ts CK: DG Gees ie ie am a 8 | 251 4,267
‘

Black bermes< toh ee soe ns seen wn coe eee cities ale Seen eee 242 4, 598

TENURE.

The facts that most of the farms are small and many of the farms
are looked upon primarily as homes, tend to discourage the growth
of tenancy in this area. More small-fruit farms are rented than farms
of the other types. A few of these farms are rented to Japanese farm-
ers, who generally devote the entire cleared area to strawberry grow-
ing. In practically all cases rent is paid in cash.

On account of the small number of tenant farms in this area, all
of the farms are analyzed only on the farm basis.

RECEIPTS FROM FARMS OF THE DIFFERENT TYPES.

The principal sources of receipts in 1915 and 1921 on the farms of
different types are shown in Table 7 and Figure 5.

FARMING LOGGED-OFF UPLANDS IN WESTERN WASHINGTON. 13

RECEIPTS EXPENSES FARM INCOME
O $500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 O $500 1000 1500 2000 2500 0 $500 i000

Bs hia bk _-

TYPE OF
FARMING YEAR

1915
DAIRY

192i

1915
POULTRY

192i

1915
FRUIT

192)

915
MIXED

: 1921

MMM crops [ESS uivestockapropucts [-.]misceLLaNcous Fe=jLasor [=)reep purcHaseD

Fic. 5.—The poultry and fruit farms showed the greatest returns on most of these upland farms.
Combining small fruit growing with poultry farming is gaining much favor among the hill
farmers in this area.

TABLE 7.—Distribution of farm receipts on farms of different types.

| 1915 1921

fll, |Dairy. fee Pru. ised nee Dairy. ep Fruit. |Mixed.
Numiberiot farmss.t4-..- 25. = 157 79 55 12 | 11 150 57 43 27 23
Total receipts per farm....... 's1,148 | $959 [$1,510 |s1,197 | $662 |$2,110 $1,480 [$3,517 [$1,774 | $1,441
— —EE — ———— | —__—___.

Receipts from:— | |
Elgin Sel reac a 8) 1 2 1 4 | 3 1
IROnatOGS ac eee eee se eee 14 | 12 11 4 60 39 20 25 | 35 118
TUG e eta cs ae t= ao 125 27 78 847 275 311 39 121 | 1,334 141
OGHei CLOpSEe seem asec 6 5 | 8 (@) PA Nees Soe 12 48 49
MOtAN CRO PSH = eee ee 148 48 100 857 336 372 60 162 | 1,420 309
Cattle and dairy products?} 385 677 92 61 111 | 552 | 1,124 78 129 519
Poultry and eggs...-...... 510 102 | 1,238 240 86 964 91 | 2,966 171 313
Other livestock........... 24 22 24 a 54 10 @): 32. 4332 6 62
Total livestock........- 919 801 | 1,354 310 251 | 1,526 | 1,215 | 3,044 306 894
Outsidelabor....... Bea oe ei aa) S45 Tole A@Oa e457: |) 118, | euar | eae
Wood irom farm. 2-35 -- 12 20 OQ) lesiceee 2 29 44 13 6 44
Other miscellaneous’. .... 11 9 19 6 3 53 t 180 5 ()
Total miscellaneous....| 81| 110/ 56; 30/ 75| 2121 205| 311| 48| ° 238

1 Less than $1.
2 Milk receipts are net of hauling in 1915; gross in 1921.
3Includes increase in feed and supplies.

From the standpoint of receipts, poultry raising is the most impor-
tant enterprise, returning approximately 45 per cent of the total
receipts of all farms for both years. Dairying is second, with 33.5
per cent of all receipts in 1915 and 26.1 per cent in 1921; fruit grow-
ing third, with 10.9 per cent and 14.7 per cent for the same years.

The receipts from crops (including fruit) amounted to only 12.9
per cent of the totalin 1915 and 17.6 per cent in 1921. This low pro-
portion is accounted for by the fact that the dairy and poraty. farms
are more numerous than farms of the other types and most of the
receipts on these farms are from livestock and livestock products.

Receipts from livestock and livestock products amounted to 80 per
cent of the total in 1915 and 72 per cent in 1921.

14 BULLETIN 1236, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

Miscellaneous receipts, of which outside labor is the largest item,
amounted to 7.1 per cent of the total receipts in 1915 and 10.1 per
cent in 1921.

Practically three-fourths of the receipts of the dairy farms are from
the dairy, 70.6 per cent in 1915 and 75.9 Ge cent in 1921. Outside
labor is next, with 8.5 per cent of the total receipts in 1915 and 10.6
per cent in 1921, and poultry third, with 10.6 and 6.2 per cent, repec-
tively,for the same years. In 1915, 82 per cent of the receipts of the
poultry farms were from poultry. This was increased by 2.3 per cent
in 1921, principally on account of larger flocks. The importance of
dairying and fruit growing on the poultry farms was less in 1921, the
former decreasing from 6.1 percent to 2.2 percent of the total receipts.

On the fruit farms in 1921, 75.2 per cent of the total receipts were
from fruits, 39.2 per cent from strawberries alone. In 1915 straw-
berry receipts alone amounted to 55.6 per cent of all farm receipts.
Poultry is of considerable importance on the fruit farms, contribut-
ing 20 per cent of the total receipts in 1915 and 9.6 per cent in 1921.
Cattle and dairy products amounted to 5.1 per cent and 7.3 per cent
of the total receipts for the same years.

The distribution of enterprises on the mixed farms in 1921 was
much more desirable and profitable than in 1915, as will be seen in
the discussion of incomes on these farms. (See p.15.) The oper-
ators of these farms derive a large proportion of their incomes from
outside work.

On all types of farms, except fruit farms and mixed farms for 1915,
the receipts from livestock and livestock products far outweigh the crop
and all other receipts combined, but a large amount of hay and all
the grain fed are purchased.

EXPENSES ON FARMS OF DIFFERENT TYPES.

Table 8 and Figure 5 show the distribution of the principal items
of expense on the farms of different types. Feed was the largest item
of expense, except on the fruit farms in 1921. Expense for feed
ranged from 21.1 per cent of all expenses on the fruit farms in 1921
to 76.7 per cent on the poultry farms in 1915.

1915 1921
|
| [aoe [NG ee | RA =
Number of farms............- | 157 79 55 12 11 | 150 | 57 43 27 23
Total expense per farm....... | $762 | $624 |$1,021 | $743 | $502 |$1,696 ($1,252 |$2,891 |$1,212 | $1,136
Expense for—
Hired labor’; -< ences Bo |, 46| BL | 1S8e\> 3771, 28 |e = an eee ere 56
Hamily labore seen 42 49 16 | 70 95 166 155 218 131 | 138
Repairs and depreciation
of machinery and build- ;
INES iy. osarwawse tele te 70 72 73 | 57 54/ 117 122 151 75 93
Keed' bought: .--see eee ee 464 314 783 | 242 190 | 898 483 | 2,029 256 529
Taxes (real estate and
personal) 726.4. caeeeee 52 67 31 | 50 57 104 147 68 66 108
ANCO for farm sess eeee| = ue eee eee ee oe |e ttee eos lomtomeaalmeute one Sl 65 122 71 55
Milk hauling....... Faldo Sa Paes ease EIS S Claws cay eee 48 101 6 9 | 42
Crates and containers. .... 13 2 10 | 82 24 45 5 19 193 20
All other items........... 68 75 57 | 104 45 1l4 130 132 70 5
Per cent of receipts required
to meet all expenses......-.| 66.4 | 65.1] 67.6 | 62.1 | 75.8} 80.4] 84.6] 82.2] 68.3 78.8
Per cent of receipts required
to meet expenses for feed...] 40.4 | 32.7] 51.9 | 20.2 28.7 | 42.3 | 32.6] 57.7| 14.4] 936.7

~- ———— Ee ee — —————————————

FARMING LOGGED-OFF UPLANDS IN WESTERN WASHINGTON. 15

Hired labor was the next largest item of cash expense. It aver-
aged 7 per cent of the total expenses on all farms in 1915 and 7.5 per
cent in 1921, being lowest on the dairy farms and highest on the
fruitiarms. Thisitem amounted to 3.5 per cent of the total expenses
on the dairy farms in 1921 and 28.1 per cent on the fruit farms in
the same year. The berry farms require considerable help through
the picking season on account of the perishability of the fruit, when
from 6 to 10 pickers are required per acre for strawberries and black-
berries; from 5 to 7 per acre for raspberries and Logan blackberries,
and from 3 to 5 per acre for currants and gooseberries. | Usually very
little difficulty is encountered in getting pickers from the vicinity or
near-by towns.

