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About Willamette farmer. (Salem, Or.) 1869-1887 | View Entire Issue (April 6, 1883)
m & i. n IB A rr VOL. XV. orrcfyomUntq. How to Keep Squashes Olymi-ia, W. T., April 1, 18S3 Eilitor Willamette Farmer: In your "Economy" item you say, "ex amiin the squashes in the cellar," etc. Allow mo ti say the cellar i not the place to keep squashes in, in this dimp climate. We had Hubbard squash pio this afternoon for supper, April 1st. I cut the squash yesterday, it was as hard as a rock, almost, and had kept per fectly. I let my squashcB remain out as late in the fall as possible, a few light frosts will not hurt them ; gather them in on a dry warm day, and put them under shelter where they will bo perfectly dry, until tho weather be comes too cold for them to remain exposed any longer. I took 20 squashes, Hubbard, Putman and Boston Marrow, and put them in a clumber with a m.Vched floor and a like ceiling on the dining room below, a plastered brick chimney is in the chamber, and our kitchen stove pipe quite near the ceiling in the dining room, both the pipe and chimney are in constant use, making the upper room warm with a steady heat. On the floor, on boxes and hanging up I b stowed my squashes, and every one kept siund and good until used up. I think this informati"n is worth know ing, and I send it to you for use in vour col umns. In my eld home in New England, we used to hang up our crookneck (our only squash then, 1830), around on the walls and ceiling of the kitchen, and they always kept until late in the season, I c innot tell exactly how late. Yours, etc., ALnERT A. Manning, The Spring Sown drain and Prospects In Folk county. Dallas, Or., March 28, 1883. Editor Willamette Farmer: As I have been rcqu sted to report from my part of the concerning the wheat crop. To 6rst question, whoat all killed and resown to spring wheat or oats. Nearly all will be able to procure seed, and the ground was in fine order for planting, and the prospect is good for a fair yield, and will be as good, if not better than last year. I believe the wild oats in some of the fields are growing fast and getting the s'art of the wheat. As the ground was in fine order for seeding from the 26th of February to the 23th of March, a great many of the timers harrowed and cultivated in the wheat without replowing the ground, and I see thit it gave the wild oats a good start and may injure the yield of wheat. At my place there was but very little snow all the winter. Th ground was covered but twice, the deep est being about two inches. It was all gone in t venty-four hours. It snowed on the morning of the first of February, but molted as fast as it fell, and in the afternoon the wind changed to the northeast and com menced to turn cold and continued to freeze, and the cold spell lasted until the 14th, and then commenced to thaw and clouded up and rained. It snowed some on the nivrht of the 13th, and from the 14th to the 18th it would freeze at night and thaw during the day, and the weather was clear during the day and frost at nieht up to the 25th, and then the fine weather set in and lasted until the 25th. At 1 o'clock it commenced to rain a regular Oregon mist what we all wanted. I have never seen a nicer or finer spell of weather for putting in grain and gardens. The mer cury part of the time reached "0 degrees above zero. The grass is growing fine. Peach, pears, plums and apple trees are put ting out in bloom, the wile gooseberries are in full leaf, and wild strawberries are in bloom. All the stock are doing well on the natural grasses. D. M. Guthrie. Resolutions of Condolence. The following resolutions were unanimously adopted by Sc'o Grange, No. 30, P. of H at a regular meeting held on the 24th of March, 1883 : Wkereas. death has invaded our prance and removed from our midst our much ea-J teemed and well oeiovea Dromer, i. ji. Bur nett, whose voice will be heard no more in councils, therefore be it Retohtd, That we mourn the loss of an honest and upright citizen, a worthy and faithful member of the grange, one who was faithful to his family and the cause he so ardently espoused, whose example is worthy of remembrance by those who remain to mourn his loss. That we extend to the be reaved family our heartfelt sympathy, and point them lor succor and comfort to our Heavenly Father, who is able and more than willing to comfort in the moat trying hour. Rttolvtd, That these resolutions be in s:nbed in the minutes of this graoge, a copy presented the family of our deceased brother, and they ba furnished to the press for pub lication. H.S Williams, B. F. DtRBV, A. C. Ciikismax, Committee, From Umpqua Valley, Or. Robert Crelk, Or., Marc1- 26, 18S3. Editor Willamette Farmer : As it is seldom I see any correspondence from this particular locality, and not feeling quite well enough to cut cord wood, will send a few lines to the Fakmlr. We of the Ump