Morning Oregonian., January 01, 1902, FIRST SECTION, Page 6, Image 6

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THE MORNING- OREGONIAN, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 1902.
that a very little moisture Is sufficient to
make It sticky and difficult to manage.
The capacity of the soil" to absorb and
retain moisture is another remarkable fea
ture of this region. It is the general opin
ion that a rainfall of 12 inches is quite
eufflclent for the raising of a crop of
-wheat in this district, -while in the states
of the- plains IS to 20 Inches ia not consid
ered sufficient for successful wheatgrow
lng. The principal varieties of wheat
grown in this section, except Palouse blue
stem, are of the club wheat group, and
they are usually soft-grained and starchy
and generally white; very similar to those
of the Coast region proper, but of a little
better Quality. Palouse bluestem, Palouse
red chaff and little club aro the principal
varieties. Martin amber is also sown to a
considerable extent.
The most damaging agent that the farm
er of the Palouse country has to deal with
is the annually recurring drouth, which
usually occurs about two weeks before
harvest time, and is particularly severe
In the western and southern portions of
the territory.
From this cause- the wheat is often bad
ly shriveled, and both yield and quality
jo much affected. This is slightly offset,
However, by the larger percentage of glu
ten in the shriveled wheat, which makes
it available in the manufacture of maca
roni. In order to escape the effects of the
severe drouth, early-maturing varieties of
eeed are exceedingly desirable, and much
experimental work has been done with
this end in view. If a variety maturing 15
days earlier could be secured it would
doubtless add several million dollars a
year to the wealth of this region.
All of the wheat country of Washing
ton is particularly adapted to the raising
of this cereal. The soil and climate are
of the best, and crop failures are prac
tically unknown. Farms are more modest
In size than is the case in California and
Oregon, but no great progress has been
made toward tho diversification of crops.
Preparation, for the Crop.
The preparation of the soil is but lit
tle different from that of Oregon. The
farmer plows the ground to a depth of
from two to four inches, generally using
a gang plow of two plows drawn by four
horses. Plowing here is generally more
ehallow than is tho case In Oregon, ow
ing to the fact that deep plowing brings up
the volcanio ash and makes the field little
more than a dust heap. Seed is usually
drilled in, although in some localities the
old practico of broadcasting by hand still
survives.
Fall seeding lasts from the early rains
in September -until the middle or end of
November, and October is the principal
seeding month. In the Spring the seeding
season varies with the condition of the
soil, which Is at all times and In all sec
tions of the state most peculiar. From 60
to 70 pounds of seed wheat are ordinarily
pown to the acre. Grain ripens more rap
5dly in the Walla "Walla district than in
any other portion of tho state. Harvest
ing begins in somo sections about the
middle of June and lasts until late in
August.
Summer fallowing Is practiced on nearly
all of the wheat land in the state, par
ticularly In the Palouse and Big Bend
country, about half the land being Summer-fallowed
each year, so that the aver
age production is about one crop in two
years. Following this method of cultiva
tion, the soil of these regions appears to
be practically inexhaustible, as the samo
land has grown, wheat continuously for
years without fertilization, and crops are
as large now as they were a quarter of a
century ago, if not larger.
During the harvest months the weather
Is generally dry and settled and rain Is
very rare. Thrashed grain may He upon
,the ground in sacks for a long time with
out damage from the elements. This en
ables the farmer to gather the sacked
grain at his convenience and store it or
haul it to tho railroad station.
Careful farmers, who have given partic
ular attention to wheat culture, and kept
records of its cost, are generally of tho
opinion that wheat, which yields 25
bushels per acre or more, can be raised
and put in the sack for not more than
26 cents per bushel. Farmers who op
erate on a small scale find the cost a
little larger on account of the lack of
labor-saving machinery, which naturally
reduces tho cost of the large tracts. As
Is the case in Oregon, the areas of Win
ter and Spring wheat In the state are
about equally divided.
A considerable area of the wheat of
Washington is cut for hay each year.
The amount so used is largely dependent
upon the relative price of hay and wheat
and on the condition of the grain at the
time of cutting. In a weedy field, partic
ularly where the weed Is wild oats, it is
more profitable to cut the wheat for hay
than to permit It to ripen. Cutting for
hay when the wheat is green not only
grves the farmer the hay to feed his
tock or to sell, but it prevents the ma
turing of the weeds, and has the effect
of cleaning up the field for the next
year's crop. Very little so-called volun
teer wheat is grown in Washington, but
occasionally Summer-fallowed land will
"volunteer," and that is either pastured
or cut green for hay.
Irrigation has not thus far had any
appreciable effect on the "wheat area of
the state, having been largely confined
to sections whore wheat was not raised,
or, if raised at all, was not the staple
crop. Fruit cultivation, however, has di
minished tho wheat area in some sec
tions, particularly in the country im
mediately at tho head of the Great Pa
louse Valley and tributary to the city of
Spokane.