Taxes represent the third largest item of the cash expenses on all
farms. This expense was greatest on the dairy and mixed farms.
and amounted to 6.8 per cent of the total expenses on all farms in
1915 and 6.1 per cent in 1921.

EARNINGS ON FARMS OF DIFFERENT TYPES.

The earnings of these farms have been rather low. (See Tables 9
and 10.) Farm incomes averaged less than $500 in each year, with
the poultry and fruit farms showing the higher averages. These
comparatively low earnings are not unusual for the majority of farms
in the heavily timbered sections throughout the country. <A further
analysis of the farm earnings on these farms is shown in Table 10.

TABLE 9.—Earnings of farms of different types.

| 1915 1921
| | |
itll | Dairy.| ROU wruit. /aixed.) AM | Dairy. pod | Fruit. Mixed,
(Siig he PS aC
1d oa ybo\eoved (she oe Bee eee eee $386 | $335 | $489 | $454] $160} $414 | $228 | $626 | $562 | $305
Interest on farm capital at
percent, 262 See iee 235k: 521 615 398 463 525 | 684) 800| 635 518 682
Ma WonnmComMes cc. 2 See —135 | —280 91 —9 | —365.| —270 | —572 | —9 AA — 3h
Per cent return on capital .-.- 0.1 | —0.3 133 1.1] —1.7 | —2.0) —3.6 0.6 4.0 | —2.5
Farm family income......---. $428 | $384} $505 | .$524 | $255 | $580} $383 | $844 | $693 | $443
Family living from the farm..].-.--.-.- PeSlee s Sees 8 Setar eae ase 316 314: 339 | 273 325

NotTE.—Farm income is the difference between farm receipts and farm expenses.

Labor income is the amount left after 7 per cent interest on the farm capital is deducted from the farm
income. 2

Per cent return on capital is the rate returned on the farm capital after the value of the farmer’s labor
is deducted from the farm income.

Farm family income is the farm income plus the value of unpaid family labor.

Family living from the farm represents the meat, milk, eggs, fruit, vegetables, etc., set aside from the
farm production for family use and the fuel and house rent furnished by the farm.

TasLe 10.—Relation of type of farming to farm income, 1971.

Number of farms with specified farm incomes.

Type of farming.

DY aay 20 PS a el ee 16 32 8 Lee So be Pere ee
TEL DUDA tA cite age chee ae a ee a a Ra eR ate Ss 16 | 11 2 6
LS Dik ese “ti sas SS SSUES ee ee ne ae ees 14 9 2 2
«TEES tite, ae te eat 2 a Dae 6 12 | + N23. aoe
SUING had Se ee ee ee ee 30 74 132 6 | s

1 Expenses greater than receipts.

16 BULLETIN 1236, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

The tendency for the farmers of a community, particularly those
who are in debt for their land, to approach the type of farm organi-
zation which yields the greatest returns on the capital invested is
clearly brought out in the study of these farms. In 1921 there were
mortgages on 37 per cent of the 70 poultry and fruit farms and on
only 22 per cent of the 80 dairy and mixed farms. As shown in
Table 11, 40 per cent of the poultry and fruit farms included in the
study were settled after 1915 and only 16 per cent of the dairy and
mixed farms. In other words, the majority of the recent settlers
who assumed large mortgages on their farms when they settled are
following the types of farming which pay the highest return for the
capital invested. |

If there had been no debts or interest to pay, the average farmer
in 1921 would have had in addition to the farm income ($414) the
value of unpaid labor, which amounted to $166, and the value of the
- food, shelter, and fuel furnished by the farm, which amounted to

«$316.

TABLE 11.—Types of farming followed in 1921 by farmers who settled at different periods.

Date of settlement.
he OPI ELVE cireeet

| ,
| Before a : . Total in

| 1898. 1898-1903 | 1904-1909 | 1910-1915 | 1916-1921 | ~Yooy
WAIT y Ge weSal-dic Lee ee 9 | 18 11 9 10 57
[EASY eg gene ae a et ap aan De Mp on 1 | 9 22 43
TO D1 Fig a PRS ei pe A SS SEM 3 3 6 8 | 7 27
Maed!.< Ye eee Sa ee Meee ee | 4 5 7 4 3 | 23
TT Hartigan dae pk ee | 17 28 | 33 | 30 49 150

PRICES RECEIVED FOR FARM PRODUCTS.

Prices received by farmers for their products have perhaps as great
an influence as any other single factor upon their profits. ‘The
period covered by this survey was disturbed somewhat by the fall
in prices, the dairymen suffering more, apparently, than the poultry-
men.

The average farm price by months and the relation of the total
production to receipts from milk and eggs on 36 dairy and 35 poul-
try farms in 1921 are shown in Table 12. The maximum production
on the dairy farms occurred from April to July, inclusive, when
approximately 42 per cent of the total amount of milk was produced.
This netted about 36 per cent of the total milk receipts for the year.
The greatest production on the poultry farms occurred during March,
April, and May, when 31.6 per cent of the eggs were produced, which

amounted to 20.6 per cent of the yearly egg receipts.

FARMING LOGGED-OFF UPLANDS IN WESTERN WASHINGTON. 17

In view of the facts that. the 10-year average price of eggs (1913-
1922), as determined by the Division of Crop and Livestock Esti-
mates, was highest between November and February, inclusive, and
that poultry production has developed to such a high degree of perfec-
tion in this section, it seems that greater profits would result if more
emphasis were placed upon egg production during this period. How-
ever, considerable caution must be exercised in forcing the birds for
fall and winter production. Too heavy forcing may destroy the
power of the birds to recuperate before the normal heavy egg-laying
period during the spring.

The average farm price of the 1921 potato crop was $1.32 per 100
pounds. A large part of the crop was marketed during the late sum-
mer and early fall. 3

Strawberries sold for an average of $1.01 per crate; raspberries,
$1.65; Logan blackberries, $1.22; blackberries, $1.23. These prices
are net of crates and include both canners and shippers, the crates
averaging from 17 to 20 pounds net.

TABLE 12.— Monthly farm. price of milk and eggs and distribution of production and
receipts on 86 dairy and 35 poultry farms, 1921.

Milk. Eggs.
Month. : Produc- : Produc- -

Price per tion (per Receipts Price per | tion (per Receipts

10 cent of | Percent)” gozen. | cent of | (Per cent

pounds. total) of total). : total) of total).

1920.
OXCO) Oe as ae ee ee Eee ieee $2.23 7.0 9.2 $0. 67 4.2 7.8
INOVGMID Gles 24a o.82 5 os Joes ene oe eas 1.99 6.6 7.8 . 67 7.4 13.9
ID eGempel te Na oes ae ee soot tee 1,84 be2 7.8 252 9.4 13.8
1921
PANUAE Yas aoe ewes oe one aoe oases 1.65 Teh as . 46 9.0 ey s
ING DEUAL Yi ae sas ee te ae a ee 1.78 ffeil Te5 aBy? 8.7 ao
Marches rae a Ree Je Slat yh so 2.17 ao 9.6 28 10.0 7.6
PAS ol eee See ee ers os ee NL 1.95 9.3 10.6 24 10.6 7.0
LE Wi SR See A Et BAe aS TS Se a 1.44 W383 9.6 .19 11.0 6.0
UIT OF ees neeene rn Sul ek ae os e222 11.6 8.3 zl 9.5 Dad
RUD es ees ees es as tne s ocraio cals bea 1.29 9.7 7.4 ~o2 7.9 7.0
WAI GUIS tee a eee ess seyret I oe tia 5 Sra, ates fe52 CoH 6.9 34 7.0 6.6
SCD IGIN Taher ao ee ae ae ae a Se 1.80 7/5; 8.0 “BY 5.3 5.4
}

CHANGES BETWEEN 1915 AND 1921 ON 47 FARMS.

Changes which have been made in the organization of a group of
representative farms operated by the same men through a period of
years throw light on the progress of a new agricultural region.

