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About Willamette farmer. (Salem, Or.) 1869-1887 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 24, 1872)
2 WILLA-METTE FAEMEE. w Mmtlhxmoxxs. FahmiMi imi'I.umknts nro likely to bo scarce during the approaching har vesting season, says tho Jturul iVcs, If wo nro Informed correctly, lly the market reports for the past two years we find Hint very few agricultural tools, particularly harvesting nmchin cry, have been Impelled to California; the largo dealers In those articles in Hnn Francisco, having two years ngo n heavy stock left over on their hands, by reason of tho drouth and conse quent limited ileiiiand, thin fact, In conjunction with n depression in trl cos last year, dlHcouiugcd new orders, Tho comuiciclal embarrassments of tho old hotiso of Treadwell fi Co., which had an ImmcnscHtnckon hand, which was put upon tho mailed In. tho midst of tho season, by thu as signee, nt about 80 per cent, of thocost, canned another huiIoiih Iohs lo other holders of tills class of goods In San Francisco ; iih, rather than cairy u heavy and unprofitable Mode for an other season, they Mild at almost any nacrlllce. TIiIh heavy slock of agri cultural machinery which they had to hold over wax one of the piluclpat cniiHes of Trcadwcll's Itiiaiiclal embar rassments; and tho season had ho far ndvunccd before the led tope of a bankruptcy court allowed goods (o be pin upon mo mantel, nun isrmiciiHiciu From "Tlie Went." TIIK BTATK OF 0IIEG0X. Geographical Features, Resource, Etc. nv jvnx . niTTrLL, or fix riuxcisco. Continued. I'UniJO liAN'f). All tho land of Oregon, GO,076,f3GO acres, heenmo tho property of tho federal government, nnd no part of It Is subject to any foreign grant. One-.slxth of tho nrea has been sur veyed by federal surveyors into sec tions ouo inllo square each ; nnd this quantity of 10,000,000 acres includes tho laud occupied or sold, and that for which It Is supposed that there will soon ho a demand. The federal government has given !I,!)7r,780 acres to the Stale for educational purposes, and 000,000 acres for public buildings, lias reserved 1,010,000 acres for In dians, given and Mild .'1,000,000 acres to Individuals for settlement, lias granted 1,8111,001) acres to assist tho construction of wagon roads, has granted -1(00,000 acres to assist tho construction of tho Oregon and Cali fornia Railroad, and U,200,000 acres to assist tho construction of tho .Northern Pucillo Railroad. Tho ag gregate of tlie.-o gifts and wiles Is 17, 27S,7WS acres, or neaily one-third the area of the .Slate. Tho greater por- fc Co, (who bought tho Hpiciilatlon, lion of (ho railroad grants is prom because it was about half colj had lo hold IhclrthrcshcrH, headers and mow era over another year J but tho subject has a mole serious nspict lor our far mers, who havu little lodo with tho prolltMofcommciclalspiculal Ions, and that is why wo allude (o (he matter now. The coming season promises to be one of tho most piosperous for many years forccieals; In short, It will lio the great wheat yiar of this decade. If, then, there Is to be agioat demand for harvesting machinery of nil kinds, and thete is not likely to be sulllcleiit to miet that demand, will llot (he prices go up accordingly. It Is possible that tile best class of 'tlnesh urs, headers, mowers, and icapcis, be fore Hpi lug may not be found when wanted, for love or motley. It would bo well forour fnimers to look out In time, and be picpnicd for this possible emergency. - I,'i:M.i.r.Tsri:.-Acultlvatedtusto marks a woman of elegmico mid re finement ns decidedly iisa knowledge of classical llteratuio does a goiiliu- inau : and inero is uotiiiug in wnicii fenialo vulgarity Is nioro clearly shown (ban U.Mmj)f..JMtt ttm'illl-' nilt of dispute ; but it is a question how far taste is natural, and how far It may bo acquired. A delicate tnsto must (oa certain extent depend up on the organisation of (ho Individu al ; and it is impossible for any rules (o bo laid down which will Impart (as(o (o persons entirely devoid or II. Hut (his Is very seldom (he ease Willi women ; as it Is ouo of (ho few points In which women naturally ex cel men. Men may be, and