In the central and northern portions of
tho state Fall sowing- Is the rule. In the
northern and eastern portions a large
proportion of the area is seeded In the
Spring. Winter wheat, however, is grad
ually crowding out the Spring variety,
and new, hard wheats are constantly be
ing introduced with that end in view.
Crops of Idaho.
The cultivation of wheat in Idaho" Is
practically confined to the northwestern
end of the state, the area of greatest aver
age production being contained in Latah
-and Nez Perces Counties, which form tho
eastern end of the Great Palouse Valley.
Conditions here are practically the same
as In the remainder of the valley. Hich
soil and' favorable climate combine to
make this one of tho finest wheat-producing
sections of the region.
Idaho is largely an export state, as
only about 50 per cent of the wheat crop
is consumed at home. The remainder Is
sent to Portland or to one of the Puget
Sound ports for shipment. The same
methods of harvesting are in vogue as in
the remainder of the Palouse Valley, the
principal amount of the wheat being cut
with self-binders. The wheat sown In this
state Is practically all of the Spring va
riety. LarRe Irrigation Project.'
The survey has been completed of a
large irrigation ditch to conduct the wa
fers of Mlnam River into the Grande
Honde Valley in Eastern Oregon. Some
time ago a company was incorporated in
Union under the name of the Little Creek
&i Mlnam Irrigation Company, and the sur
vey of the ditch was made by this com
pany. The work of construction will be
easy, except in one place, where some
rock "will bo encountered. The ditch will
'be seven miles long, and will have a ca
pacity of about 2000 miner's Inches. The
waters, after being brought over the dl
Ivlde, aro turned Into Little Creek, which
(enters Grand Ronde Valley a few miles
east of Union. It Is proposed to here take
the water from Little Creek and carry it
to the largo stretch of land lying north of
Union. This land, which Includes many
.thousands of acres, is of comparatively
little value without irrhjatlon. but it has
been demonstrated that with irrigation It
I is the best land in the whole country for
the production of fruit, alfalfa and sugar
beets. The water can be carried to every
foot of this land, and the effect it will
'have on this section and the Cify of Union
'will be of untold benefit.
r
SHEEP AND WOOL INDUSTRY
Hon. John Minto Reviews Progress From First Success
With Alfalfa to the Present Time Profit in the Business.
THE third period of the progress of
sheep husbandry in Oregon, 1SS2 to
1302, begins with tho first successful
or third cutting of alfalfa hay in one sea
son from the same land. This plant, wher
ever it can be Irrigated, is to the en
tire range country very nearly what the
corn plant is to tho country east of the
arid land belt of the United States. Its
value as a pasture plant without irriga
tion is yet to be tried. From the lowest
lying lands of the Columbia River, east
ward, north and south, up the innumer
able small valleys, reaching the moderate
rain belt producing pin timber at eleva
tions between 3000 and 4000 feet, this
plant is now, or is rapidly becoming, the
chief support of family life relying on
stock breeding and woolgrowlng. It is
one of the best feeds known for dairy
purposes. Wherever irrigation can bo
had to produce three cuttings of alfalfa
per season, all the temperate zone fruits
can be grown to perfection; and wool
growers in such valleys as Eagle, Pino
and Lower Powder River, can feed their
Jersey family cows from the same alfalfa
meadows which feed their flocks in Winter
and gather as by-product fino crops of
honey from tho bees that collect the nec
tar from the blossoms.
As an authentic means of Impressing
the value of this plant upon, my readers
I quoto from tho biennial report of the
Oregon Board of Horticulture for 1S97-98
a description of the honey crop of Eagle
Valley, in Union County, a district of
fivo by eeven miles In extent. It has ex
tensive orchards of fine fruits, after de
scribing which the commissioner says:
"As this is a wonderful valley for alfalfa,
I find there are 1400 stands of bees. A
number are making the Industry a spe
cialty; and out of this number there aro
1000 working stands, and I am told by the
best authority that 120 pounds to the stand
is considered a Summer's work. This
would make 120,000 pounds of marketable
honey. This Is inquired of as far East
as tho St. Louis market."
Previous to accepting tho task of writ
ing this paper, I had been reading and
rereading descriptions of sheep husbandry,
as pursued In Western Idaho and Eastern
Oregon, by an observer sent out by the
National Shepherds' Bulletin, of Boston.
Knowing from personal acquaintance
with life on these sheep farms that these
descriptions are realistic, I shall endeav
or to convey the general condition of this
Industry at tho present time from the
inquiries of this observer. The series of
small valleys tributary to Snake River
through the Welscr and Payette from
Idaho, the Jordan. Malheur, Burnt River,
Powder River. Pine and Eagle Creeks,
seem Ideal districts for sheepfarmlng.