Analysis of the business of each of 47 such farms in this region in
1915 and also in 1921 shows (Table 13) no rapid expansion in size
of the farm business except for the poultry farms. There was an
increase of only 2.3 acres per farm by clearing. Only 0.6 acre was
added to the crop area in six years; half of this was for small fruits.
There was practically no increase in the average number of cows per
farm, and only 19 more chickens per farm in 1921 thanin 1915. The
poultry farms increased the size of their flocks from 780 to 1,038 in
six years. The dairy farms had an average of 8 cows in both years.

74983°—24 3

18 BULLETIN 1236, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

The increase in real estate value from $194 to $287 per acre is’
significant. This is due partly to the general rise in land values,
artly to the increase in tillable area per farm, and partly to the
Palani improvements added, amounting to an average of $561
per farm.’
~ Dairying was still the principal type of farming in 1921 on these
47 farms, as shown in Table 14.

TABLE 13.—Summary of the business of 47 farms operated by the same owners, 1915 and

1921.
1915 1921 | 1915 1921
we i SD 2 ee
ACTESMNTATM s+ 4. Lee eee oe 37.2 35.2 | Receipts—Continued.

CEES CIGALCd joe ne eee eee 15.1 17.4 Outsidedapor2ss'.pececees eee $78 $149
PRCRESIECEODS eee eee ee | 13.5 14.1 @ ALi Bay 1) ee Sapa eee eae ag 19 16
Acres in— ; me
Ely eee as ee eeee ees ate O58 10:0), expenses iolalivee ce oes oe 762 1,158
IROLaAbOeS-- 22 escape weber | -o 6 es
IBOTTIOS . 2 S26 so cae ane been ees 35) .8 Ae bin crs ME ofe) eee ee seas 62 92
Opbercropsi2 eas ee Ie pee 2s) Meam ya bok ea sae 63 198

Number of cows: 252.252.022.022) 7 G22 6.5 Repairs and depreciation on
INtmperotbens.-. 2.2... ee 149.0 168. 0 machinery and buildings... . 71 120
Number of work stock.......-.--.| Light 1.6 Foed: bought:cs-2es-.c seen 403 743
SROLAL CAD tal @ en oe eee ae eee | $8,381 | $11, 558 - Tax6S io: theres Po Aan a eee 63 134
oo All Othercce tee see ee cee eee 100 271
Land without buildings......| 6,002 8, 120 ss
Ba Gines sh os eon eee 1,227 1 5990:| Barm income ios. see eres ean eee $395 $290
Working capital.......-.-....| 1,152 1,439 | Interest on capitalat 7 percent...) $586 $809
——————— | oe DOR LIC OIG Sees ee eee eee —$191 |. —$519

peceipts; ToOtalis-- 2-55.52 52 ons3e 1, 157 1,848 | Value of operator’s labor and man-
<= | = | eabementi. oa o oe bere ee cope cue $386 $607
IBCTEIGS Sonor sce neces wee 113 222 | Per centreturn on capital........ 0.1 —2.7
Otheririite- cee cease eee 58 73 | Family farmincomel............. $458 $488
IPOLALDES: Sa oe en hee ee ene ee 12 44 | Family living from farm.......... (2) $341

WEHMERCLOPS.-- =< asc ee eee 14 27 | Size of family on farm (adult
Dairy products and cattle..... | 528 737 equivalent) 222 -.2s-. eos see ne 4.0 3.8
Poultry and eggs..-.......... 318 565 | Real estate mortgage........-.... $237 $157
melling WOOds=.2 eee pac tere ee | 17 15 | Farm value per acre.............. $194 $287

1 Includes returns from outside labor. 2 No data for 1915.

TABLE 14.—Number of farms of each type in 1915 and 1921.

N umber of farms
of each type.
Type of farming.
1915 1921
; |
TI 5 A ca obo wg epee ae cae ae Se ees ei at ee (en ee re 34 29
OPEL. Soi no oe eo pce oe ee ee POR ER OS RE PEE BRS EE Oe EE ee ao oe 6 7
Peultrys <6 2.0 betes Bee be ea eee Ss PERL hes ory preyed ae toe eee 5 5
2 6

1A». 1 Ea Pe i Dik RTE Sk Re RS aie Re er A GS

Twelve of the operators of these farms were following a different
type of farming in 1921 from 1915, changing as follows:

Seven dairy farms changed to four mixed, two poultry, one fruit.
Three poultry farms changed to one mixed, one fruit, one dairy.
One mixed changed to dairy.

One fruit changed to poultry.

2 There were several important changes in farm mortgages on these 47 farms during the six years.

The 11 farms having mortgages in 1915 averaged $1,013 each; in 1921 only 7 farms had mortgages,
averaging $1,057 each.

Out of the 11 farms mortgaged in 1915, 7 paid off all of their mortgage (averaging $878 per farm) by
1921; 3 reduced their mortgage an average of $300 each during the six years; 1 acquired $1,100 more than
what he had; three farmers who had no farm mortgage in 1915 acquired an average of $733 each by 1921.

———————

FARMING LOGGED-OFF UPLANDS IN WESTF&N WASHINGTON. 19

Progress in the development of this group of farms was arrested
somewhat for two reasons: (1) In 1915 most of these farms were
going concerns, had passed the piozeer stage, and were sufficiently
developed to provide a living for ‘ne family. The tendency is evident
in many logged-off sections tv stop increasing the size of the business
as soon as the farm is Jarge enough to require the full time of one
man. The farmer’s sons are then usually grown up and leaving for
the cities or seeking farms of their own, and the operator is left alone

/ with practically all of his time taken up with the chores. (2) The cost

of clearing during this period was high. Many of the farmers ex-
pressed a desire to clear more land, but the price of explosives
during the war period was more than they felt justified in paying.
Another probable reason for the apparent arrest in the progress of
these farms is that three-fourths of the operators were over 45 years
old in 1915. Ifa large proportion of these farms had been in the
early pioneer stage in 1915, and the operators considerably younger,
it is very probable that a cross section of the farm development and
progress for the group would show a much greater change for the

‘six-year period.

THE FINANCIAL PROGRESS OF SETTLERS.

While this study applies particularly to an area which has received

great benefit in increased land values from the growth of large cities

and towns, the general facts concerning the social and economic fac-
tors which surrounded the settlers, their financial progress, and the

changes which took place during six years on a representative group

of established farms should be significant to anyone interested in the
settlement of the rapidly increasing cut-over areas in the heavily
timbered regions of the Pacific Northwest.

The results of settlers’ activities, their success and failures, and

the many social and economic influences which aflect the progress
form one of the most interesting and important chapters in the

development of a farming community.’

SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC INFLUENCES WHICH HAVE AFFECTED THE
i SUCCESS OF SETTLERS.

Several significant relations and tendencies are brought out by a
study of Table 15. Some of the outstanding ones seem to be the
proportion of settlers taking up wild land—that is, land which was
entirely unimproved—has decreased steadily and there has been a
similar decrease in the proportion of settlers of foreign birth; land
values have increased greatly, and there has been a tendency for the
size of the purchase to decrease; the recent: settlers owned more
capital at the time of taking up the land than did the earlier settlers,
and there has been a tendency for recent settlers to assume larger

- mortgages with their purchases.

3Unless otherwise specified, the term ‘‘settler,’? as used in this discussion, includes all those who took
up land—whether improved or unimproved—for the primary purpose of making a living.

20 BULLETIN 124, U, S, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

Social differences have a oreat deal to do with the settlement of a
new agricultural region. Settlers coming from countries whose people
are noted for their dustry an& frugality (Norway, Sweden, Finland,
Denmark, Germany, and Englana, are generally successful in the
development of a new agricultural region. (See Table 16.) The
ones usually attracted to the land are those whose previous occupa-
tions and experiences have enabled them to save very little capital.
They have also learned how to get along on very little. Coming
onto these wild lands with not much more than a persistent deter-

TaBLE 15.—History of 166 settlers and financial status at time of settlement.

Time of settlement.

