Morning Oregonian., January 01, 1902, FIRST SECTION, Page 5, Image 5

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THE MOKNIKG OKEGONIAN, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 1902.
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OREGON LIVESTOCK INTERESTS
Eastern Part of the State the Home of the Speed Horse
New Methods for Beef ProductionA Hog-Producing State.
By James Wlthycoiabe, Vice-Director
THE Cascade Range divides the state
into two grand physical divisions,
known as Eastern and "Western Ore
gon. The former la largely a semi-arid
district, but also contains a large area of
very fertile soil, mainly of volcanic origin.
This region, the home of the bunchgrass,
in the early history of the state was al
xnostwholly devoted to stockralsing, but is
at present a great wheat-producing sec
tion. Although range husbandry is still
practiced there, the development of farm
conditions has appreciably restricted this
system of cattle-grow ing. Sheep hus
bandry, with some modifications, however,
yet flourishes under range methods as of
old.
This physical division of the stati ne
cessitate the tuoption of systems in ac
cord with the existing conditions!-For ex
ample, tho popular method for growing
stock in Western Oregon would. In a
measure, be almost totally inapplicable to
the lndus..y m Eastern Oregon. Heuce
this artlcl will oeal with the subject from
two general standpoints.
The Early History of the Industry.
The first cattle were probably brought
to this Oregon country by the Hudson's
Bay Company about the beginning of the
nineteenth century. The great Influx of
livestock into the state, how ever, occurred
in the years 1837 and 1843, aggregating sev
eral thousand head of horses, cattle and
sheep. These were constantly reinforced
with stock brought by the Immigrants,
who succeeded by strategy and indomit
1 able energy, in bringing a goodly number
k of cattle and horses. The story of suffer
ing from want of food and water, which
these poor dumb brutes were compelled to
endure upon the desert plains will never
be known. Once reaching the table-lands
of the western slope of the Rockies, food
and water were found in abundance, the
whole Inland Empire at that time being
covered with a wavy sea of the most nu
tritious grasses. Owing to the presence
of unfriendly Indians the immigrants
could not remain in safety, so with re
luctance they pushed on through, the great
i Columbia Basin and over the Cascade
Mountains to the beautiful Valley of the
Willamette. Here they found a country
rich In grasses and other forage plants,
occupied by bands of friendly-disposed,
phlegmatic Indians. The pioneer herds
multiplied rapidly under these environ
ments, but at the end of a decade the
plow had Invaded the original pastures
so as to seriously restrict the grazing area
for these Increasing herds. In the mean
time the pacification of the Indians in
the Inland Empire was accomplished, thus
opening to the pioneer rangeman Immense
areas of rich grazing lands. The immi
gration of the herds of the valley to these
newly acquired ranges- was so rapid that
the cattle and horse-breeding industry in
the valley was reduced to a low ebb. This
gave the stockmen of Eastern Oregon al
most complete control of the stock-breeding
industry In the Pacific Northwest for
a number of years. The venture proved
a profitable one, although not without its
vicissitudes, the most notable being the
hard Winter of .JS61-2 when the herds and
flocks of the whole state suffered great
decimation. Notwithstanding this loss the
supply, within a few years, exceeded the
demand, hence a general lowering of val
ues ensued.
In the meantime the land of the "Willam
ette Valley was- almost wholly devoted to
graingrowlng. This perhaps was unfor
tunate, as with changed conditions when
stockgrowing could have been made very
profitable in this section. It seemed hard
for the farmer to divorce himself from
his established custom of making wheat
the major product of the farm.
The Kornebreedingr Industry.
Oregon is noted for her superior horses
far and near, and the1 two prominent fac
tors which contributed to the building up
of this reputation are as follows:
First, the commendable enterprise of the
first settlers of this state in bringing with
them the best stock they were able to
secure.
Second, the unsurpassed soil and climat
ic conditions which rendered possible the
highest physical development of the horse.
Because of the spirit of securing the best,
so well marked in the early settlers,
which has ever since been characteristic
of the horsefanciers of this state, now
we can perhaps boast of having horses
which are as well bred and good Individ
uals as can be found anywhere.