The elevation varies from 3000 to 3700 feet
above the sea level. These Inland valleys
aro so warm that with water for Irriga
tion three and sometimes four cuttings
of alfalfa hay can be made In one "sea
son, which means that the yield is from
four to seven tons per acre annually. The
provision of this hay for Winter feed in
order to avoid loss yarlcs from SO to 12a
tons per 1000 sheep for 100 days of feeding
time. This hay value at cost on the farm
is quoted at 53 EG to 54 per ton. une Hun
dred to 1000 sheep is what most men
state their provision to be, thus making
a feed cost of $1000 for a flock of 250)
head. To judge what effect this has on
the pursuit here, wo may look In with
our friend "Old Observer" at uioveraam
ranch. In Collateral Valley. Keating, Or
egon. Here Is a roomy mansion house,
shaded by poplars, 103 feot high, planted
by the present owner. E. P. Cranston,
25 years ago. He runs COM sheep. Winter
ing them at the ranch and Summers on
tho Granite Range of mountains, somo
15 miles distant. He Is provided with
ample shelter for lambing, either "Vnntcr
or Spring, having 13G feet of barn. 22 feet
wide, and 200 feet of shed 40 feet wide.
The permanency of tho plant, the charac
ter of the homestead, its neighborhood
of the alfalfa meadows, the rich by-product
of the beestand. upon which he
and his wife are leisurely reading, and
from which his visitor says he will har
vest 1500 pounds of honeyon the mor
rowall bear witness to the fact that
sheep husbandry here is a permanent ba
sis under Ideal conditions. Others are fol
lowing in the footsteps of this pioneer.
Alfalfa Better Thau "Wild Grne.
There Is still some difference of opinion
as to the relative value of wild grasses
and alfalfa hay, but tho majority In fa
vor of the latter Is steadily gaining and
some owners are so sure on the question
that they are constructing their own
reservoirs in order to save the Winter
flow for Summer use. Men whose judg
ment is entitled to respect say that pas
turage Is Improving under sheepgrazlng
on the highlands of Powder and Burnt
Rivers, as the writer has no doubt It
will do on the eastern slopes and summit
levels of the Cascades and Blue Moun-
tains, and It Is not beyond the bounds of
probability that alfalfa can be used as a
pasture plant on the lower plain lands.
The progress of sheep husbandry all
over Oregon may be said to be upward,
both in a literal and figurative sense.
Oregon Is the mother of Montana as a
wool-growing state. The first sheep taken
nearly to the summit of the Rocky Moun
tains were driven from Oregon by Ellas
Cox, of Sllverton. for sale as meat to
the miners where Helena Is now located.
Such as were not sold before the setting
In of Winter were suffered to shift for
themselves with little expectation that
they would live through. The general
cause of their doing so was. the winds
which brought the snow often blew It
off east and north declivities, and the
gonial cWnook from Oregon cuts the enow
off the face of the country from south
west to southeast, whistling over exten
sive districts fit for pasturage only like
the birds of the Wel-lpe country so
named by the native, from the note of
the curlew, which breeds Its young in
the natural meadows of highest levels of
the Cascades, Blue and Rocky Mountains,
to the latter of which the Upper Nez
Perces u?ed to resort to gather kouse and
rnrrsas root in late Summer, and where
they met Lewis and Clark's party in a
famishlne condition. &S years ago. Now,
at such a ??ason In ttVs eastern edge
of the Oregon of long ago, a party going
or coming would be likely to meet a
royal welcome to tho camp of the shep
herd. Elevation has much to do with the
health of sheep and the character of the
fleece, and to her high pastures above
the dust and trash of the sage plain.
Montana, as a shepherdess, owes her first
place among the states, Oregon being
next, for the number of sheep and the
quality of their wool, for in addition to
health and cleanliness the higher the pas
ture the sweeter the feed, which underlies
the Swiss axiom, "the higher the pasture
the richer the cream."
Cost of Raising: Sheep.
As to measure of profit in this pursuit,
it is something rare to find flock masters
agreeing at all points. Indeed, they could
not so agree because the charges they
have to pay vary to such an extent by
making their purchases and delivering
the wool crop at different trade centers,
as make a material difference. Where
the elevation of the country ranged over
is between C000 and 4000 feet above sea
level, the estimate Is very uniform that,
as before said, 100 tons of hay is required
to carry 1000 sheep through 100 days of a
feeding "season. Under such conditions
R. B. Gibson, of Eagle Valley, says:
"When those hard years of 1894 and 1S33
came I did my own work, and by rigid
economy not only lived, but managed to
save something."
I will here give the views and items of
expense of the only man who named 11
?i
cents, to the seeker of information, the
cost of growing wool. The flock-owner
Is Mr. Stowell, of the Arm of Stowell &
Weaver, near Mount Vernon, one of the
most favored spots of the John Day Val
ley, where last Winter only 40 tons of
hay was used to carry 1700 sheep over 31
days of feeding. Mr. Stowell said em
phatically: "There would be nothing left
to pay a man under 11 cents. The cost
alone of tending and caring for 2500 would
bo 51600 ($500 for hay); then for range
part of the year every odd section be
ing road land we have to rent four sec
tions at 560 each, 5240; shearing costs $150;
this foots up, 51990. Sacks and twine not
less than 575; then the wool clip, suppose.
i n pounds. 20.000 pounds, will cost to bo
transported to Heppner, 5150; warehousing,
weighing, and incidental expenses, 540.
