ake the consumption
exceed the home grown supply, and many are imported from neighboring
states.
There is abundant room for expansion in stock raising in the state.
Conditions are admirable. Grass is abundant for pasturage, hay is
a prolific crop, the climate is mild, no pests afflict the cattle,
and the markets are at the door and always hungry.
THE DAIRY.
There are few states in the Union equal to Washington in its possession
of natural conditions suited to make dairying profitable. In all of
western Washington, in the western part of eastern Washington, and
in both the northeastern and southeastern sections of the state,
the climate and soil conspire to make ideal grazing. Particularly
is this true in the western part of the state. All the grasses
grow in luxuriance, and with proper care and forethought there
may be secured almost twelve months of green feed annually. The
crops best adapted for use as ensilage grow well, making large
yields. Timothy, clover hay and alfalfa are the standbys for winter
feed so far as the coarse feed is concerned, and while mill stuffs
and all grains are high in price, so are correspondingly the products
of the dairy. Butter ranges from 25 cents to 40 cents per pound,
and milk sells in the coast cities for 10 cents per quart.
[Page 26]
POULTRY.
Perhaps no part of agriculture is more profitable to the wise farmer
than his barnyard fowls, and in Washington this is exceptionally
true. Eggs retail in the coast towns at 25 cents to 60 cents per
dozen. Turkeys at Thanksgiving time are worth from 25 cents to 30
cents per pound dressed, and other fowl in proportion. Conditions
can be made as ideal for poultry raising in this state as anywhere,
and with the market never satisfied, the poultry raiser has every
essential to success in his favor.
BEE CULTURE.
Bee culture among the orchards and alfalfa fields of eastern Washington
is a side line which should not be neglected by the farmer or
horticulturist. Many are fully alert to the favorable conditions,
and Washington honey is on sale in the late summer in most of the
cities and towns until the supply is exhausted, and then that from
other states comes in to meet the demand.
Pasturage for bees is also abundant in many parts of the western
half of the state, and many a rancher among the forest trees has
upon his table the products of his own apiary.
MANUFACTURING OTHER THAN LUMBER.
The State of Washington has natu
|