pioliablv are, superior to women In all that re quires profound thought ami general knowledge, but In the arrangement of a hou-o, and (he Introduction or ornamental furniture and nrlleles of bijouterie, there can bo no doubt or mo innate superiority or women. Kvory one must have marked the dllleieiicelntheruriilshiugora bach elor's house, and ouo where a ladv presides ; the thou-aiid little elegan ces of (ho latter, though nothing In thorn-elves, adding, like cyphers, prodigiously to the value of Hie sol id articles lliey are appended to. Iscd under conditions which havu not been complied with, and (hole gal title may remain In tho federal government for many years to come. The grant Id (he Oiegon and Cali fornia Railroad Company extends from (ho Columbia river (o tho south ern boundary or tho Stale, through tho henrtof (ho western division, and Is or great value. The laud isoll'ered for Kilo (o settlers by (he European and Oregon Land Company at f.iir prices. Tho wagon road grants extend from Kugeno City, by (ho middle fork or the Willamette, to (ho east ern boundary or the .Slate ; from Corvallls to Yuqiiluu Uay ; from Al bany, by way or Canyon City, lo tho eastern boundary or tho Slate ; and from The Dulles to the eastern hoiiud liry or the .Slate, on tho lino towards Port Noise. lie rerlllo land now convenient ofue. eo-s west or Hie Cascade Range, and the settlers must expect to pay some thing more than $l.2.ri per aero for desirable farm laud, even ir entirely unimproved. In Hie Wlllaniotto valley prices range Tor improved farms from $5 to $ 10 per acre. Many or tho peoplo are ready to sell, and uioso who navo the casTi to spare. can llnd gieat bargains. In eastern Oregon, largo areas or excellent laud can ho purchased at (ho (ioveriimeut minimum prlco or$l.2r per acre. U.VII.KOADS. In our time the progress or new countries depends, to a groat degree, upon their railroads, and their con nection with extensive railroad sys tems. Provision has been made to connect Oiegon with tho Mlildloaud tho Northern Paclllo Railroads. Con- gre-shas given 12.SIKI acres or bind r . . . - ..". - u.w.iruuMA, miring is,i, produced per mile Tor tho construction of a 2.),000,HM) pounds of wool, ami on (ho ro.nl from Portland (o Sacramento, a Ort ..r It.. .......I Ill .11,1 11,111 I. '.It. I.... f .... . .. ' ...r. i.t in-i-i'inui'i- i.',.nr,rvii iioiiims . ui-miiei- in in ni nines, nun iiui imiisi forests of largo conifers, which ex tend Into tho bottom lauds nnd there mingle with deciduous trees. The most valuable, nnd also tho most abundant trees of the State, are tho red and yellow fir, known to bota nists ns tho Abies Vouglusii nnd Abies Qrandls, nnd to lumbermen generally as Oregon pine. They fro qipuHy reach a height or 250 feet nnd n thickness or eight feet in tho trunk. Tho wood is hard and strong, and makes excellent frames for houses, and frames mid planking for ships, but It is too rough forflnibhing cither the inside or oven tho outsldo of houses to advantage. Finishing lumber is supplied by tho sugar pine, which abounds in somo parts of tho Cascado Range, and by tho Oregon cedar, both of which grow about as largo ns tho firs, and by tho Port Or- ford cedar, which is found on n small district near the coast, and is fra grant with n tercbluthino odor, Hint is to ninny persons considered very pleasant. Tho western yellow pine grows to u very largo size, but Is mora abundant on the eastern slopo or tho Cascade Rango than on tho west. The yew and Juniper give va riety to tho evergreen forest. De ciduous trees are row comparatively, the most common being oak, ash, and alder. Neither (ho oak nor ash timber or Orcgiyi Is equal in strength and elasticity to that or tho Missis sippi valley. No hickory, black wal nut, poplar, wild cherry, or butter nut lumber is procurable without Im portation. East or (ho Cascades, on the bot-(om-Iandsand lower hills, the trees aro generally rare, small, nnd crooked In trunk and limb, with timber or llttlo vnliio Tor any purpose snvo burning. On (ho higher elevation or tho Illuo Range, however, whero considerable quantities or snow rail In the winter, and lie until late in (he spring, (hero nro extensive