Memiper Of Setllerses tes ences se cise nese ane een ee 22 36 41 27 40
Per cent of settlers taking up wild land........----.-- 86 64 63 41 20
Original net worth of settlers on— :
valid arid! OF SA. Fes anes Lite See eek eee Oe $475 | $1,381 | $1,725| $1,981 $2, 200
mr provedsand est eee eeee nee ee ee $1, 517 $1, 616 $3, 810 $3, 501 $4,032
Average working capital at time of settlement ---.-.-.- $228 $604 $901 3697 $1,054
Mortgage at time ofsettlement, percent of real estate
VALLI Cae ys cre oie oe is oe ae ats oe ee ee cere 32.0 6.0 1125 28.0 41.8
Average age of settler at time of settlement-..-.......- 31 36 41 42 45
Per cent of total settlers foreign born.-........-...---- 91 83 80 70 38
Per cent of total settlers coming directly from States
oihenvhans Washing tone s-eeer eee ee ees eee eee 50 58 76 37 25
Per cent of total settlers coming directly from other
occupations Lhantarmin goes - ese eee eee eee 86 75 56 89 70

Status of farms taken up by these settlers:
Acres in original purchase—
ot

BA Seep ee cee. S aie Pacey ee ee ee 37.5 41.9 26.6 22. 4 20.8

Cleared tooo ae eae ee eS ea ce eee .3 1.4 1.8 5.7 7.8
Realestate valuc perfarm.-)2-5.2..5252 .2-.2e.-e-cee $639 $917 $1,794 $3,036 $4, 483
ResLestaLe valle Perjacle. ss oo. eSpace ase ese oes $17. 04 $21. 90 $67.48 | $135. 81 $215. 67
Burdings \yalue per acre. .2 -. 2. pce eee = $0. 12 $2. 29 $4. 54 $21. 29 $51.35

mination to succeed they have proved themselves to be one of the
most important factors in the early development of the farming
community. One advantage they have over other settlers is that
they are more willing to adjust their standard of living to the condi-
tions which they meet in passing through the pioneer stage.

TaBLE 16.—WNationality and former occupation of operators of 166 farms, 1921.

Foreign-born.

Former occupation. Pile e Total
Norway. | Sweden. ee Finland. Bis All.
sna 0.6 () eRe ea a i 12 6 2 1 3 3 45
| U5] of0) =} ue Oe 1 14 7 2 3 4 2 33
Mill, shop, and factory ial crt ae 2 2. 58 seeks. Ae 3 9
City: business...2 2.722 ih 3 Ya bales ee eee. ie Fae Pe Se liaise oes oe 18
Teachers, «sce seeding Bile tere ee sl de seucn| Soc eCeee ea. Ae Se ee eee 3
Carpenter... eee 1 1 5 Eo aie 1 10
Miter. S22 eee 2 3 PAN I ei ee 6 2 2 17
Painter... elNe eee ee CAN Se aie ae ae Ih ifoccha sede a Coe COEE onl eee seen 3
Loerer e+ 7 eee 2 OM | ee EES SD) BS SRS a oe Bip ep aes? = Sv 1 8
PAISUELIMNAN <=. + ce 1 7A (nee, a (em inc mee 1 We ae fan ee eg 4
PAUVOUMCL: oo etc ne eee 8 1 1 | 1 | 1 BS eet oes 16
OH ste ais See | 49 40 | 25 | 9 15 16 | 12 166

The changes in the value of logged-off land in this region have been
an important factor in the rate of settlement by this class of people.
Those with little capital are naturally eliminated by the high land
values. It will be noted in Table 17, which is computed from actual.

FARMING LOGGED-OFF UPLANDS IN WESTERN WASHINGTON. 2]

sales and purchases by the farmers interviewed, that the values of
unimproved or wild land increased very little until the period 1904-
1909. This period shows an increase of $30 per acre, or approximately
170 per cent, over the previous period. The two following six-year
periods show increases of $43 and $21, respectively, over the preced-
ing period. It is therefore not surprising to find that a smaller pro-
portion of settlers, particularly foreign born, are being attracted to
the settlement of these lands.

This large increase in unimproved land values has not held true,
however, for the greater portion of logged-off lands located in the
more remote sections, where the growth of the cities and towns had
little influence upon land values. In some of these sections land
values have increased but slightly during the past 25 years. The
land is held largely by timber and lumber companies who are dispos-
ing of it at from $5 to $25 per acre. Some of these lands are reason-
ae close to neighbors, schools, roads, towns, and railroads. People
with very small means are particularly sought as settlers. Small first

ayments are accepted, and the companies generally fix the size of the
ollowing payments within the settler’s ability to pay. One contem-
plating the purchase of wild land for farmimg purposes, however,
should not be too easily influenced by the price until he has consid-
ered such factors as the quality of the land, availability of water
supply, amount of land necessary to carry on the desired type of
farming, proximity to market, the transportation facilities, and, as
nearly as can be ascertained, the future development of the area.
It too frequently happens that low-priced land is much more expen-
sive in the end than higher-priced land.

TABLE 17.—Average value of unimproved land at different periods as computed from
192 transfers.

| Number of | Average price

Period of sale. | (ania aan acre:
Layei Gore) Lbs loh = be Ne ee TS Ne) ee ee ee ee ores 50 $15. 35
RST S). See sos a erp gene ea 40 18. 02
TET RIDE Ra a Saath ae os ie a ae a a GY 48. 64
TOT O= 1ST eee pees ee ey eee oy i eee EF DW de oe oe Meee 21 91.71
eRe) A) erg OC aeMEB Ct SKM Ly Pee Boe SS ES vc es Se ee eae 24 112. 81

Another significant tendency to be noted in studying Table 15 is
that an increasing number of settlers are assuming large mortgages
with their purchases. A larger proportion of the recent settlers are
native Americans who have been attracted to the land from the ranks
of the business and professional world. Many of them have had no
previous experience in farming, but have peta farming as a pleas-
ant and profitable business enterprise, capable of paying off a mortgage
in a very short time. The average mortgage per farm for the 40 farms
settled between 1915 and 1921 was $1,648, or 41.8 per cent of the
purchase price. If more of these settlers had an intelligent concep-
tion of incomes to be expected from farming in this region before
they decided to buy farms, they might escape much of the effort and
misery incident to the paying off of large mortgages with small farm
incomes.

Table 18 shows that the price which the settlers have accepted for
their time and effort in preparing wild land for the plow is consider-
ably less than it would have cost to clear the land at the market rate

99 BULLETIN 1236, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

for labor and materials. During the period 1916-1921 the contract
cost of stumping alone ranged from $200 to $250 per acre. This
does not include the slashing and the removal of small stumps and
logs. When profits from farming are high, the demand for land ready
for cultivation is comparatively great. This tends to raise the value
of cleared land up to the market cost of clearing. The amount added
to the value of land by clearing was comparatively low between 1910
and 1915, largely because the low demand for agricultural products
reduced the bidding for cleared land.

TaBLeE 18.—Changes in real estate values due to clearing as computed from 353 sales.

ceo Avera ge Value per acre. | Pp er pont Valu a of ae a
; Nim ber | nim ber! |= ee Oniakms iClear =
Period of sales. ofsales. | of acres Ben a acres | land per Ee
e = m
per sale. Re Sieg. Land. | cleared. acre. clearing.
pe | ee et ee ee eee
Before 1898. =... 2 = --<- 54 36.5 $15. 96 30. 08 315. 88 0.3} $189.33 $173. 98
1SOS=1G03 222-2 s. eoee 59 Shp 1 23.13 1.28 21. 85 2.6 164. 80 146.78
$908—1909 esses. Seb. 89 21.1 66. 50 6. 29 60. 21 7.4 204. 34 155. 70
1910-1915.......- Ss 58 20.3 140. 26 19. 94 120. 32 21.2 227. 48 135. 77
6 221.93 44.30} 177.63 34.2

dB A0ST S.A LUet... | 93 15. 302. 32 | 189. 51

ACCUMULATION OF WEALTH BY SETTLERS.

The amount of capital which the settlers in this region have
accumulated is rather closely associated with the time of settlement.
This is indicated in Tables 19 and 20, which show the increase in net
worth of settlers from the date of settlement up to the fall of 1921.
The oldest group of settlers have been on the land an average of 28
years and have increased their equity in the farm and working capital
18.7 times $663 the average amount they had to begin with. In
addition, many have invested part of their earnings in outside enter-

TaBLE 19.—Comparison of the financial progress and the accumulation of wealth by
settlers at different periods.