qua valley bave great reason to rejoice, fi r v just as we were all about done seeding came that gentle rain, that commenced to fall en Saturday eveninc and is still continuing I never saw the hills and valley of the Umpqua look m' ra lovely than this morning, and grain anil grass never looked more promising, e cept some spring wheat that was injured by the frost and was not reseeded, and that the rain will help out greatly. Winter wheat was not much injured. There was p'enty of grain here for reseeding, even a third time if necessary, hut. as usual, farmers lacking seed were a little flow, and mill men and others wishing to speculate were all over the coun try and engaging every bushel they could, payiiiB SI per bushel, so the farmers lacking seed had to give 81.23. I hear of one leading granger who bought a large lot of oats at CO cent" per buhel, nnd som for 81 and somo for 75 cents per huihel, but that granger s conscience smote him, or more oats than he first anticipated, would niw be glad to get shout what ho paid for what he has left. Now, why be a eranger it we have not a right to speculate off a brother's necessity ? Gkamikr. Weather Report tor March 1883. ! Eola, April 1, 1883. Editor Willamitte Farmer : During March, 1883, there were 8 days during which rain and snow fell, and an aggregate of 3.94 inches of water; 20 clear and 3 cloudy days. The mean temperature for the month was 4.14 deg. Highest daily mean temperature for the month, 60 deg. on the 16th. Lowest daily mean temperature, 41 deg. on the 5th. Mean temperature for the month, at 2 o'clock p. M , 59 deg. Highest temperature for tho month, 70 de?. at 2 o'clock p. M., on the 15, and 16th. Lowest temperature, 31 deg. at 7 o'clock A M , on the 4th. Frosts occurred on the 3d, 4th. The prevailing w inds for the month were from the north during 22 day, south 2 days, southwest 7 days. The peculiar feature of the month was the unusually warm drp weather. No rains fell from February I9th to until March 33d, ard nothing beyond a very light mist nntil the 25th of March. During March '1882, there were 13 rainy and snowy days, and 2.72 inches of water, 8 clear and 12 cloudy days. Mean temrerature for the month, 40.94 de grees. Highest daily temperature for tho month, 56 deg. on the 30th. Lowest daily temperature for the month, 31 deg. on the 18th. T. Pearce. Cows and Butter. Butter making begins at the stable. The very best Jerseys w ill not produce the best butter unless they have first class care. The stalls must be clean and the animals kept neat; even the air of the stables must be free from foul odors. When milk is once contami nated, and it is a wonderfully active absorb ent of gisses, nothing can be done to make it perfectly put e again. Mere butter is spoiled "in the pair than during any other process through which the milk and butter passes. The udder is not properly cleaned, or the hands of the milker are foul and in many ways the mslk receives that vhich ever after remains to contaminate. The kind of fodder a dairy cow wants is that which makes the greatest amount of rich milk and keeps the cow in good health. The latter, however, depends somewhat on treat ment in addition to fodder. Cleanliness, good water, some carding, good bedding and a sufficient variety of food, have a close relation to health. Two quarts of wheat bran given daily to a calf in the fall, will go further in pushing it forward than all the grass it will eat, and thus double the value of the grain food itself. The more, therefore, farmers study the laws of animal growth the more they will see the economy of feeding a calf to its full capacity in the fall and thus enable it better to with stadd the rigors of winter. When calves are allowed to suck the cows they often leave some milk in the bag. This occurs from various causes, such as sore or chapped teats, manure on teats, or indiiposi tion on part of calf. Hence twice a day, as soon as the celves are taken from the cows, the attendant should ctrefully strip every off of the last drop of milk, and if the teats are at all sore or bag caked, rinse them with linament. To the Editor. For the benefit of any of your readers who may be interested. I beg to say, from personal observation, that Bright's Disease of the kid nejs is certainly curable. Mv friend, Mr. Jo'iirA TrTHILL, of Saginaw, Mich., was at tacked by it, and was in a most criti :al sit uation, His family physician recommended him to take Hunt's Remedy, the great kidney and livtr medicine. He did so. His symp toms gradually sul sided, and at the end of a hott time, entirely disappeared. He was completely cured, and is a well man to day Recommend your readers to try Hunt's Rem edy, Respectfully, Amos O. Tokrev. RKDbiMi'rf Russia Salve is the most won derful tealinp medium in the world. Try it. PORTLAND, OREGON, Escheated to the State An Old Man Dies and Leaves a Valuable Farm and Property. The Grand Jury of Multnomah