Eastern Oregon is pre-eminently the
home of the. speed horse, because the pe
culiar contour of this section, its vege
tation and pure air combine to produce
horses of marvelous powers of endur
ance. Horses cantering over the hills and
down in the valleys, feeding upon the
most nutritious grasses known, develop
(wonderful lung power and the very best
of limbs and feet. The good qualities of
(the bunch-grass are well known, while the
Indomitable energy and the great powers
'of endurance of the horses of this section
are proverbial. Some of the gamiest race
horses that ever looked through a bridle
(were reared on these bunch-grass hills.
The cavalry horses which do the best
service on the battle-field come from this
section. This points most certainly to the
advantages this part of Oregon offers for
the breeding of the best race horses as
well as horses for general work. The
phlegmatic breeds, when taken to this
section, after a few generations undergo
a radical transformation. They discard
their lethargy, are reduced a little in size,
but develop vivacity, which is a greater
compensation for the former loss.
This section is perhaps not so well
adapted for producing the ponderous draft
horse as some of the rich, alluvial soils
in a more humid climate, but cannot be
excelled for producing horses of great
4 physical endurance.
With proper care and by Judicious se
lection in breeding, a class of horses can
be grown In this section that will prove
themselves the peers of any horses, either
on race track. In the field of battle, be
fore the plow, when hitched to a road
wagon, or between the shafts of a dray.
While this Is true of Eastern Oregon, it
can scarcely be said of Western Oregon,
because soil and climatic conditions here
are better suited for growing the draft
horse. The intensified system of farming
gives abundant production for a great
variety of nutritious forage plants, which
are so essential for the development of
the draft horse.
The breeding of draft horses Is a profit
able Industry, and It will be well for the
farmers to give it close attention. One or
more good brood mares ought to be main
tained on each farm, which Is devoted to
general farming. The mare can raise a
foal each year and take her place in the
general work of the farm. The colt at
two years and a half old can be worked,
after which he can earn his keep until ho
of Oregon Agricultural College, CorvalllK.
J
is salable. In this way a succession of
young horses can be Inexpensively brought
to an age when they will sell for a good
figure.
In late years great changes have taken
place on the ranges of Eastern Oregon.
The transportation facilities brought the
bona fide settler, and with his plow he has
transformed vast areas of range land Into
wheat fields, thus practically dealing the
death blow to the range system of cattle
growing in this state. The passing of the
range does not, however, destroy oppor
tunities for profitable stockgrowing, but
the Industry henceforth in these sections
will proceed along new lines. Examples
of this are already In evidence In many
sections throughout the state. In South
eastern Oregon large tracts of sage brush
land are being reclaimed by means of Ir
rigation, resulting in marvelous changes
in the productivity of these lands-. Four
to six tons of alfalfa hay are produced an
nually on an acre, when before irrigation
it required perhaps a hundred acres to
sustain an ox. With the extension of al
falfa growing, In addition to the large
areas of rich grazing land along the bord
ers of the numerous lakes in Klamath,
Lake and Harney Counties, beef cattle
ought soon to be produced on a mammoth
scale. At present. In the absence of de
sirable transportation facilities, the out
put of beef Is usually marketed In the
Fall, but it Is no distant day when rail
road traffic will be established and the
Winter fattening of beef will then assume
gigantic proportions.
Excellent opportunities exist for profit
able stockgrowing In the great grain belt
of Eastern Oregon, although the range
man generally sticks tenaciously to anti
quated methods of stockgrowing with his
diminished herds on the few remaining
open ranges. There is, however, a signifi
cant transition taking place in the live
stock industry in these graingrowlng sec
tions. The day is not far distant when a
large proportion of the grain will be mar
keted within the hido of a steer. Exclu
sive wheat growing will give place to a
rational system of animal husbandry.
This whole section of country is admir
ably adapted for the economical produc
tion of beef, pork and mutton. The soil
is productive and the climate is such as to
assure the vigor of the stock. Cattle can
be fed in the open lot In the valleys with
ieea grown in more exposed positions dur
ing Summer.