Time of settlement. | Belo © | 1898-1903 } 1904-1909| 1910-1915] 1916-1921
Nunber OF SCvtlers =. sca. ceee cee eee ee ee ee | 22 36 41 27 40
Number of years since settlement..........-.-.....-- 28. 0 19, 4 14.3 7.9 2.6
Capital removed from farm: ! |
Available indo a ee ee | $1,714 $694 $732 $253 $74
Spent prior bo LS2h te eee ee eee ee 134 249 179 33 36
Sum of total capital removed from farm and the 1921
net worth as offarm (see Table 19)................- 13, 976 11, 251 - 9, 662 8, 522 6,128
Outside capitalinvested in farm since starting ?...... 177 228 181 167 27
Outside earnings of family used on farm since starting’ 1, 000 2, 201 1, 204 1, 147 417
Total capital and earnings put into farm since start-
inp 4.6. octal he ee ee oe AE Ee en 1, 840 3, 895 3, 873 4,195 | 4, 352
Net financial progress due to the settlers’ farm activ- |
ities and increasein land valves >.................. 12, 136 7, 356 5, 789 4, 327 1, 776
Total accumulation of wealth from all sources since
Atarking Of. fe En ee eee ee eee ees 13, 179 9, 536 6, 995 5, 608 2, 427
Accumulation of wealth per year since starting. ...-- 471 492 489 710 | 933

1 Includes all farm and family earnings which have not been reinvested in the farm business or spent
for current farm and family expenses. Farm earnings as well as receipts from miscellaneous work off the
farm areincluded. The amount ofsuch capital saved by the family during their entire period on the farm
is separated from the money which has been used up for doctor bills, education, traveling, etc.

2 Includes all outside capital other than money earned by the operator and his family, as well as capital
represented by gifts or inheritances.

4 Money which the family has earned off the farm and put into the farm business and home.

4 The sum ofthe original net worth of the settler (Table 19) and outside capital and earnings put into the
farm since starting.

® Differences between sum ofcapital removed from farm and 1921 net worth as of farm and the total capital
and earnings put into the farm since starting.

6 The increase in net worth as of the farm plus capital removed from farm and avaiable in 1921.

FARMING LOGGED-OFF UPLANDS IN WESTERN WASHINGTON. 923

TABLE 20.—Comparison of elements of net worth of settlers at different periods, 1921.

Time of settlement. peters | 1898-1903 | 1904-1909 | 1910-1915 | 1916-1921
SS 2 . Lal le | | ra views

ETE DREROUSR EES = oie. axe wis one Jews & tae pom ie ok 22 36 1] 27 40
Number of years since settlement...........-.-.-.--- 28.0 | 19. 4 14.3 7.9 2.6
Figal'@state value, Woat. 2 U.S erra | $10,816 | $9,186] $7,824| $7,622| $6 715
Woarkinmcapitals921",- ben as oe eel eos. | 1,362 1,217 1,183 1, 501 991
Total capital as of the farm, 1921............... | 12,178} 10,403 | 9,007 | 9,123 7, 706

Real estate mortgage, 1921.........2.22.2.2- 202 2e eee. | 50 89 17g| 593| 1,648
Mihprtarnidepis sl 8s ed ook ee 8 | ET 6 78 294 40
Total indebtedness as of the farm, 1921......... 50 | 95 256 | S87 1, €88

Net worthiasof the farm) 1921/2000 12,128 | 10, 308 8,751| 8, 236 6, 018
Originakeguityan the farm <..2) 2.225.5.- 205 5s.0235- 435 862 1, 587 2, 185 2,611
Original workane, Capital es... a ee ieee ose 228 604 901 696 1, 054
Original worth, as of the farm................. 663 1, 466 DUASS) |) 72) 881 3, 665

Gain in net worth as of the farm since starting. 11, 465 8, 842 6,263 | 5,355 | 2, 353

prises or put the money in banks for safe-keeping. When these are
added to the increase in the farm equity and working capital, the
earliest group of settlers have accumulated an average of $13,179 in
their 28 years on the land. This is probably considerably more than
the average lifetime accumulation of. wealth by city wage earners of
similar ability and industry.

Highty-six per cent of the settlers in the first group increased their
net accumulation of wealth over $6,000. (See Table 21.) Of those
who settled during the succeeding periods, the following proportions
accumulated more than $6,000: Second period, 78 per cent; third
period, 61 per cent; fourth period, 26 per cent, and the last, those
who settled between 1915-1921, 5 per cent.

TABLE 21.— Variation in accumulation of wealth by settlers at different periods.

Number of settlers at specified times.

Wealth accumulated. |

Before | 1898-1903 | 1904-1909 | 1910-1915 | 1916-1921
|

The settlers who have been on the land the longest show the great-
est accumulation of money earned on the farm and not reinvested in
the farm business. This includes money used for such investments
as stocks, bonds, real estate, or money put into banks for safe-keeping;
also money spent for such items as unusual trips, education, doctor
bills, ete., which have taken considerable earnings from the farm. On
the average, those who settled before 1898 accounted for $1,848 in this
manner. Many of the settlers stated that practically all of this was
made during the last five or six years.. Up until that time all earn-

ings went toward the development of the farm and for running

94 BULLETIN 1236, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

expenses of the farm and family. Very few of the settlers have used
outside capital, such as inheritances, gifts, or sale of other property,
in the establishment and development of their farms.

A great part of the accumulation of wealth has been due to the
increase in land values. Just how much of the wealth of individual
settlers is due to this factor alone is difficult to ascertain. The trend
of the increase in the value of unimproved land, as shown in Table 17,
gives an indication of the importance of this item.

METHODS BY WHICH PROFITS MAY BE INCREASED.

Certain outstanding influences which contribute to the success or
failure of farming in a region usually appear in the course of the
analysis of the business of a group of representative farms. Some
of these are general in character and have a wide application; others

Fic. 6.—This land has been pastured for several years. Logs have been cut into
cordwood; ferns are beginning to crowd out the pasture grasses and the land
should be cleared soon and put into tilled crops.

are of a more local consequence and apply specifically to the region
studied. A brief discussion of the more important factors deter-
mining the success of representative farms of the different types in
this region follows.

An increase in the tillable area per farm is necessary before incomes
can be increased to the maximum on most of these upland farms.
Too often the clearing has stopped soon after the farm is large enough
to pon »a living for the family. Under present conditions it is
pe yably not worth while to clear up the whole farm, except per-
1aps in the case of small poultry and fruit farms on the high-priced
lands adjacent to the larger cities. Most dairy and general farms
can profitably use seeded stump lands for pasture purposes.

A 12-cow dairy farm in this section should have at least 25 acres
cleared and 25 acres more for pasture if most of the hay and sucecu-
lence is to be raised on the farm to maintain the cows, young stock,
and horses. This was the average size of the 22 largest dairy farms
in this area.

FARMING LOGGED-OFF UPLANDS IN WESTERN WASHINGTON. 25

The poultry farms in this section should have land enough to
maintain a cow for the family use and possibly a horse in addition
to that needed by the flock. Seventeen of the largest poultry farms
in this area, with an average of 1,000 laying hens, had 11 acres of
land, 8 of which were cleared. This seems to be a very desirable size
for a commercial poultry farm in this area. In order to insure
poultry-yard sanitation, enough acreage is necessary to allow chang-
ing the runs at least every two or three years.

Fruit farms require a little more land than poultry farms. The
12 largest small-fruit farms in this section had an average area of 16
acres, with 9 cleared. From 5 to 10 acres seems to be the most
practical size for a small-fruit farm where the owner attempts to do
all of his work, except during the picking season.

Attention to soilmanagement on these upland farms can not be
too strongly emphasized. Deficiency of plant food and organic mat-
ter, together with insufficient moisture conditions, often results in
complete crop failure on these lands. Frequent, shallow cultivation
seems to be the most effective method of conserving the soil mois-
ture, while green-manure crops (clover and grass, or rye and vetch)
and animal manure are the cheapest means of increasing the organic
matter of the soil.

Standardization of products is as necessary to the successful
farmer as to the successful manufacturer. Not only will the stand-
ardization of farm products create a public confidence in what the
farmer has to sell, but it will stabilize the demand for such products,

Standardization of grades of eggs as to color, quality, andl size and
the predominance of one breed of poultry (White Leghorns) have
been largely responsible for the commercial recognition of the poultry
industry in this section:

Since the fruit canneries furnish one of the principal markets for
the small fruits in this section, varieties which are most desirable for
canning should be chosen by those who intend to supply this market.
For this purpose, the following varieties have been most successful:

_ Marshal strawberries, Cuthbert raspberries, Evergreen blackberries

Oregon Champion goosebetrries.