All these expenses aggregate, 52300."
At U cents the wool brings 52200. But
this is not all the cost even. There aro
taxes to pay; there Is loss to be deducted;
there Is realty on which the hay is grown,
and taxes on that. Land that can bo
IDAHO PROMISES CORDIAL SUPPORT TO THE LEWIS AND CLARK EXPOSITION
Portland can .depend upon tho full support of Idaho at tho Lewis and Clark Exposition, which la to be held in that city la 1905.
Idaho's interest In the great Exposition will bo such that the people of Portland and, in fact, tho whole world will have excellent cause
to say that we did well. Our Interests are tho same as tb6ugh It were held In our own state. We shall bo enabled to far excel our
efforts at the Pan-American Exposition, as It Is so much closer to home.
We hao our plans laid, and will show to the world what the "Gem of tho Mountains" can do. Our resources are at our command.
Our mining, agricultural, timber and manufacturing resources are practically unlimited, and, as our people are enterprising and industri
ous, Portland need have no fear of our falling to do our full duty. m THOS. KIRBY.
Peck, Idaho.
counted on to produce 4 to 5 tons of al
falfa hay is rated by its owners here at
530 to 550 per acre. Say then. 160 acres at
520 per acre $3200, with 2500 head" of sheep,
at 52 per head, 5500; total Investment,
$3200. Interest on this at 6 per cent, 5112.
and taxes, 5100. Mr. Stowell had Just
told his visitors they lambed 1000 ewes
from a flock of 1700, it 4s presumed, and
had 95 per cent Increase.
The cost alone of tending and caring
for 2500 would be (including $500 for
hav) $1000
We have to rent four odd sections of
road land at 5C0 per section 240
Shearing costs 150
Sacks and twine, not less than o
Hauling wood to Heppner 150
Warenouslng, weighing and incidental
expenses 40
The foregoing are Mr. Stowell's ex
penses, a total of $2255
To this I add Interest on 55000 Invested
in sheep 5 300
Interest onlGO acres of land, at $20 per
acre, at 6 per cent..... 192
Taxes 100
Salt 60
Loss of 100 sheep during year 200
Total cost $3097
Income
From 20.000 pounds of wool, at 11 cents.$2200
By lamb3 from 1600 ewes, at 93 per
cent increase, 1520 at 51 50 22S0
By increased value of S00 lambs of pre
vious year, at 50 cents per head.... 400
Gros income S4SS0
Net Income 51793
Rent the Government Lands.
The hind value assumed Is In accord with
a general estimate placed on all holdings
on which alfalfa hay can be grown of
530 to $50 per acre. In the country where
the foregoing values are made, land pro-
duclng alfalfa will never be cheaper. It
the hay accumulates to justify, cither the
sheep can be Increased or tho hay used
to feed stocfi1 for market, sufficient for 103
days feeding should always be kept.
Those who have such lands are the virtual
shepherd icings, and Mr. Stowell. with
out thinking It perhaps. Indicates a way
by which each of such kings may have
peace within his own dominion. Let
them come forward with an offer to
pay as high rents to the Government
for long leases of their ranges as some
of them are glad to pay the various so-
called military road companies; and call
I on their Representatives ln Congress to
pass laws Instructing and enabling the
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proper Governmental department to let
the public grazing lands so as to encour
age family life thereon, under conditions
tha$Nwlll limit holdings to that purpose
and Improve the pasturage where pos
sible, and strife and heartburnings over
the rights to range will disappear in
favor of peace and good neighborhood.
A gentleman resident in the district has
in years past vaunted that he and his
neighbors were going to stop what he
pleases to call foreign sheep coming into
their section of the John Day country.
It is not done yet. and why? The resi
dents there are mainly Americans, in
fluenced by regard for law, and will not
organize to prevent others from herding
i on the public lands which they themselves
have no other right to use than that
which Is legally common to any other
stock owner. The question Is a waiting
one, perplexing to Senators and Repre
sentatives, because those living by tho
grazing interests have not heretofore
been desirous of assuming control of
all tho land their stock fed on.
But the. day Is near when that must be
done In favor of tho Increase of family
life In that country, and not for men of
wealth or combinations of wealth.
Figure for Umatilla. Conntr.
I have cited tho estimate of a moderate
firm and recall attention to Mr. Stowell's
statement of paying 5240 rental for four
alternate sections of road companies' land.
Stowell & Weaver by this lease get the
use of four other sections of public land.
This makes their rent $30 per section.
"Would it not be good policy to encourage
settlement by long lease of such lands,
conditional in favor of Improvement with
privilege of purchase? The case men
tioned is that of a location near the cen
ter of the John Day Valley.