for ests or largo and huudsoiiio trees. Tho bottom-lands west or tho Cas cado Range aro generally baro of trees, having been prairies whon llrst visited by white men. but aro covered by an abundant growth or Indigenous irnissos and ferns. In mo mrVsiH thero is a ticnso under growth of hushes and briers, many of wnicn near rrult, but none of much value. Tho moisture or (ho climate is very fhvoralilo lo (ho growth of rerns, which glvo tho farmers much trouble in their cultivated fields. AMUICL'I.Tl'KAI. PltOIU'CTIOXH. Tho agricultural productions In 18C9 tho latest year for which wo have slatlsllcsou that point included 1, 750,000 bushels of wheat, worth $1, oOO.OOOi 600,000 bushels or oals, worm ?-.u,uuu ; ooo.ooo bushel or po tatoes, worth $:)00,000 j 200,000 bush els or maize, worth $200,000; 200,000 bushels of barley, worth $200,000; fl, 200 bushels or rye, worth $5,200 ; iiiuU.tyHW (ousor hay, worth $(i.'I7,-j ouo ; miiKing a total value, for tiio-n portntlon. Largo quantities of salm on nro caught every spring in tho Columbia rivor, and either packed in brine, smoked, or canned with Just enough seasoning to fit them for tho table. Tho fish weigh rrom fif teen to twenty pounds each, nnd enn bo purchnscd in tho fishing season at ono cent per pound. Tho amount taken nnnunlly in tho Columbia is not less than 3,000,000 pounds, though thrco times as many might bo taken without dlfllculty, or without injury to tho pcrmanenco of tho supply. Tho Umpqun, Rogue, and smaller streams emptying Into tho Pacific, all have their spring nnd fall run of salmon. Sturgeon, halibut, flounder, cod, herring, and smelt nro nlso found in tho rivers or near tho coast, bo sides many other fishes of less value. oysters exist In somo or (ho bays. POPULATION'. Tho population of Oregon in 1870 wns 90,023, and Is probably not less- 00,000 now, or a llttlcjnoro than one person lo (ho square mile. It is, however, very unevenly distributed, more than 00,000 living on n district of not more than 0,000 squaro miles, In tho "Willamette valley, making nearly seven persons to tho squaro milo there, and leaving three per sons to eight square miles in tho re mainder of tho Stale. Tho popula tion in 1850, when 'Washington and Idaho were still part of 11, wns 13,037, nnd In tho year 18G0, when Washington Territory had been organized, was 52,337, showing a gain of 300 percent, in ten years. The gain in the Inst dccciiulum was 73 per cent., nnd, if tho same ratio is preserved for tho next thirty years, and wo think it will probably bo greater, the number of the Inhabi tants Mill bo 155,000 In 1880,270,000 1890, and 100,000 ill 1000. Tho follow ing tablo shows tho population, ac cording to tho U. S. census of 1870, and tho taxablo properly, according la tho Stato assessment or the s.uno year by tho counties : gchnltntnl CounlUt, lip. lhkrr V,Nl llrnlim 4,.'sl CUckmnai C'i-.h CIMron l,w ('ulumbU Mil Coo , l.r.ll fioui.il I'Jalii drum joii Tack, on .j Inaiplilne I.voi ! Mai iv11" S.117 Marlon ,.,,, ,, (i Mullnumah ll.Slu o'n.tii. ., 1 7UI Tlllaruouk 40s iiniaiiiw 3 11M ''"I"" tX,l Wfco i.Ui'j Waphliipton j ; Yamhill '-,;; Titr. ftm l,m.U7 l,5.Tj.(g a'.ioru lOT.'JM 2U.WI 1,-Jtl.fcll aiS.55.1 l.Tirr.tui s.an.cw .I.KI.IM'J fi,UII.TM 1,&S..M bO.Vl 7WI.SU9 7UUU In.T(il su:.i nail been sent by sea and rail to New York and llostou, where it will bo manufactured and then returned lit largo shipments in (he shape or, eour.se, with Its shore. casimeres ami other kind aro running Iwo-tirthsor the iILslance the toad being about IIH) miles from (he ocean, and lurallcl. In n ml Is of woolen goods, lo be consumed by our citi zens. Such a system or trade can bo but most disastrous (o our prosperi ty as n peoplo, and every ellVrl .should lto made to provide ftr (ho iiianurac- turo or (his wool at home." This Is from u California paper. Similar re marks would apply to tho way in which much business Is done In On. Bon. Ikki.anii litis Uvn said by ono or tho Juwlsh apers to be the onlv Ku ropean country In which tho 'Jews are given fall rlghtsand (mited kind ly. hMcli bolng the case, it is slngu jar that then should bo onlv 258 Jews ir :" """" " " njconi census snows to bo tho cu.se. m The Thames tunnel, thought to Ik huch a novelty, was autlclpnlcd by ono under tho Euphrates ut llabvlon, and tho ancient EgyptalnshadRSuci canal. I i " in wimi'i wiiiit nimis III (ho sumo direction enniwet nt Portland and Sacramento, so as to secure a great coast mid n-oni Mexico to Rrltlsh Columbia. The main Northern Pacific Rail mid Is to come down (ho vallnv of tho Columbia river, on (ho north side, to Portland or vicinity, and to unit 2.