Records of farm facts classified by enterprises are an important
guide to management which farmers in this area, in common with
most farmers everywhere neglect to their disadvantage. Farmers
do not need to go into all the complexities of complete cost account-
ing, but they do seriously need simple records of the main factors of
their business operations as a basis for making adjustments in the
amount of land, labor, and materials applied to the several lines of

roduction and for comparing these ith the returns of the different
tiie at the same time and of the same lines at different times.
Average results have been worked out and published for many dif-
ferent sets of working conditions and serve as guides in making the
records and in comparing results. Special record books have been
devised which materially reduce the clerical work a farmer needs to
do in order to answer the questions he asks. A few minutes a day
regularly applied will soon provide a wealth of definite information,
the value of which can be realized only upon due trial. Records take
most of the guesswork out of farming.

26 BULLETIN 1236, U. S. DEPARTMENT .OF AGRICULTURE.

DAIRY FARMING.

Size of herds and production of the cows are important factors in
returns from dairy farming in this as in other regions. Thirty-one
of the 57 dairy farms studied had 8 cows or fewer. The small size
of the farms rather definitely limits the size of the herds. Herds
can not be materially increased without providing more feed, either
from use of more land, or from heavier purchases, which amounts to
the same thing. Something may be done in the way of improving
pastures or pasture substitutes, but a large acreage is needed for even
a small herd. The price of land is so high, however, as to preclude
its use as pasture if 1t can be used for any other purpose. The dairy
farms were for the most part established when land was much
cheaper than it is now, which permits larger use of pasture than
would be economical on farms recently purchased.

Much can be done in the way of increasing the production of milk,
however, as the cows of half these 57 herds averaged less than 6,000
pounds of milk per year, while 8 herds averaged more than 7,500
pounds per cow. The differences are due partly to management and
partly to the capacity of the cows, itself a phase of management. A
cow producing less than 6,000 pounds in a year is probably a
‘“boarder’’—that is, sheis probably not giving milk enough to pay
for her feed and care—and should make way for a better producer.

The economical use of feed is highly important on these small
farms where the crop yields are rather low, the land values high,
and the purchase of all the grain feed practically necessary. The
problem warrants very careful study on the part of each dairyman,
especially in the matter of the observation of his own herd. Gener-
ally speaking, liberal feeding up to the point where the cows begin to
get noticeably fat is economical feeding, because only half or less
of the feed consumed is used for milk production. Heavy produc-
ers make more profitable use of the feed given them than do low pro-
ducers. (See Table 22.) The dairyman should make every effort to
provide his own legume hay, silage, or roots and pasture or pasture
substitutes. Only under special conditions is it profitable to buy
hay, though half the dairymen in this area bought some hay at an
average price of $25 per ton. The purchase of grain and mill by-
products is advisable and practically a necessity, all but one of
these dairymen buying mill feed.

The amount of mill feed needed per cow depends on the character
and quantity of the roughage and pasture available and on the man-
agement. With plenty of legume hay of good quality and silage or
roots, the use of high-protein feeds, which are the highest in price,
may be greatly reduced. If cows freshen late in the winter and pas-
ture is abundant throughout the summer, little mill feed need
be supplied.

It is well to bear in mind that the price of milk is low in summer
and that receipts are low, aswell as expense for feed. Further, in
order to secure high production, it is practically necessary to feed
concentrates most of the time, and under these conditions fall fresh-
ening is likely to give the best results financially—the cows are in
heavy milk flow when milk prices are high and have the stimulating
effect of pasture to support the flow in the spring. Further, they
suffer least from failing pastures in July and August. By buying

FARMING LOGGED-OFF UPLANDS IN WESTERN WASHINGTON. 927

feed in ton lots or more at a time, some saving of expense may be
effected, and it is usually possible for the discriminating dairyman
to take advantage of differences in prices cf feeds. Changes in the
ration should be made on a basis of cost per pound of milk-produc-
ing ingredients rather than on cost per i00 pounds of feed. The two
ideas are by no means the same.

Green feeds for summer use are regularly provided by the more
successful dairymen, particularly on the small farms, to overcome the
difficulty of short pastures in July and August. Oats with peas or
vetch make good silage crops on these upland farms and are also well
adapted to cut for green feed for the cows. Three or more seedings
from the last of March to the first part of May should be made to
insure a continuous supply of green feed during July and August.
Unfortunately, corn does not do well on most of the upland farms,
principally due to low soil fertility and moisture. The extra labor
involved in a soiling system is considerable.

TABLE 22.—Relation between pounds of milk per cow, receipts and cost of grain on
57 dairy farms, 1921.

| Number Cows per | _ Milk | pe
> roe ey ae I er | Cows per} .oa-,+< | PUI-
Pounds milk sold per cow. eras herd | ceeauts | cracea
P | per cow.

Res cisnet S00 ONG S's ie eels. nee See ee oa A es eh 7 | 8.0 $77 | $23
CUCL HG) GEO Fao NANG Sie gee Ree RAGS eRe kesh eAneessooerseDs 13 8.1 96 | 29
HOU LMO GO OOUMpOUNGS os sos sagan ayaa een wlan lai = ania s clace 18 8.7 113 32
G DOT ON POO DONO Ss ee eee en ae e eee ee oe ere acral 11 | tle | 132 35
ON GRIN HOMMGS=2 5 eno pean se tn eee ane meee acs eens | 8 Gear 171 | 40
JUIN EST T ae el Ee See Ia a ie SOE ee et ae 57 8.7 | 116 32

Cash crops of one kind or another may usually be fitted into the
system of most dairy farms without seriously interfering with the
most effective use of the land and labor devoted to the dairy enter-
prise. Small fruits are suitable for this purpose for those living near
canneries and sources of labor for picking, while for those farther
away, 2 or 3 acres of potatoes may serve about as well. The manure
from the dairy is especially valuable in the production of intensive
crops on the low-quality soils of the area.

POULTRY RAISING.

Breeding for production has reached a high state of development
in this area. The area boasts of many of the highest producing hens
and flocks in the country. (See figs.7 and8.) The average produc-
tion of the 43 specialized poultry farms visited in the course of this
survey was 134 eggs per hen. A comparatively high rate of produc-
tion is necessary if the surplus eggs are to compete successfully in
distant markets and overcome the disadvantages of transportation
and other costs.

Poultry raising is more susceptible of overexpansion than any
other type of farming. It can be started easily with relatively small
capital on small places and is a rather attractive business. It needs,

_ however, careful study of details at every stage if it is to prove as

profitable on a large scale asit may seem to beon asmall scale. The
Western Washington Experiment Station at Puyallup has been the
leading light in successful commercial poultry production through-

BULLETIN 1236, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

Fic. 7.—One of the successful commercial poultry farms in this section. Starting

with 815 hens in the fall of 1920, the flock averaged 142 eggs per hen through
The farmer also kept 5 cows; raised a cash crop of 1.5

the following 12 months. ‘ : X E
acres of potatoes, besides 1 acre of kale for the chickens and most of the hay

for the cows.

—

—
(ba) ate,
} A Sn
ayes ’ %, hss

ric, &.—-One of the more expensively equipped poultry farms. Breeding stock,
hatching eggs, day-old chicks as well as market eggs are sold.

FARMING LOGGED-OFF UPLANDS IN WESTERN WASHINGTON. 99

out western Washington. No one should attempt to engage in the
poultry business in this area without first visiting the station at Puy-
allup and becoming acquainted with the methods there developed
and getting the benefit of the experience of the people who more stan
all others are responsible for the development of the many successful
poultry farms in that section of the country.

The increase in income per hen as production increases is indicated
in Table 23. The small flocks do not show generally higher produc-
tion than the large flocks. The expense connected with higher pro-
duction rates increases, but not as fast as the receipts per hen, much
as in the case of feed for dairy cows. (See Table 23.) The average
cost of feed for laying hens was about $2 per hen in 1921.

Feed represents nearly three-fourths of a aT ears on these poultry
farms. Wholesale purchases, home mixing, and scientific rations and
feeding practices are the means of saving considerable sums in the feed
expense. Green feed is important and should be more generally pro-
vided than it is. One acre of kale will usually supply enough for 800
to 1,000 laying hens. (See fig.9.) Oat sprouts are also good and the
means for sprouting them should be a part of the poultry equipment,

TABLE 23.—Relation between number of eggs sold per hen and receipts per hen on 43
poultry farms.