By the kindness of Hon. Douglas Belts,
president of the State Woolgrowers' As
sociation, I am enabled to give his esti
mates of what woolgrowlng costs In
Umatilla County. Mr. Blts dwells partic
ularly on the depreciation of market val
ues of wool during the 20 years now un
der review and the Increased cost of run
ning sheep in Eastern Oregon, and claim
ing a pound of wool costs three times as
much as then, and sells for half. I agree
with him as to the fact that the value of
wool Is less to manufacturers from the
use of cheaper material to mix with wool
and skill by which tho manufacturer is
using as a means of successfully meet
ing competition in trade. Much of the
increased cost of herding rango sheep
comes from Increase of owners and de
crease In the area of land used for pastur
age only. It Is the natural competition
of increased human wants. Twenty-live
years ago one herder, as Mr. Belts says,
would easily take charge of 2500 sheep.
Herding one year for 5 '20
Ten tons of hay, at $3 per ton 80
Camp tender In Summer two days in
two weeks 4
Total $ 504
These are "Mr. Belt3 figures, Irom. an
evidently hastily written letter, and I ven
ture to point out there would be 10 times
two weeks in five months of the herding
season, so the reading should be, as tho
cost of running 2500 sheep, 5540.
Now, the average band is 1SO0.
Herder one year 5420
One hundred tons of hay at 55 per ton 600
UTAH COMMISSIONERS
Interest on four sections of Winter
range, at 51600 per section, 56400, at 8
per cent 512
Camptender. with two pack and one
saddle horse, for five months ln
Summer, at 550 per month 250
Board of camp tender, per month, at
510 50
Repairing fence around Winter range
(Including new material), per year.. 100
Interest on 160 acres purchased for
Summer range, at 5450, at S per cent 36
By loss of 100 head 200
This is a total of 52163
Omit, as the writer says, the cost of
salt, shearing, sacks and twine, which
are about the same as 20 years ago. The
1 letter waa written in order to compare
fsSZSZZB.
1 mS.PC.GDEEN. 1? .
tho past with the present as to what are
now necessary investments. Conditions
make It necessary for men situated as
he Is to own at least part of their Summer
ranges. But President Belts la a public-'
spirited man, and eo believing him I ven
ture to point out that with his ICO tons of
hay he is secure against such a loss as
overtook the pioneer woolgrowlng venture
from Western Oregon In 1S61, when, of a
flock of 4500 choice ewes placed In a chos
en portion of the Yakima Valley, the
Spring of 1S62 opened upon 43 living skele
tons. With his more than 20 years of ex
perience, his 100 tons of good hay aud four
sections of Winter range, he can and will,
if the need ocevhrs, carry his flock through
100 days oC such weather as reduced an
other venture from Western to Eastern
Oregon, near Rockvllle, in 1S79, from 4SQ0
to 1400. President Belts Is simply near the
line of Inevitable progress between agri
culture and the pastoral life that as late
as 1877 held the country of which Pendle
ton Is now the thriving trade center as
range for cattle, sheep and ponlec, the
strife over which latter caused all, or
nearly all, the murders of flock-owners
and their herders under cover of tha so
called Piute raid. Since then Umatilla,
Sherman, Gilliam. Morrow and Wasco
Counties have been on the line of advance
of wheat production against wool, which,
as already Indicated, is all over Oregon
advancing to higher grounds with greater
safety, because under more experienced
and skillful management.
In order to show this Industry as con
ducted under conditions very different
from those surrounding Mr. Belts, I quote
from another letter. It is from the pen
of a coworker with him, however, though
representing that portion of Oregon that,
by elevation, has not as yet been bene
fited by alfalfa culture. The estimates
apply to ranges on the slopes of the Cas
cades and arid plains south, and west
from Prlnevllle. My friend says:
"It will cost at least 75 cents a head
to run a mixed band of sheep a year. The
principal cost would be as follows: Herder
and board at 545 per month. 5535; salt,
550; extra help lambing, 5100; shearing
and board at 9 cents per head. A reason
able figure for hay would be 40 tons to
the band at ?6 per ton, 5240. Now these
are the main expenses. It Is safo to as
sert that, one year with another, it prac
tically take's the wool to pay all ex
penses." I read the estimate for hay to mean hay
for 1000 sheep. The Summer range from
this dlstrist Is largely on the Cascade
forest reserve and Paulina Mountains,
and the Winter rango is on the Crook
County desert, where the domestic sheep
have effeotually superseded the "barren
ground" or muledeer, which only 20 years
ago were found In large numbers and
ruthlessly slaughtered by white and red
men for trelr pelts, then worth 45 cents
per pound, dried, in Prlnevllle. Senti
mental people may mourn this change
from the wild to tame. So do not I. It
means progress. Increase of the fittest to
live, the expansion of law and order over
waste places. The reader will noto that
jny Crook County friend placed the wool
crop as meeting the costs of keep and
management. I hope ho will note also
that I Inserted in Mr. Stowell's estimates
what both of these experienced range
stockmen omit the increase of the flock
and Its meat production. This may be
MSHUPTILEFF.
secondary and hardly worth considering
ln some counties at some times. But that
time Is not now. The value of the in
crease to keep or to sell as meat is, at
present market rates, equal to or greater
than the Income from wool. This keeps
the family, pays the taxes and enables
the flock-owner to .stand among men,
calling no man master. There Is at tho
present time no more generally satisfied
body of men ln the various Industries
that engage the people of Oregon than
Its flock-owners.