There are but few sections where there
are surer or larger returns' from capital
Invested In the stock industry under com
petent supervision than is found in the
graingrowlng districts of the Columbia
River Basjn. Upon a large area of this
land awrless barley can be grown in abun
dance. This, cut at the proper stage of
ripeness, will fatten both cattle and sheep
and our farmers can compete with the
corn growing sections of the Middle
States in cheapness of production. This
crop needs' no cultivation after it Is sown;
no husking, grinding or threshing, but
simply to be harvested and fed in the
sheaf. Corn also will do well in many sec
tions of Eastern Oregon. It can be grown
and put Into silos for the supply of suc
culent food, as well as furnishing variety.
It is confidently believed that an acre of
the average wheat land of this section can
be made to supply annually sufficient feed
to produce from 250 to 400 pounds of live
beef worth from 10 to 16 dollars. This
perhaps will give nearly double the net
returns secured from wheat, besides prov
ing an Important factor In the mainte
nance of the fertility of the land.
The changed conditions must be met
with new methods. The day of Winter
beef, direct from-the range. Is gone never
to return. Practical systems of yard or
stall feeding must be established. Once
this system is established upon a proper
basis the industry will expand beyond the
conception of the most confident. There
is an increasing demand for better beef on
this coast, and as yet no breakers are In
sight to Indicate depreciation of values.
We have fewer cattle In proportion to our
population than in any period of our his
tory. The great possibilities for remune
rative Investments In the livestock Indus
try which awaits the progressive stock
man in Eastern and Southeastern Oregon
will soon dawn upon them, and in addition
to supplying the markets of this Coast,
trainloads of prime beeves will be mar
keted in the great markets of the East,
giving a liberal margin over the cost of
production to the intelligent feeder.
Sheep and Swine Himbnndry In East
ern Oresron.
The sheep and swinebreeding industry
in this section will undergo the same
transformation. Instead of the hundreds
of thousands of half-fatted sheep and
lambs being shipped East direct from the
range they will be finished for market on
our own farms, thus utilizing the crude
material for turning out a highly-finished
class of mutton. The item of transporta
tion alone is of such magnitude as to at
tract serious attention. It costs practical
ly no more to ship a car or tralnload of
sheep worth five cents per pound than it
does for a car or tralnload worth only
two and one-half cents per pound. Sheep
can be fattened on the grain farms ot
Eastern Oregon as cheaply as they can be
in Colorado or Nebraska.
It is rather remarkable that the grow
ing and fattening of swine has not re
ceived the more earnest attention of
farmers In the grain-growing sections ot
Eastern Oregon. Conditions are favora
ble for swine husbandry In this section
and with cheap wheat and long distance
to market, it is certainly to the farmer's
interest to convert at least a portion of
his wheat into a higher-priced article. Re
peated experiments have demonstrated
that with a good breed of hogs a gain of
one pound of live weight can be securea
from four and one-half to five pounds or
wheat. This, at the present price of
hogs, will yield the farmer a gross return
of 69 cents for each bushel of wheat fed,
or an Increase of about 53 per cent above
the present commercial value of the
wheat. The item of hauling to the ship
ping point and freight charges to market
will add something more to the right side
of the ledger in favor of the hogs.
Western Oregon Conditions for
StocUgTovrlnB.
Agricultural conditions In Western Ore
gon are In many respects radically differ
ent from those found In the eastern and
southern portions of the state. Here we
have a climate of rather "prononuced
humidity, a soil adapted to a variety of
crops, hence mixed farming Is more gen
erally practiced. This section is excep
tionally well suited to dairying, due to
a plentiful supply of water, and the ease
with which crops of a large variety of
valuable forage plants can be grown.
It Is, however, equally as well suited to
more general systems of stock "husbandry.
The farms In this section being, as a
rule, small, favor more Intensive systems
of farming. Stock are usually more do
mesticated than they are in the range
districts, for instead of being grown and
in the open field or yard, they -are usually
stabled or permitted to run under a shed
during Winter.
The comparatively large herds of cattle
are usually found on land which is too
wet to cultivate, but the scanty, un
nutrltlous herbage of these unimproved
pastures will satisfy the owners for a
brief period only, for the inevitable high
price of beef will prove an Incentive to
the owners to reclaim these lands by
systems of underdralnlng. Beefgrowlng
In this section of the state will be largely
relegated to the small farms, and will
constitute an Important part of an Inten
sified system of husbandry. The widening
gap in the diminishing ratio of the num
ber of cattle to our population portends
that prices of beef will go skyward. The
future waa never brighter for the stock
men In this section than it is at present.