-,i00 acres or rederal land havo lieon given Tor each mile or tho line. Another nul, to be aliout 100 miles long, Is to connect Portland with As toria, and 20 miles or (nick have been completed. The.-o nwls kwlll nc comiiHMlato tho western nnd north orn districts ofOwgon, but tho south eastern ivirt or tho Slato has no nav igable water, and no provision hits boon made to supply it with railroads. TiMiimt. Western Oregon is abundantly sup piled with timber. The hills uud mountains aro covered with dense Total...., WiW3 tjcoar Hnker and Union counties aro enst or tho Dluo Itango ; Umatilla has most Its population west or tho Bluo Rango, though somo or its territory extends over to tho eastern slopo ; Wasco and Grant aro between tho Uluo and Cascado ranges ; Jackson extends across tho Cascado Itango, though nearly all its population is on tho wcstfildo ; nnd all other counties articles or $3,112,200. Of butter, 1,- "ro wesl or t" Cascades. y (his 000,000 pounds were made, and 0f elasslllentlou, (ho region east or tho claco-o, 105,270 pounds. Oregon Is 1 1,luo lln,1B "'" "i-I8 Inhabitants ; noted rortho abundance and excel-1 l"lt lH-tcen tho Uluo and Cascado lence or Its apples. The annual vleld llanca "n 7,010 ; nnd that west or ..... . i.ii ii.i, llm I 'iIlaiiiI.i ).!.. l. ..!.. cnigcs oum,uuu otisiiels, or more v Jii,"Bu "s ','. than 200 pounds a year for every per-1 1,()rtlrtlul ' bo regarded ns tho son In the State. The on-hanls' were texclus,vo ""U'ort or Oregon, but very protltablo Air a tlmo lmfom ti... ' llp projected railroad to Astn. .- - wnv . -" oivhards of Calirornta came into full m ,s "Ploled, tho latter placo bearing but afterwards became un- n,'iy l)W0'" H rival, pnitltable, and many wero neglected, i In tno tow"s ' of tho adult but are now again becoming more ,eol,, ro New Yorkers and New valuable. Largequantltles of winter i K,1K''uu,ors mul Jn 'o country apples are shipped to California, tho UU)stl' tlves of Missouri, IlllnoN, applesol'whlch aro not good keeper. Im,Ia,,a ' adjacent States, and The climate or western Oregon Is I)colloofstrong character and enter well adapted (opears, quinces, plums, riH as "''u'lt bo luferrcd from the gooseberries, ltuimu mul mimnL . conditions uiider which tho miinim and peaches, and anrlcots tlirlv.t wa settled. They aro kind, soclablo. in Jtoguo valley, but not in other n,ul ll0sPl'Wo ; their descendants parts or (ho Slate, whero (hero Is loo wil1 h,eltly educated, and thoir much cold or moisture. The mini- "tato prosperous. Tho settler who oer of horses Is 50,000, of neat cattle c mc w imKo M" ,lolo nmong .-v.ooo, or sticep 120,000, and or swine i u , '" " rwovc mend nt once, DRAINING. This subject is being ngitnled somo whnt in tho columns or tho Faiimkk,' nnd is no doubt ono of vltnl interest to tho agriculturist. Tho first ques tion to oo nnswered In connection with this, ns with any other matter, is, " Will it pay V" If it will not, there Is no uso making any applica tion or it. ir it will, nil or courso will bo interested. Tho farmer, who accumulates his gains by hard labor, is no exception to tho rule. This be lug a permanent investment, tho question win noi oe, win n pay in ono or two vears. but will It eventu ally pay the principal invested, with a fair return in Interest ? Wo havo known instancps whero n pleco of ground would produco a crop of wheat which averaged twenty bush els to the acre, without any extra fertilizing, caused to Increaso its yield from six lo ten bushels per aero by draining. Many reports might bo given to show tlio returns from this system, but wo will not now stop to enumer ate them, but will glvo somo or tho advantages to be derived from It. One great advantage, particularly In our rainy climate, is, tho