Number Pee jug fos

Eggs sold per hen. [sae pi ae receipts

‘ | flocks. | 2 per hen.
THER STIG ES G}5 4 EER RS tales. ers ty a ee 7 | 599 $3.19
Dee ior Wasi CS oleh BR ie nye as Be Sake A By 0s, p52 aS ee ee 2 14 813 3. 84
LS OSE pLD Dees eee ee one eee ee en semen ei tee oss Oe 15 667 4.18
ORG Rs: Soap beOR bene hoe ees ne Be Ae EP ee See eas ee fe ee ees i) 627 | 4, 82
PAIGE che cet Whe Wn Ee Beate wel eek 43 | 697 4.00

1 At beginning of year (Oct. 1, 1920).

Yard sanitation is essential to continuous success, because of the
intestinal parasites which infest the soil in old runs, especially in
damp and shady places. If the yards can not be changed, it is bet-
ter practice to keep the fowls confined to the houses where sanitary
conditions may be controlled.

Many poultrymen take advantage of the opportunity of securing
stock from high-producing flocks by purchasing day-old chicks from
breeders and avoid the necessity of maintaining breeding flocks and
the work of keeping up the production of the breeding stock. Nearly
half bought all their young stock. The average price of day-old
chicks was 19 cents in 1921. The feed cost of raising pullets ranged
from $0.80 to $1.20 each. Ten of the farms visited produced one
salable chick for every two eggs used. Forty and six-tenths pee cent
of the day-old chicks bought by 18 poultrymen were brought
through as mature pullets. Four to five eggs were therefore used for
every pullet put into the laying houses in the fall.

The average number of hens per flock was 697 at the beginning
of the poultry year, October 1. Twenty farms, however, had fewer
than 500, and of these only four paid interest on their investment.
Half of the farms with more than 500 hens made interest on the
investment. A flock of 500 hens is not. large enough to occupy the full
time of one man if they are properly handled, andsome other means

30 BULLETIN 1236, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

Fic. 9.—Kale is an important green feed on many poultry farms. One acre of kale
will provide succulence for 800 to 1,000 hens from early fall till late spring.
Moist, fertile soil is necessary to produce good crops of kale.

of adding to income is necessary. Increasing the size of the flock is
perhaps the best means of increasing income if the management of the
smaller flock has been successful. It is also possible in many cases
to take on a few acres of bearing small fruit, a unit of up to 1,000
hens and 2 to 3 acres of small fruit bemg within the working limits
for a man and his wife except for the picking season.

SMALL-FRUIT GROWING.

Adaptability to soil conditions is becoming an increasingly impor-
tant factor in successful small-fruit growing in western Washington.
The best results are obtainable only when each kind is grown on the
kind of soil on which it has the best chance to succeed. Strawberries
prefer the well-drained sand and gravelly loams common to this area,
though they grow on many kinds of soils. (See fig. 10.) In the
lower and moist areas there is more danger of the bloom freezing,
andthe plantsrun largely to foliage. Raspberries thrive best on the
sandy and well-drained clay loams which do not dry out early in the
season. Logan blackberries thrive on land suited for raspberries,
but do better on clay loams and will stand considerably more soil
moisture. Evergreen blackberries have a wide adaptability, but
prefer a rich clay loam soil which is retentive of moisture.

Diversification of smallfruits is often a safeguard to profits on farms
which depend entirely upon berries for an income. ‘The failure of
one crop due to disease, weather, and other causes does not then
leave the grower a total financial loss for the year, as has happened

FARMING LOGGED-OFF UPLANDS IN WESTERN WASHINGTON. 31

occasionally to strawberry and other small-fruit growers who have
had to depend entirely upon a single crop. Two or more small-fruit
crops also permit the operator to distribute his labor more evenly

through theseason. Just how many acres of each variety of fruit to
grow would depend a great deal upon soil and other conditions.

Fic. 10.—One of the successful berry farms. The 2 acres of bearing strawberries
on this farm averaged 500 crates of 24 pints each, per acre. Three acres of rasp-
berries and 1 acre of strawberries were planted during 1921.

Combining fruit growing with poultry raising or dairying is increas-
ing the profits of many of the fruit farms in this area. To show the
effect of such combinations on the farm income, the 24 small-fruit
farms were sorted into groups, large farms and small farms, each of
these being further sorted according to the amount of livestock kept.
The average farm income of the small farms with little livestock was
$253, and of those with the most livestock, $437. It was $512 with
the ea livestock and $1,132 for the large farms with the most live-
stock.

The combination of fruit and livestock has another advantage in
that it provides for fertilizers, which are necessary for maximum crop
yields on these soils.

MIXED FARMING.

By definition farms of the type styled ‘‘mixed”’ have several enter-
prises, often five or six, none of which predominates, and usually no
one of them is large enough to be of commerical importance. They
are usually less profitable than the more specialized farms of the types
prevailing locally. One of the first steps in the reorganization of such
farms should be a study of several enterprises individually to deter-
mine which of them can be developed to the best advantage. Use
of land and of labor and the relative returns of each should be ob-
served carefully until a decision can be made, perhaps for one sea-
son, though more time may be needed. A record of the observa-

82 BULLETIN 1236, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

tions will indicate the amount of change needed to secure the desired
result. The operators of the ‘“‘mixed’’ farms did more outside work
than the other farmers, though they had the second highest capi-
talization and second largest farms.

During the pioneer stage it is often necessary to supplement
income from the home farm with outside work. The em loyer
expects to make a profit from this outside work, which the farmer
working out may turn into his own pocket by working for bimself as
soon as he can lay out his business to occupy his full time. This
general proposition is abundantly supported by the comparative
results of farm operations where the farmer werks out and when he
spends all his time on his own business.

PROBLEMS INVOLVED IN CHOOSING AND DEVELOPING A FARM.

Thousands of people, not only in the Pacific Northwest but in all
other cut-over areas, have given years of the hardest kind of toil
trying to clear and cultivate land which should never have been used
for agricultural purposes. Such misdirected human effort is not only
an irreparable loss to the individual, but a serious loss to the State
and the Nation as well. Prospective settlers need protection and
guidance in the selection of a piece of land for afarm. All guess-
work possible should be eliminated. Too much is at stake to tolerate
‘“‘a guess’ when anyone has definite information about the farm.

MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE.

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t is not so difficult to name the factors which have induced most
people to settle these wild lands—independence of a boss, the desire
to live in the country, wanting to live on a farm, or, perhaps, improve
the health of some member of the family. All of these are common
reasons, but in most cases the primary inducement has been the hope
of bettering themselves financially. Not being able to save money
by following their previous occupations, they are turning to the land.
Filled with this desire to own a piece of land, the settler usually comes
in contact with some agency which is very desirous of selling him the
land, or he may be unduly influenced to settle in a certain section
purely for such personal reason as to be near relatives or certain
groups of people. In other words, the prospective settler often loses
sight of two of the principal factors which later are to determine the
results of his farming activities, namely, the price and quality of the
land he buys and the future possibilites of the area.

Before a prospective settler decides to locate in a particular area
he should take plenty of time to familiarize himself with the com-
parative prices and agricultural worth of lands in various localities.
The State immigration commission, agricultural college, experiment
station, and county agents can often render valuable help in this
matter. Government soil-survey reports, similar to the one published
for soils of the eastern Puget Sound Basin, are also an aid to the new
settler in determining the region in which he shall locate.

The type of farming which a settler wishes to follow may go a
long way in deciding the particular area in which he should farm or the
price which he can afford to pay for land. Poultry and fruit farming
can stand a higher rent for use of land than dairying, because a larger
business can be done on a smaller acreage. Poultry and small fruits,

FARMING LOGGED-OFF UPLANDS IN WESTERN WASHINGTON. 38

particularly strawberries, currants, and gooseberies havea better chance
on the lighter and drier soils than dairy f. arming, which depends for suc-
cess largely on an abundance of cheap forage crops and pasture. Ifthe
settler wishes to engage in poultry and fruit farming the areas nearer
the larger cities offer many advantages in market and transportation
facilities and a ready supply of extra labor. With the gradual expan-
sion of facilities and the settlement of practically all of the good
unimproved land adjacent to the large cities, the new poultry raiser can
well afford to consider the possibilty of locating on land which at
present is beyond the influence of town-lot prices. The prospective
dairy farmer who wishes to succeed on a logged-off farm must
necessarily look for cheap land which is capable of producing good
field crops and an abundance of pasture.