With a better understanding of the capa
bilities of the soil to produce most abund
antly the class of food best suited to the
needs of growing animals; with a keener
appreciation of the value of improved
breeds over scrubs, and with better meth
ods of handling his herds, the farmer can
fee1 assured of good returns from capi
tal invested in cattle. With the silo, rein
forced by the soiling system, the crops
grown for two years "on many a single
acre in the Willamette Valley will be
sufficient to grow and fatten a steer worth
from $40 to $60. Even with a much less
Intensified system of farming, wherein
the crops from large areas of land will
be required for ithe development of the
steer, profitable returns will follow In
telligent effort. Feeding In yards will
ultimately become the general practice
for Winter feeding. The equable Win
ter climate of "Western Oregon favors the
feeder for the reason that the minimum
.WF(LTONL
amount of food is required to sustain the
body h?at of the animal. Yet for best
results cattle should at least be given
the privilege of a shed, during the Win
ter. Then again the Injury to the land
from open field Winter feeding more
than offsets the cost of the construction
of feeding yards and sheds.
The Sheep Industry.
Perhaps high prices Jn the future for
sheep are not so reassuring as for cat
tle, but there is, however, but remote dan
ger of prices descending so low but that
good margins will be secured by those who
follow the Industry Intelligently. But few
sections can boast of such favorable op
portunities for sheep husbandry under
farm conditions as may be found in the
Willamette Valley, and the Coast coun
ties. The conditions are simply ideal for
the mutton breeds, especially the long
wool breeds. It Is not uncommon for
yearlings of thse breeds, coming direct
from the field, without grain feeding, to
weigh from 200 to 230 pounds. This Is not
at all surprising when we consider that
any thoughtful farmer can secure feed
In the open field for sheep Summer and
Winter, with but few exception in the
latter season. With grass, vetch, clover
and rape for Summer and Autumn, and
with Fall-sown wheat for Winter and
early Spring, a continuous supply of suc
culent and nutritious food may be had.
If, on the other. hand, the farmer de
sires to carrw the maximum number of
sheep his land will support, then Winter
feeding, with clover hay, silage and grain
can be practiced. Thus the crops of a
few acres can be made to support a good
sized flock of sheep. Aside from ttv ad
vantage of the large crops of nutritious
food, the farmer can engage in this In
dustry without tying up any of his capital
in buildings, as the mutton breeds oL
sheep do best in our mild climate when
fed In the open field or lot. Western
Oregon can easily acquire a reputation for
producing high-class mutton. When this
is done there will practically be no1 limit
to the demand, for in addition to the con-,
"HHWh Jev fill fr CvV " ..ltf
. -Mry-M WASHINGTON II ftV --
U&y6U:&- COMMISSIONERS WW
stantly Increasing local consumption of
mutton, a high-class article can bear the
cost of transportation to distant markets
and bring satisfactory returns to the
producer.
The conditions of the wheat fields this
season Illustrate forcibly how easily sheep
can be kept in good condition in this sec
tion, for as early as the middle of No
vember the Fall-sown wheat, In many In
stances, became so luxuriant as to neces
sitate the turning of sheep upon it. With
the usual Winters this wheat can be pas
tured the whole Winter, carrying a large
share of the time from two to four sheep
to the acre. There are. but few years
when much hay and grain have to be
fed, as rape and turnips may be fed off
the open field up to Christmas. Then there
is scarcely a season but that Fall-sown
wheat or rye can be pastured by the
middle of February, thus making the
Winter feeding period a short one. When
we consider the healthful climate, tlvs
rmurMTTn-MTTDQ 1' -S5i
long-growing season, and the amount of
vegetation supported by the soils of this
Valley, it is remarkable that a larger
number of sheep Is not kept. This sec
tion cannot be surpassed for economical
production of high-class mutton. With
careful attention to the growing of crops
best suited to the industry, and with an
intelligent system of grading up the stock,
coupled with modern methods of feeding,
sheep husbandry can be made Immensely
profitable In Western Oregon.
The Mohair Industry.
