Resources shown by Southland’s Model Farm, Southern Counties unique exhibit attracts eyes of entire nation.

January 1, 1916, San Diego Union, Annual Edition

In 1911, when the commission took up the matter of preparing exhibits from the counties of Imperial, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, San Diego, Ventura, Orange and Riverside, it was felt that something different from the exhibits which people were accustomed to seeing at an Exposition should be presented at either one or both of the expositions to be held in California in 1915. As a result of this, about 17 acres of land were secured from the Panama-California Exposition, and it was decided that a part of this should be devoted to a practical working demonstration of the methods used in Southern California in growing its various products, and that this should be an object lesson to the visitors from the Eastern states in the cultivating of the soil and the proper methods for caring for the various crops.

With this end in view, what has become known all over the United States as the "Model Farm" was laid out and a model bungalow was added as an additional exhibit with the Model Farm. The farm proper covers six acres and in addition there is a demonstration field of about three acres and a large citrus grove of five acres.

Since the beginning of the farm, January 1, 1915 (?), there has been raised four successive crops of vegetables through intensive cultivation, intelligent fertilizing and rotation of crops. In one or two instances, the fifth crop is in the ground and is now growing. The farm is planted with all varieties of citrus and deciduous fruit trees, berries and other small fruits.

In connection with the farm, a model poultry plant was established, and here, with the same care given other parts of the farm, it has proved a success. The produce of the farm has not been sold, but has been placed on exhibit in the Southern California Counties Building.

The model bungalow on the farm probably has attracted as much attention as any other feature. As a result, it was found necessary to prepare working blueprint plans of the bungalow. Hundreds of these have been sold and given away to persons living in all parts of the United States and Canada. The commission is constantly in receipt of letters requesting information concerning the farm and bungalow.

Also conducted as a model, the yield from the citrus groves must come as a surprise to commercial citrus fruit growers. The careful attention given to fruits at the Model Farm has resulted in a growth and production that compares favorably with results obtained by commercial growers who cultivate their trees under the most favorable conditions.

In addition to the model bungalow, a cottage of three rooms was built for the use of the superintendent. Showing that automobiles were not forgotten, a combined garage and stable was built. Indeed, nothing was overlooked that would contribute to the convenience and comfort of the farmer and the economic handling of work on his farm.

The commission desired to show not only to the Eastern man, but to the farmer in California, also, that it is not necessary to live in a bare, unadorned piece of land. Grounds around the farmer’s house were beautified and, in corners ordinarily devoted to rubbish, flowers were planted that would bloom or blossom throughout the year. The object of the whole exhibit has been to show how artistic and beautiful attributes of a farmer’s home can be combined with the practical uses of a small farm.

Gleaned on Prado and Isthmus:

San Diego Union, May 9, 1915, 6:1-3.

For a year and one-half the International Harvester interests extended every effort to make their five-acre tract at the Panama-California Exposition typify the world-wide magnitude of the harvester activities. Every visitor at the Exposition should make it a point to grasp the greatest opportunity ever given the people of the West to see such an array of farm machines and oil engines for newer uses.

The Harvester Building and demonstration tract is located a short distance north of the Southern California Counties building, where the Alameda branches from the Prado. In this one exhibition are grouped the many modern farming machines which a man who has the desire to purchase land or to farm would be interested in.

Back of the commodious Mission building, which contains their indoor exhibit, is a citrus orchard, which should appeal to Fair visitors interested in fruit growing. This orchard has reached the bearing stage. As one goes through it, he sees how an up-to-date orchard should be irrigated and how the best orchardists utilize oil engines in running their spraying outfits. He sees a tractor hauling the spraying outfit from tree to tree, hauling the spreader, and doing all the cultivating.

In addition to this, every man --- whether farmer or factory owner --- will find it to his advantage to inspect the power plants in operation there, suitable for small or large factory purposes, running electric light plants or town water works.

Merchants, farmers, carpenters --- all enterprises in fact --- requiring speedy and economical power delivery systems, will find there the 1,000 pound and 15,000 pound motor trucks which have become so familiar in Southern California.

The substitution of kerosene and gasoline power for horses is one of the industrial evolutions which will make the beginning of the 20th century epochal in the advancement of the world. What the warring nations in Europe discovered as a necessity in the business of war, American merchants and farmers are discovering in the interests of commerce. Motor truck users in the towns, tractor users on the farm, and oil engine users in general have proved that mechanical power gives them a decided advantage in competition. Everywhere a practical application of this economic tendency is taking root, and because of this, the comprehensive exhibit along these lines which the Harvester people installed as part of their contribution to the Exposition should not be missed by a single visitor to the Exposition.

The exhibit is in charge of P. M. Price, assisted by W. D. Zarley. Mr. Price has had a wide experience in agricultural and orchard work under Southern California conditions and will be pleased to demonstrate the varied farm activities exemplified there. Mr. Zarley, who has had a world-wide experience in connection with farm machines, also places his time at the disposal of visitors.

Model Farm

San Diego Union, May 2, 1915, 4:4-5.

Situated a short distance to the north of the Southern Counties building on the Alameda, which at that point branches off from the Prado, is the five-acre demonstration tract and exhibition building dedicated to the American farmer by the International Harvester interests.

There, after a year and one-half of constant effort, have been assembled those modern types of farm machines which have done so much during the past decades toward changing the economic status of the world’s farmers. Here, in one place, is presented the greatest opportunity ever given the people of the West to see a complete array of farm machines and engines for power purposes.

Whether interested in agriculture or manufacturing, no visitor to San Diego can afford to miss seeing the power appliances shown there by the Harvester people. Power users are given demonstrations of power outfits from the little one-horse engines which run the washing machines and pump water to the huge 50 horsepower oil outfits capable of running entire electric light plants or entire water systems.

Falling in with the idea early advanced by the officials of the San Diego Exposition, the Harvester Company undertook to explain the purpose and scope of its machines not so much by the customary indoor display as by outdoor demonstration. With this end in view, it developed and brought into bearing a citrus orchard. A battery of four oil-driven tractors do plowing, harrowing and cultivating of the demonstration tract left for that purpose. A smaller orchard tractor can be seen hauling a manure spreader, disking the orchard, and hauling in and out between the rows a spraying outfit driven by a smaller engine. An irrigation engine is raising water by the aid of a centrifugal pump, and a practical demonstration of orchard irrigation takes place before the eyes of every visitor.

Apart from the field work, a 50 horsepower oil engine is in constant operation furnishing the light and power to run a compressed air plant and the electric motors attached to the various machines, just as it would be called upon to do in lighting a town or running a factory.

Each machine on display is not only in motion, but many are further equipped with glass parts and electric lights, so that all working mechanisms may be seen performing their various duties even better than if they were at work in the actual field.

To anyone not familiar with present-day farm equipment, the ingenious contrivances brought together in this five-acre tract will be a revelation. Even those who were born and brought up on the farm will be amazed at their scope and completeness. The exhibit as a whole is a marvelous tribune to the efficiency of the American farmer, who relying entirely upon the superiority of his equipment is able to compete in raising crops with the cent-a-day laborers of Indian, the renter of Argentina, and the peasant of Siberia.

All matters pertaining to general farming and orchard raising will be lengthily explained and demonstrated by P. M. Price, manager of the exhibit, whom all Southern Californians will know as a successful rancher and businessman. He is assisted by W. D. Zarley, an experienced farm machine demonstrator.