ground may bo worked at nny tlmo whon properly drained ; whereas, If not drained, seeding Is frequently de layed until too late for crops to ma ture Draining prevents very effect? ually all injury from drouth, for tho reason that tho laud docs not becomo soaked and muddy, but keeps mel low, nnd does not bake, or form n hard crust over tho surface. Wo would like to enter Into details on this subject, but our spaco will not permit, ami wo will give n brief mention or a few of the advantages or imtlertlruliiliiif. These, wo hopo, will suggest a train or thoughts to tho farmer, and also induce somo of our friends to take up this ques tion, and show tho nrobablo cost of underdalnlng whero a sys tem of tiling Is Introduced. Underdralnincr dlsnciises with mum ditches and deep dead furrows, it leiigiueus mo season lor moor, aim vecelation: It nroventstho crack In r of Miff day soil ; also assists In pul verization : It admits of thorough admixture of manures : it Permits absorption of fertilizing substances from tlionlr; supplies nlr to tho roots; It warms the soil by tho heat Passing downward ; it renders tho soil nioro.r frlablo : It prevents Its heaving with frost ; it admits of tho easy eradica tion of weeds; it admits of the pas sageot heavy-draught vehicles with out Injury, and ono advantage, great ly needed in thlscountry isIt admits of tho pasturago of animals in win ter without injury to tho soil or Hie gniss. TllOsO nro ll few nT tlin ninm. advantages olTered. Wo stop here, hoping to hear from somo friend who has studied up (his question moro thoroughly. Ballus JicpubUcan. Cauc or the Deterioration oflhc Wheat I'rep. Frederick Watts, Commissioner of Agriculture, in a recent letter says : "Tho experienco of many years has led mo to tho conclusion that tho deterioration of tho wheat crop is mainly attributable to tho Improper and untimely uso of barnyard ma ""re. In our practico tho clover sod Is turned down and planted with corn. Tho ground Is again plowed in tho spring, and sowed wltl.n.-iis n.wi i.n. on tho stubblo of this crop all tho ma nu re or the bam-vimi i mif . i... Plowed ngan, nnd sowed with whenr. i Ills delicato plant is thus subjected to Hie rawness and grossiiess of barn yard rood, with nil Its germs of flies, worms. Deo and Ihhk ww,..iiii,. .. sulllc lent caiiso of tlio unsuccessful growth of a grain so pure nnd dell cuto ns wheat. Corn is tho httgof plants, and will devour food or any Mlllllltl. 11,1.1 l..t f,. -wr " : iMHi Himu ujkiiiii. iiere. then, upon tho sod, to bo plowed for com, Is tho placo for barn-yard ma nure. lJury it deep, and whon tho corn is cut oil, break tho stubblo oven with tho ground during winter. In tho spring harrow tho ground well, b0m yi0Ur oats "l0" ' a" "d ' You nm uius neeii your manure whom u.i.uw. -iiio wheat is of excellent quality and Is considered a sure crop, and Is tho main agricultural export. FlhllKIimS. Tho rivers of Oregon abound in llshcs, of which tho most inuwrtant is the salmon, and of these there aro half a dorca different (pecics, all large, palatable, and valuable for ex-1 pi you put it, and not subject tho oat crop to being thrown down by it. When .7.7 Vi roi"ovw "ng your mn nu re to tho surfocn liv man ,,i,.i., nnd Hicrpugh tillage. TlioWm-ynrd III"! I1III Itntiliw. II... .......... ,,, ,g ,Illls received proper preparation, Is a fit food for tho wheat Plant, hxperlenco has tnught mo tills lesson. On mv fnrm In I'nnnc.i ynnia I nover fall to raNo a satlsfac tory crop of wheat, and I have known no such thing as Midge, Hessian fly. or army worm." From an Interesting article in a re ccntlssuo o tho London Timet, wo learn that steam cultivating machin ery Is coming Into very general uso n England. One largo firm have been sendlntr nut rmm.ui til sinaUandall are'fri'endly with the fefcnJmes , most of without cenmiony. unless snmnii.i., in his manner, or tho circumstances of his arrival, throw suspicion upon him. Iu western Oregon, tho popu lation is permanent ; in tho eastern districts, much of it is mlgratory. Indlans were formerly numerous in ..;.Jii L i .. nu Pjesent number is whites. (Ceetjadcd nut waak. ttItL lirLJ181? dlstrlcta where cnrtkrmerZ " y S0VenU mffer