The Angora goat-breeding Industry Is
capable of expansion within the borders
of this state. Two millions of these ani
mals can easily be maintained a large
portion of the year upon a class of feed
which annually goes to waste, namely, the
leaves of different varieties of trees and
shrubs which grow upon our hills and
mountain slopes. The hundred thousand
of well-graded goats owned by the farmers
of this state form a nucleus for the flocks
of the future. There Is a very limited
market for the flesh of these animals at
present, but with well fattened goats of
the future It is scarcely to be feared that
remunerative markets for this meat will
not be found. However, for the present
the farmer can well content himself with
the- annual returns from their fleeces. The
value of the fleece will depend upon the
weight and quality of the hair. Hence, the
fleeces of goats may take a wide range
in their value, varying perhaps from 50
cents to 52 per fleece. The farmer usually
engages In the Industry with two primal
objects first, to utilize the goats to ex
terminate the grubs and brush, or, in
other words, to make them perform the
duties of grubbers; second. Is the annual
revenue derived from the sale of the hair.
There Is quite an area of land In the
southern portion of the state which Is too
precipitous for general agriculture. This
land at present contains a dense growth
of numerous varieties of shrubs which
are capable of contributing a large
amount of goat feed. It should not be
the aim of those who engage in the mo-
hair industry in these sections to destroy
the shrubs by overstocking the land, but
rather endeavor to preserve It through
judicious pasturing. These lands, which
are regarded as being of little value, can,
with goats, be transformed Into revenue
producing property. The climatic and
mountainqus conditions of this section of
the state are ideal for the production of
a fine quality of mohair and with patient
endeavor and by Intelligently utilizing the
opportunities presented, the industry will
prove very profitable to those who are en
gaged In It The field for the mohair In
dustry In this state is a broad one, and
when our farmers fully appreciate its
economic importance they will make the
state as famous for Its production of mo
hair as It Is for the production of wool,
flax, fruits, cereals and other agricultural
commodities.
No greater slander was ever perpetrated
upon an agricultural section than the as
persions that the conditions in this state
wmpEwm6.
arc not favorable for profitable swine
husbandry. The facts are, but few sec
tions have been so favored by nature as
has this state for swine husbandry, and
all the stories extolling the hog as being
the mortgage-lifter, the rent-payer and
the advance agent of prosperity are ap
plicable here In their fullest sense. Suffi
cient varieties of hog food can be pro
duced here In abundance except perhaps
corn, which is not required for the pro
duction of high-class pork. It 13 the
very height of folly to suppose that hogs
cannot be grown economically without
corn. No exclusive corn-growing section
can compete with Western Oregon in
growing hogs cheaply, for with the crops
of clover, rape, vetch and alfalfa, sup-
plemented with a small quantity of grain.
nogs can oe grown at the minimum cost
of production. With the aid of these nu
tritious forage plants, hogs are not In
frequently brought to the beginning of
the fattening period at a cost of 2 cents
per pound, live weight, which leaves a
profit for the farmer, at present prices.
I of 3"i cents per pound. With a little
skimmed milk added to the grain the
farmer can secure a gain of one found,
live weight, for every three or four
pounds of grain fed. thus realizing, at the
present price of pork, about OS cents per
bushel for his barley or wheat. If
pumpkins, unmerchantable potatoes, or
roots enter Into the ration, larger re-
V turns for the grain fed will be obtained.
The risk to those who are engaged in
the industry Is appreciably less here than
It is In the corn-growing states, as chol
era Is practically unknown. Even when
it is Introduced it is easily suppressed,
due to the great variety of healthful food,
good water, and a cool, refreshing atmos
phere, which renders the hog less sus
ceptible to disease.
The swine Industry Is a favorable field
for profitable investment of capital, and
with systems of feeding brought in ac
cord with prevailing conditions, the in
dustry will soon be recognized as a de
sirable one, and will rise to prominence
I for swelling the assets of the farmer.
