The Valley That Organized Itself: Nooksack Farmers Build a Co-op and Demand Pure Food

A meeting of the farmers of the Nooksack Valley was held at Deming on Saturday, Dec. 17. At the afternoon session an address was given by J. E. Baker, Horticultural Commissioner of the state, on the adaptation of this section to horticultural pursuits and the need of organization.

Mr. D. A. Hatfield spoke on the opportunities for enlarging the dairy business, and offered a proposition from the firm of John W. DeCamp Co., Seattle, to put in a power separator sufficient to handle the milk from over 200 cows, if the support of the members of the association was given, which was done after a permanent organization had been effected at the evening session.

Mr. A. J. M. Hosom, a former member of the State Board of Horticulture, gave a very interesting address in the evening on the commercial canning of fruits. Drawing attention to the various adulterations practiced, and of what materials our so-called fruit jams and jellies are composed, Mr. Hosom appealed to the audience and association to support the passage of a pure food law, under which fruit would be utilized for legitimate purposes.

Mr. Hatfield's subject for the evening session was the packing of fruit for market and the selection of varieties for planting, which was listened to with great interest. Mr. Baker's subject was on the varieties of fruit which best succeed in this state. A number of the varieties most largely grown were shown, and habits of growth dealt upon. D. C. Jenkins, Horticultural Inspector of the county, addressed the meeting on the subject of insect pests most common to the section and the success attained in combating them.

In effecting permanent organization R. L. Kline was chosen president and Chas. Van Zandt secretary, with a vice president from every precinct of the district. The title adopted by the organization is "The Farmers' and Fruit Growers' Association of the Upper Nooksack and Sumas Valley."

A good attendance, and live interest in the proceedings characterized the meeting, a very favorable feature of which was the presence of a considerable number of ladies and the election of some as vice presidents of the association.

This section of our state evidently has a great future. Snow-clad mountains, the slopes of which are covered with magnificent forests of fir and cedar, give it protection and contribute to the natural wealth of the country in the form of lumber and shingles. The soil is of unrivaled fertility. Some of the picturesque features of the section suggest the valley of Virginia, though the mountains are higher and the general appearance of the streams indicate glacial origin.

Great credit is due the manager of the Seattle International Railway Company, L. S. Miller, for the hearty and energetic support he is giving to farmers' institutes along the line of this railroad. It should be an object lesson to the managers of other railroads in extending like facilities to the farmers along their lines to effect similar organizations. If such were the case, combined effort among farmers, and the stimulus of instruction from those qualified to teach, would certainly give increased traffic to the roads. For instance, instead of having a mass of rubbish along their lines, infested with insects and for this reason unmerchantable, they might have sound fruit to carry at good rates.