The availability of a good water supply for all farm needs is of
prime importance in the selection of a farm in this region. On many
upland farms this has often been the limiting factor in the success or
failure. Unfortunately, there are no accurate methods of ascertain-
ing the depth to which one must go to get an adequate supply of water.
The presence of a considerable amount of moisture-loving vegetation
is often a fair indication that water is available within a reasonable
depth.

Buying wild land and clearing it, if all costs are included, will in most
cases amount to more than the land is finally worth, even though
the rise in land values during the past few years has tended to cover
up this fact. This is peony true in the vicinity of the large
cities. In view of the high cost of clearing, only the best lands should
be selected for agricultural purposes. A settler who pays too much
in labor, time, and money for a good farm is at a disadvantage, but
not an insurmountable one, as would be the case if he selected a poorer
type of soil.

FINANCING OPERATIONS.

The amount of money which a settler needs to begin farming on
the logged-off uplands in this region is largely dependent upon such
factors as the price and quality of the wild land, the extent of improve-
ments if an unimproved farm, the possibility of obtaining outside
employment while paying for and developing the farm, and the
standard of living to which the settler has been accustomed before
he settled the land.

The settlers who came into this section before 1898, those who took
up wild land particularly, had a comparatively small amount of money
when they decided to settle. The average net worth of the settlers
on unimproved land was then $475, while those who bought improved.
farms had accumulated an average of $1,517 before they began to
live on the place. (See Table 15.) By 1916-1921 the amount neces-
sary to begin with had not only increased to $2,200 for the settlers
on unimproved farms and $4,032 for those who bought improved
farms, but the size of the purchase has been reduced almost half.
The high price of land which is useful for agricultural purposes near
the large cities makes it necessary for a new purchaser to buy a
smaller farm and put it to its maximum usefulness if he expects to
realize returns with which to pay off his debts. As has been shown,
poultry and fruit seem to serve this purpose best. If one wishes to

34 BULLETIN 1236, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

settle farther from the cities, 25 to 50 miles, better land is still obtain-
able and at a much lower cost, but social, market, and transportation
facilities should be carefully considered.

Whether one should buy improved or unimproved land is not always
easily determined. <A prospective settler with sufficient capital would
in all probability progress more rapidly and at a smaller cost of time,
labor, and money if he bought an improved farm. The results of
the study show that he would be buying the product of the former
owners’s efforts in improvements at less than the market value.

If the prospective settler is young, ambitious, and intelligent he
will probably advance more rapidly if he buys improved land, even
though he must go considerably in debt for it. Considerable cau-
tion, however, should be exercised on this point. It was very
apparent that a large majority of those who bought improved
farms in this section on a small first payment, expecting to pay for
the farm from farm profits, were induced to do so through false
ideas. They were not familiar with farming conditions in this sec-
tion and had very little knowledge of farm incomes. The business
analysis of farms in this region, which has already been discussed,
will give the prospective settler a better idea of what he can reason-
ably expect from the farm in paying off a mortgage.

Many settlers on these logged-off farms have been able to help pay
for the farm, or increase their incomes, by means of outside work,
such as county road work, teaming, cutting and selling cordwood,
teaching, working in the logging camps, and clerking in the near-by
cities. ‘Too much reliance, however, should not be placed upon this
means of paying for the farm, as the amount of work available has
seldom been sufficient to meet the demand. Table 24 shows the
comparative incomes on farms where the operator did outside work
and where very little work was done off thefarm. None of the fruit
farms received an appreciable amount of help from outside receipts.
Receipts from the day-old chick business were considered the same
as an outside receipt and are an important item in the high incomes
of the poultry farms. Poultry raising seems to fit in better with
outside work than any of the other types.

Several cases were noted where the operator was able to help his
wife with most of the poultry chores during the mornings and even-
ings and teach, clerk in the city, or do some other outside work during
the day.

TaBLE 24.—Comparison of incomes on farms where the operators did and did not do
outside work, 1921.

! Includes day-old chick business.

FARMING LCGGED-OFF UPLANDS IN WESTERN WASHINGTON. 35

The standard of living to which the prospective settler has been
accustomed has much to do with the amount of money he will need
to establish himself on the logged-off lands in this region. During
the first few years, when the farm income on newly opened land is
almost nothing, the cost of maintaining the previous standard of
living must be met largely out of capital or outside earnings. Those
accustomed to frugal ving do not suffer so keenly from the privations
incident to the restricted incomes obtainable during the first years
of developing farms from raw land.

OPENING AND DEVELOPING THE FARM.

The main business of the settler when he takes up a piece of land
to farm is to get the land to produce returns in the quickest and
most economical manner. As the cost of clearing in this region is
higher than in other cut-over sections of the country and may exceed
the value of the land after it is cleared, the importance of economical
methods in opening these wild lands is obvious.

The first task of the new settler is usually providing a place to live.
Since most settlers have very little capital left after making the first
payment on the land, the building program should be one of low
initial cost and with due regard for economy of construction and
durability. Often the dwelling can be planned with the idea of later
turning it into a poultry house or granary or of using it as a part of
the dwelling which is to be built later. Precautions against fire
should be taken by removing to a safe distance all brush and other
inflammable material. Any trees or snags which might endanger the
buildings should be cut down.

Producing as large a part as possible of the family living from the
farm should be one of the first aims of the new settler. Land enough
for a large family garden can usually be cleared between the large
stumps the first year. Fertilizers, frequent cultivation, and water-
ing must usually be resorted to, as these upland soils are not as a
rule very satisfactory for crops until they have been worked up and
exposed to the weather for a year. A cow and some chickens for
family use should be among the first things purchased.

A considerable portion of the logged-off land should be slashed as
soon as possible, burned, and seeded to pasture. This is the first
step in the clearing process. This will provide pasture for the stock
and add fertility to the soil. Many of the small stumps will begin
to decay, which considerably reduces the cost of clearing.

Poultry and such crops as strawberries and potatoes seem to be
the quickest means of getting returns from new lands. Chickens
nearly always do remarkably well on new land, and very little clear-
ing is necessary for a flock of commercial importance. Strawberries
prove a very desirable cash crop on newly cleared land adapted to
their growth. Early potatoes have also been successful. However,
if cash returns from crops are not immediately neccessary, the most
desirable method of handling the new land seems to be to seed it to
clover and grasses, with oats as a nurse crop. After the land has
been in hay (clover and grasses) for two or three years it is ready
to be plowed and used forcultivated crops. By this time the ferns,
which are a considerable pest in pastures and new clearings in this
region, have been largely controlled. © ~

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36 BULLETIN 12°, U. 8. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

Fig. 11.—A recently established farm on logged-off land. After logs and small stumps
have been removed, partial tillage is possible and good crops of hay can be grown
tor 2 or 5 years. Many of the best settlers have followed this practice.

Providing for sufficient home-grown feeds for the stock is very
important on most of the new logged-off farms. The most desirable
procedure for the settler with no cleared land seems to be to clean up
the small stumps, trash, and most of the logs, then stir the soil as
much as possible with a spring-tooth harrow or disk and seed to
clover and grasses. If this is done in the fall no nurse crop will be
necessary and a good crop of hay can be expected the following
summer, particularly if the soil has sufficient moisture. If the seed-
ing . done in the spring, the use of a nurse crop will give better
results.

When the settler is ready to attack the large stumps, several
methods are open to him. His choice will often depend on the
amount of time and money which he has available for thiswork. In
most cases the quickest and cheapest way to get rid of the large
stumps is by means of powder and block and line. This method
has already been discussed in the chapter on land clearing.

Developing a farm from logged-off lands in this region or in any
other region is a very tedious process, even under the most favor-
able conditions. The hardships and privations which frequently
crowd the early years of the pioneer can be appreciated only by those
who have paid the price. The vital importance of selecting a good
pier of land at a fair price in a region which has possibilities for

uture development can not be overemphasized. Strict application

to the farm business, adjusting the standard of living to the farm
income, and keeping alive'to the best sources of farm information
for his particular area will make a success out of any farmer, provided
he ee a good choice in the selection of his land.

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