FARMING IN THE NORTHWEST
Principal Wheat Belts of Oregon, Washington and Idah
The Rainfall, Temperature
THE first impression of the Eastern
observer of the farming methods In
vogue In the Pacific Coast States is
that there is a total difference
between them, and those to which
' he has been accustomed in the
East. Everything relating to farming op
erations In this section, from the sowing
of the seed to the harvesting of the crops,
is different from the methods employed
in the East, and the visitor not Infre
quently makes comparisons In favor ot
what he believes to be the more econom
ical and thrifty style of farming In his
part of the country. But on closer Inves
tigation, however, he becomes convincea
that Eastern methods and policies will
hardly fit the conditions as they exist on
this Coast. Methods which would give the
best results In the East would often be to
tally worthless here; consequently, owing
to Us peculiar natural conditions and re
sources, the Pacific Coast has a farming
system which is distinctively Its own.
Wheatgrowlng and general agricultural
conditions on the Coast have been studied
closely by Edwin S. Holmes, Jr., of the
United States Department of Agriculture,
and his findings and conclusions have re
cently been published.
The Pacific Coast territory of the United
States extends from a short distance
above the traits of Fuca on the north to
about San Diego on the south, and covers
1C degrees of latitude. The same degrees
of latitude on the Atlantic Coast cover
the territory between the Gulf of St. Law
rence and Charleston, S. C. While the dif
ference In temperature between the north
ern and southern limits of the Pacific
Coast is very much les pronounced than
It is on the Atlantic seaboard, the differ
ences in methods- of conducting farming
operations, made necessary by the ex
treme variation in rainfall, are far great
er than those existing along the entlro
length of the Atlantic Coast.
In Washington the average rainfall va
ries from 110 Inches on the shore lino to
less than 10 inches in the Yakima Valley,
on the eastern side of the Cascades. The
area of heavy rainfall Is co-extenslve with
tho western part of the state in latitude.
It runs eastward to the summit of Olym
pic and Cascades ranges. The rainfall ot
the Puget Sound Basin varies from 54
Inches at Olympla to 22 Inches at Port
Townsend.
In Oregon, as in Washington, the area
of heavy rainfall is found on the coast,
decreasing slightly from north to south.
In the lower and middle Willamette Val
ley the annual precipitation of rain is
about 46 Inches. It decreases slowly to
tho southward, being 35 inches over a
considerable portion of Douglas County
and a less amount in the mountainous re
gions In the southern tier of counties.
On the eastern slope of the Cascades the
fall is about 20 inches, and over the
greater portion of the plateau region of
Central and Eastern Oregon it Is be
tween 10 and 15 Inches, rising to about
20 Inches in the southeastern corner of
the state.
In Idaho the precipitation in the moun
tain regions Is upwards of 40 Inches per
annum. The fall on the plains, how
ever, is not, as a rule, sufficient for the
needs of agriculture, but In the foothill
region and in the lower end of the Pa
louso Valley the rainfall Is generally
ample for the wheat crop. Tho distribu
tion throughout the year Is similar to
that of the Pacific coast proper.
The Pacific Coast wheat region em
braces all of the wheat-producing lands
of Oregon. California and Washington and
the northern portion of Idaho, which Is
practically a continuation of the great
Palouse Valley. Methods employed in
cultivating and harvesting wheat In this
section are radically different from those
In any other section of the country; In
fact, even different sections of the Pa
cific Coast region have entirely different
methods, both of 'tilling the soli and har
vesting the crop.
Irrigation and Diversified Fnrmlnpr.
The area devoted to wheat In this region
will doubtless be gradually curtailed by
irrigation, which, although as yet un
developed, is rapidly becoming an Im
portant factor In farming in this section
of the country. As soon as an Irrigation
plant ha3 been Introduced Into a district
and begins active operations, it becomes
posslblo to diversify crops by the plant
ing of garden truck and small fruits
which would not grow In many localities
in this section without Irrigation, and
thus the land rapidly becomes too valua
ble for the cultivation of wheat. Irrl
gat'on, however, thus far has been prac
tically confined to semi-arid regions, and
has not as yet had any appreciable effect
on the wheat area of the region.
The chief factors In curtailing the area
of wheat have been the introduction of
fruit, and tho attention recently given
to dairying, which Is rapidly gaining a
strong hold in several sections of this
''district, notably In tho Willamette Val
ley of Oregon, where wheat is being
abandoned more rapidly than in any other
portion of this region. The diversification
of crops which naturally follows the In
troduction of Irrigation will probably be
extended In time even to the great wheat
valleys of this region, where wheat has
long been considered the only possible
crop; but, as tho more arid sections of
tho land will undoubtedly receive the
first attention of the promoters of irri
gation plants, it is not probable that the
great wheat area of the Pacific Coast
will be materially lessened by crop di
versification for many years to come.