Sales at Good Prices.
It might be added at this point that
Oregon sheep have been finding a good
market during, the past 10 years, and at
good prices for the past five years, so
that, notwithstanding the large extent
of what was the best pasture land has
been put to wheat production, the num
ber of sheep, kept has Increased from 1S91
from L159.S22 to 1,433,093, valued for as
sessment at 52,205.874, to which may be
added the beautiful fleece-bearing goats
(the pioneers of sheep In clearing the
brush-covered lands of Western Oregon).
They number 50,155 and are assessed at
593,740.
In the past the oldest sheepralsers
have shown a brave endurance of law
less, outrageous. Injurious opposition to
their having the common right to use
tho public lands In full measure with
horsebreeders and cattleralsers; but the
Inexorable law of the survival of the
fittest is gradually giving to sheep hus
bandry the control of grazing Interests
of entire arid and semi-arid country, of
which nearly two-thirds of the area of
Oregon Is a highly favored part. It may
be the end of the contest between tho
cattlo Interests, which offers greater
seeming inducements to associated capi
tal, and absentee ownership has not yet
come. The latter interest will try hard to
force a policy of range leasing of the
public lands in large bodies. This will
only prolong the contest. Private con -
trol of more land, either by freehold or
lease, than Is sufficient to support an
orderly. Industrious family life Is against
public policy under our form of govern
ment. The day Is well-nigh past on which
an Investment of J5C00 to 5S00O In
cattle, turned out to roam at will, can be
counted on to support a family. I have
shown that such can be done by caring
for sheep, and no better conditions can
be Imagined in which to breed and rear
defenders of home, country, law and order
than the lands of Oregon which aro too
dry for general agriculture. This applies
to the mountains and highlands of West
ern as well as Eastern Oregon, and more
especially to the burned districts on the
coast and near it, whero a most repre
hensible, careless use of camp fire has
destroyed a onco noblo forest wealth al
most beyond computation, and left In Its
stead a surface of burnt earth, on which
little crass and few shrubs will grow,
but what does grow feeds a mutton su
perior to any fed In any other part of
Oregon; yet the whole state produces
good mutton.
Interest in Sheep Husbandry In
creasing. The Interest In sheep Is Increasing In
Western Oregon and tho profit of keep
ing them Is nowhere less than half the
annual income from wool and Increase.
Thl3 Is proven by the usual terms of leas
ing a flock of sheep for a term of threo
years. It Is half of the wool and half
of the increase pays for the keep. Where
r
CORN GROWS TO PERFECTION
Success Lies in Adapting a
in Giving Intelligent Care to
V.
p
IJRHAPS the idea that "corn
will not grow In Oregon," except
to be gathered for "roasting ears"
or cut green for fodder or for the
silo, arose from tho belief current In
early days that any crop, cereal, fruit
or vegetable, that would grow in Oregon
at all, would, after the first planting or
sewing, take care of itself from year to
year for an Indefinite period. Corn, not
being a plant that thrives on neglect,
flourishes on Impoverished soil, or sur
vives exposure to Winter weather, was
ruled out of the fields In pioneer times.
and preference was given to crops that
required less care and cultivation. The
"volunteer crop" was Oregon's boast, and,
In a sense. Its advertisement ln early
days presented an alluring picture to peo-
r,i who Ho nv otior,f tnii -n.- MT!tir
subsistence from reluctant soils. Corn
was not and could not be Included ln this
catalogue, and as a matter of fact most
other agricultural products have long
since dropped out of it, leaving behind the
wholesome lesson that here, as elsewhere,
man must work for what he gets from
tho soil, and, moreover, that he must
work for it Intelligently.
The fact that corn can be made to
produce and mature a good crop In Ore
gon has been accepted for some years by
person3 well Informed by experience upon
the matter, but in a general way it is
still said and believed that it ia not
profitable, and cannot be made so, to
raise corn ln the Willamette Valley, ex
cept for Summer table use, and perhaps to
a limited extent for fodder. The ex
perience, therefore, of T. L. Davidson,"
of Marlon County, as a successful grow
er of corn for 30 years, will interest those
who are still wont to insist that corn will
not mature ln Western Oregon. His ex
perience demonstrates that Intelligence
In preparing the soil and selecting the
seed, good Judgment ln regard to plant
ing time, industry ln cultivation and
promptness in harvesting and curing the
product, are essentials in raising good
corn. These given, a good crop Is as
sured, unless ln an exceptional season.