The varieties of wheat sown in thl3
section are also entirely different from
those of any other section of the country,
their peculiar character being a whito
grain, with a soft and starchy content;
and conditions of soil and climate are
'such that even other wheats when Im
ported for seed, although when originally
planted were entirely different In charac
ter from those of native growth, lose
their individuality in a season or two, and
come to have practically all the charac
teristics of the standard soft, white
wheats of this region. Other varieties,
hard red wheat In particular, and In fact
almost all of the hard wheat varieties,
have been tried in this section, but it has
been found that as soon as they become
acclimated they partake largely of the
characteristics of the native wheat of this
section. The principal factor In produc
ing grain of such character Is probably
the lack of humus In the soil, aided, no
doubt, by the generally cool Summers of
this region.
A large proportion of tho more com
mon varieties peculiar to this district are
of the club wheat group, so called on
account of the peculiar club-like forma
tion of the head. Red chaff and Foise are
the principal varieties grown in Oregon,
and Palouse bluestem in Washington and
Idaho. The ability of club wheats to hold
the grain and prevent shelling makes them
especially desirable in this region of ex
ceedingly dry Summers, where the grain,
after becoming fully ripe, is frequently
left standing in the field for 30 to 60
days before being harvested.
Oregon's "Wheat Belt.
The principal wheat district of Oregon
Is situated in the country west of the
Cascade Mountains and eastward from
Wasco County to Union, covering six of
the northern counties of the state. In the
Willamette Valley, and, in fact, in all of
the territory, of Oregon west of .the Cas
cades, conditions are not materially dif
ferent from th03e in California. The
Summer season, however. Is very much
cooler than In California and harvesting
is correspondingly later.
Much of the best agricultural land In
the state is located in the Willamette
Valley, which has long- been noted for its
and Agricultural Methods.
great wheat crops. This valley is about
135 miles long and of an ax-erage width
ot about 60 miles. It lies between tho
Cascade Mountains and the Coast Range
and Is drained by the Willamette River,
The surface of the soil Is generally un
dulating, but it also contains numerous
large areas which are perfectly flat. A
greater diversification of crops Is prac
ticed in this section than in any other
portion of the state. Dairying has ob
tained a very strong foothold, and is con
tributing largely toward the prosperity
of the country. Many farmers in this
section are entirely abandoning wheat,
or planting only a small area In that
cereal, and giving Increased attention to
raising milch cows and forage crops for
their feed. Notwithstanding the diversi
fication of interests, however, wheat Is
still the staple crop of the valley, and
will undoubtedly be so for many years
to come. The principal wheats sown in
this region are the several varieties of
club wheats, red chaff and Foise.
The method of preparing the land for
the crop differs from that of California
and is more after the Eastern plan, or
that of the Middle West. Plowing is
generally deeper, and is generally done
with plows set in gangs of two. The seed
is all drilled In. Instead of being broad
casted, as is the case farther south. The
harvesting Is principally dono with a, self
binder, although headers are used to a,
certain extent in some sections. Tho
combined harvesters are not used in this
section of the state, as the character of
the soil and the smaller size of the farms
make it more profitable to use smaller
machinery.
Xorthern Tier of Counties.
In the northern counties, where much
of the wheat of the state is grown, the'
soil is a rich, sandy loam, blended with a,
trace of volcanic ash, easily cultivated,
and highly productive. Farms are large,
often running into thousands of acres, and
work In this section is done on fully as
large a scale as In California. Wasco
County, the most western of this group,
extends eastward about 05 miles from tho '
Grand Canyon of the Columbia River.'
The soil yields well, holds water admir
ably, and is practically Inexhaustible.
Continuous cropping has gone on for
many years, wheat being raised each sea
son on the same soil, and crop failure is"
practically unknown. The ability of tho'
eoil to absorb and retain moisture has
been amply demonstrated by the raising
of heavy crops without a drop of rain
from seed time to harvest.
On account of the low price of wheat,
farmers of this section have found it
profitable during the last few years to
feed much of their wheat in the form
of hay to stock, and market the stock.
This plan, however, while It holds good
when the price of wheat is not above 50
cents a bushel on the farm. Is not fol
lowed every year, for the reason that
when wheat Is above that price It Is moro
profitable to sell the grain than. to cut
the wheat for hay. Farmers state that
wheat can be grown In all this region for
a trifling expense, some even claiming
that It can be raised and sacked for 20
cents per bushel.
The largest compact wheat area in tho
state Is probably to be found In Sher
man County, and the average yield in this
county for the past six or eight years
has been over 25 bushels per acre. The
quality of the wheat grown In this county
is also of the best, and not surpassed
by that raised In any other portion of the
state, and the flour made in this region is
In great demand, both locally and for ex
port. Gilliam and Morrow Counties are also
large producers of wheat, although in
these counties much fertile land, easy of
cultivation, Is still awaiting the pleasure
of the settler.
Umatilla County Is especially noted for
its great production of wheat, the aver
age yield being about 20 bushels per acre
and with more careful methods and cul
tivation It will be possible to largely in
crease this average. The farms here are
also quite large, as Is the case through
all the northern section of Oregon, and
all work Is done on a large scale. Wheat
hay Is cultivated generally on the hilly
land, and often pays the small farmer
much better than the grain.
Irrigation is on the Increase, not only
in Umatilla County, but through all oC
this region, and, while it has not as yel
had any appreciable effect on the area, oi
wheat, it is undoubtedly having a tend
ency to make the land too valuable fon
planting of cereals, and as irrigation in
creases, its effect on the wheat area of
the state will probably be more marked.
Union County, while mountainous, has:
many fertile valleys, and is famous as a
wheat-producing section. The most im
portant of its valleys is the Grand Ronde,
It Is about 30 miles long and IS miles wide,
and is well watered by a river of the
same name. Climatic conditions are espe
cially favorable to wheat cultivation, and
irrigation is unnecessary. The soil is ap
parently inexhaustible, as each year ap
pears to add vigor to it- A yield of W
bushels per acre in this valley is not un
common. The general characteristics of all wheat
territory of Oregon east of the Cascade
Mountains are very similar to those ot
the famous Palouse Valley, a description
of which is given below.
The proportions of Spring and Winter
wheat planted In the state are about
equal. There Is no particular locality,
however, for either variety, the principal
factor Influencing their planting being tho
etato of the weather at seeding time.
Although there Is about an equal In
crease in the areas of Winter and Spring
wheat, the present tendency Is In the di
rection of an Increase of the area of Win
ter wheat at the expense of the Spring
variety.
Wheat Fields of Washington.
Probably three-fourths of the entire
area of the State of Washington Is devot
ed to the cultivation of wheat. The west
ern section of the state has the same gen
eral characteristics of soil and climate as
the Willamette Valley of Oregon. The re
mainder of the state may be divided into
three sections tho Big Bend country,
which embraces that portion of the state
immediately Bouth of the big bend of tho
Columbia River, and is largely confined to
Douglas, Uncoin and Adams Counties; tho
Walla Walla district, which is composed
of Walla Walla and Columbia Counties,
and the Palouse country, so named from
a tribe of Indians that Inhabited that re
gion at an early time. The general char
acteristics of all this country are some
what similar, and a description of tne
great Palouse Valley will apply very well
to tho Big Bend and Walla Walla dis
tricts. The Palouse Valley begins about 15
mlies below Spokane, and extends south
ward about 100 miles, has an average
width of about 40 miles, and Is watered by
tho Palouse River. The Palouse country
was originally considered to Include a
rather limited area, comprising Whitman
and portions of Adams and Franklin
Counties, In Washington, and Latah Coun
ty In Idaho. More recently, however, as
It began to be noticed that similar cli
matic conditions prevailed In other nearby
sections of the country, tho term, has
come to be applied to nearly all of Gar
field and Walla Walla Counties, and also
to the northern portion of Umatilla Coun
ty, Oregon, as well as Nez Perces County,
Idaho.
There are two peculiar features which
distinguish the Palouse from that of the
Pacific Coast proper, viz., the dryness of
tho climate and the very finely-divided
condition of the soil. The particles are
often so very fine that the soil is prac
tically mere dust. At the same time the
caturo of Its component parts is such,