The only question now Is, whether It pays
to raise corn ln Oregon for feeding pur
poses and to meet the demand of the
home market for domestic consumption.
Mr. Davidson says that it does, and fur
nishes the best evidence actual experi
ence ln support of his statement.
Mr. Davidson considers It profitable to
raise corn to feed to horses, cows, hogs
and chickens, and he puts In a good-sized
crop every year. He advises farmers
to use the corn crop at a substitute for
Summer-fallowing, though "he Is raising
corn year after year In the same Held
because he has only tho one purpose In
view. Mr. Davidson says he has adapted
his corn to the climate. He started with
a selected variety, a cross between New
England Early White corn and the
Huckleberry. He saved seed from his
own fields and in a few years had a
variety that is thoroughly acclimated
and It never falls to yield a crop ranging
from 100 to 1G0 bushels of ears to tho
acre. He always selects the most per
fect ears for seed, plants It In season,
cares for It well, and gathers It at tho
proper time, so that the corn Improves
ln quality.
The land Is plowed ln March, after
which It is harrowed and smoothed with
the clod-crusher. The corn Is planted dur
ing the first period of -fair weather In
April, which Is not later than the 10th
of tho month. Mr. Davidson, never has
been troubled by frosts killing hl3 corn
In the Spring, though this Is earlier than
moat farmers think It safe to plant. The
corn makes but slow growth during the
cool, wet weather, but It is all the time
gathering strength which will make Its
growth the more vigorous when the warm
weather comes. When the corn Is up Mr.
Davidson cultivates it after every good
rain. This Is for the purpose of keep
ing the soil loose and moist. He follows
the cultivator with a clod-crusher, which
makes the surface fine and smooth, so as
to' retain the moisture and prevent the
ground from caking. It Is necessary to
repeat this process after every rain, in
order to keep the ground from hardening.
When the ains stop, cultivation stops.
If weeds appear later In the season they
are hoed out. The cultivator Is run
through the soli the lat time about
July 4.
Mr. Davidson makes It a point to gather
his crop before the Fall rains begin, and
it Is only In unfavorable season, which
are few and far between, that the corn
Is unfit for making corn bread. In every
case It makes good feed for stock. If the
corn could be cut about September 1 and
left standing In the shock for abgut 10
days, It would be better, but Mr. Davidson
does not like to run the cnances ot ram
He always takes the ears from the stalks,
leaving the stalks standing with the
husks on. As there is still some sap In
the cob, he spreads the corn on elevated
floors in the barn, where It dries. The
floors are made of six-inch board3 laid
one object in keeping sheep Is clean
farming for grass and grain, product,
much more than half the money income
from the flock is profit, credit being given
for weeds destroyed and manure made
from the straw piles of the flock. Tha
cheapness and security to sheep folding
that may be had by woven wire fences
ought to aid in extending rape culture
and clover onto every farm west of the
Cascade Range. East ofthat range. In
the wheat-raising districts, this same
woven wire fence ought to aid the inland
farmer to set a portion of his farm to
alfalfa for the production of one cutting
of hay and late Summer pasturage. The
same conditions of Spring weather that
will give wheat a good sta'rt would do
the same for alfalfa, and once started the
tap root of the plant goes down as fast
and as far, apparently, as the stem 'grows
up, and are as tenacious of life as aspar
agus plants, apparently.
Before leaving this subject of pasture
plants I ask the low plain flock-owner:
"Sir, have you ever tried getting a set
of alfalfa on the homo camping ground
of your flock?" I quote the words of
Lawrence Sweek. of Monument, as given
by his friend "Old Observer," on Septem
ber 3, 1901: "I began In 18S4; I bought 3030
ewes for 53030. I culled and bred with
care each year. I owed 55S00. and tho
third year I paid up In full. I am run
ning grade Delaines, lambed this Spring.
Oer 100 per cent went to the mountains.
I have had to feed none the last two
years. I have two years hay on hand.
Ordinarily I would figure on two months
feeding." (Safer to make three months',
Friend Sweek, and keep the stock In
good order.)
Old Oregonlan readers will remetnbec
that In 1SS3 tlnkerlrig with the Morrill
tariff began, and Hon. James H. Slater,
United States Senator from Eastern Ore
gon, deemed It his duty to support a free
trade policy. I mention this with all re
spect for Senator Slater acting up to bin
convictions. But It Is historically true,
I think, that tho change In the Morrill
tariff enabled Mr. Sweek to purchase"
30C0 ewes for as many dollars. With noth
ing but praise for the business courage
of the action, I claim further as an his
torical fact that Harrison's election and
policy helped all sheepowners In Oregon in.
that line of their business; and that tho'
election of Cleveland and his free trade
policy killed credit as to tho sheep Inter-t
est. The editorial columns of The Orego
nlan never told It more concisely than
S. Haven (a flockowner of the John Dayj
Valley): "There never was a time during
which so much cash was paid for every
thing and obligations so promptly met asj
In the period to which you refer. The fact!
Is no one could get any credit at that)
time." Now flockowners are all right.
JOHN MINTO.
Salem.
!
Variety to the Climate and
Cultivation and Harvesting.
i about an Inch and a half apart.
The corn,
Is piled on these floors to a depth of 1
Incites or more. Tho air circulating
through the floors dries the corn, satis
factorily. If the corn should be unusually
damp It may be stored In a building wherq
artificial heat may be used to dry It.
Care must bo used, however, not to dry,
the corn too rapidly, for overheating
makes It bitter.
Since the corn is gathered when thq
bulk of It Is ripe, there Is some that is
not mature. This Is kept separate from
the other and used for Immediate feed
ing. In the Eastern States the corn stalks,
are killed by the frosts In tho Fall, and
I V. nstrn mn.r V. laft in irv In tho fiftlfl
but ln 0re0B the stalk3 continue tq
grow. and the com mUst De removed tq
protect It from damage by rain. Mr. Da,
vldson does not feed the corn stalks tq
Ws cattle, as he has plenty of ojher feed;
that he prefers. He gives the foddeq
away and it has proved very satisfactory!
for cattle. Once In four or five years,
Mr. Davidson gives his corn fields oj
dressing of manure, putting on about)
15 loads to the acre.
The matter of diversified farming be-j
lng now under careful consideration,
among thenore energetic and progressiva
farmers of the Willamette Valley, tha
methods whereby Mr. Davidson has suc-
ceeded in. raising corn profitably cannofi
fall to attract attention, as well as Im4
press the newcomer to whom the ndvlcq
Is gratuitously given that Oregon cannot;
raise corn. Of course, Oregon never will,
become a "corn state" In the commercial
sense of the term as applied to Iowa and
other states of the Middle West. But thd
time Is at hand wherein Oregon, farmers
who seek to diversify their crops on thd
intelligent basis of "always something to
sell" will add with a reasonable certain
ty of profitable returns for tneir enaeavor,
a corn field to their cultivated lands.
VAST DEPOSITS OF COPPER
Southern Oregon District Is Coming
In for Great Attention.
The copper resources of Southern Ore
gon, and particularly in the vicinity oC
the Siskiyou Mountains, are being Inves
tigated as never before, and with every
promise that they will be extensively ex
ploited ln the near future. The tremen
dous success of the copper-mining Indus
try In some of the Northern Callfornlx
counties, particularly Shasta, has. during
he past few months, caused miners xo
turn to the Siskiyou belt, and with a suc
cess that has already opened, their eyes to
the wonderful possibilities of the Immense
field. The recent discoveries on Joe Creek
and Elliott Creek have directed the atten
tion of capitalists to the region, and rep
resentatives of a number of prominent
mining magnates have been scouring tho
SIsklyous ln tho vicinity of the boundary
line during the past few months ln search
ot properties. A representative of Captain
Defamar, the many times millionaire own-,
er of the Mercury and other famous mines,
wfio has recently invested largely In
Northern California copper mines, ha3
been looking over the McVey copper mine,
on Elliott Creek, and he finds It to be ono
of the best prospects on the coast. This
property Is situated at an altitude of 4300
to 5100 feet, the boundary line of Oregon
and California running through It. It was
first discovered three years ago, and Is
now owned by Messrs. W. H. Hamilton,
S. McVey. L. F. Cooper and G. B. Adams,
of Crescent City. It Is located on'the head
of Joe Creek, a tributary -of Elliott Creek.
Last Summer, an enormous ledge of sul
phide ore was uncovered at this mine, and
now the owners find themselves rich men.
F. M. Anderson, the field geologist for
Northern California for the State Mining
Bureau, says the whole region for 60 miles,
and from the Ashland Butte to Sterling
Mountain, contains va3t deposits of rich
copper ore. The locality Is one of moun
tains, canyons, creeks and rivers, cliffs,
peaks and forests, mainly untouched.
Roads are comparatively few, and rugged
trails afford the only communication, the
nearest points of egress being Ashland,
Jacksonville and Grant's Pass. Owing to
the topography of the country, the coppei
riches of this section are inaccessible from
California. .
'
Eaitern Orcf?on Would Profit.
The rush for oil lands In the Malheur
district means a great deal "to Eastern
Oregon if the search proves successful.
It will mean more to the railroad Interest
than anything else, because It will furnish
a cheap and convenient fuel for use on the
locomotives, the same as Is now being
made use of In California. The prospec
tive oil fields are all a considerable dis
tance from the railroad, and In case oil Is
found it will be necessary to provide cheap
and convenient transportation to the main
lines of road at once, else the oil will be
I of little or no value. To build a railroad
I into the oil fields means the development
of the country through which the road
passes, and in this Instance the section
between Baker City and the oil fields la
rich In. mineral and agricultural lands.