county, at its last spfaion, made the following report concerning the pr perty of Aaron 11. Larnell, deceased. It seems cvidencbof fraud is plain on the part of J. W. Ruirk, v ho procured a deed and bill of tale of the propertie', valued at over $2,200. The report is as follows, and signed by 1. Kelly, as foreman of the jury: That at tho time of his deceaso the said Liriirdl was the owner of about three hundred and fifty acres of land in Multnomah county, Oregon, that is now nt the value ot at least S1.S00; also eighty acres of land in Clackamas county, of the value of at least S250, besides cattle and a small amount of stock of the val ue of probably S130. Tint at, and for somo time prior to "his death, the said Lirnell was of very weak m'nd, amounting to almost ab solute imhecili'y; that said Ruark. well knowing all of the e facts, prevailed upon sai 1 Larne'l to execute and deliver to him a deed for slid land and a bill of sale for said Rtock, all of which hassineo been appropriated by said Ruark to his own use; that testimony taken before us satisfies us fully that nothing amounting to any reasonable consideration was paid for said property; that over and above the property above described, said Ruark had at the time of the decease of Lar nell a considerable amount of acounts, mon ey, etc., in his hands, of which the deceased was the equitable owner, an amount ilmost, if not quite entirely equal to any first claim said Ruark had against him, either for expenses of last sickness or otherwise, and that said con veyances of said property wern obtained by Raid Ruark by means not justified by law. That no heirs have appeared to claim said property, and we believe it ought to be for feited to the State of Oreson; that no admin istrator has as yet been appointed, and as such grand jurors we recommend that an ad ministrator may be appointed and such steps may be taken in the premises as are in con sonance with justice, and we would respect fully suggest T. K. Williams, Esq , a resident of that neighborhood, as a competent and proper person to "perform the duties of admin istrator. The Jeannette Survivors at Home Again. A New York dispatch, of March 27th, pub lishes an account of the return of the Jean nette party. The history of the trips, to gether with trials and privations incident thereto, is contained in the following readable account: Ensign H G. Hunt, of the Rogers, and Seamen K H. Bartlett, H. W. Lsael.. F. E Manuel and John Liuderback, members of t'ie crew of the Jeannette, arrived to-day on board the steamer Westphalia. The party left Botun.at the mouth of the Lena, the 25th of October last Tho first stago of their jour ney was to Yerkholrask, and occupied ten days. It took ten days more to teach Kiuritek. There one of the party, Aniguen, the Indian hunter, who was suffering from smallpox, became so ill that it wss impossible for him to proceed further, and an ensign was sent forward to Irkutsk, a distance of four days. Seamen Leack and Louterback, with Thornun, interpreter, remaining at Kirinsk with Aniguen and others of the party until the Indian finally died. January 5th, the party again reunit -d at Kirinsk, and pro ceeded togethtr to Irkutsk. From there they continued the journey to Orenburg, on the frontier of Russia, a distance of 24 days All this part of their long j urney had been made in sleds, over the snowy steppes of Siberia, traveling nioht and day. At Orenbutg they exchanged the sleds for steam cars, and trav eled by railroad to St. Petersburg, where they remained a week. They then went di rect tj Hamburg, where, on the 14th inst., they went on board the Westphalia. On the arrival of the steamer at its pier, Ensign Hunt and the seamen of the Jeannette were wel comed by LieutenaLt Melville and Engineer Jaques, who came over from the Brooklyn navy yard in a tog. They spent some time together in the cabin of the vessel, and then accompanied the lieutenant and engineer in the tug to the navy yard. Tho party will probably remain until Thursday, and then will go to Washington, where the tour surviv ing seamen will testify before the Jeannette Enquiry Commi t e. Xlicy Bay fcllcy uu UUb auyjvr nun, kvswuiuujr has beep given by other witnesses, nor what they can add to what already has been told, as they know n thing beyond what is also known by those who nave already been ex amined. Ensign Hunt and members of his party are in excellent health, and the seamen show no trace of the trials endured. They are naturally much pleased at their return to tbis country, and look forward with eagerness to the pleasure ol again meeting the menus from whom so long they have been separated This afternoon, at the navy janl, they called on Commodore Upshur, and at his invitation, lunched with him at his residence. Ensign Hunt, in conversa'lun with a reporter, said that he was is z-alous a believer in Arctic ex ploration as when he joined the Rogers. James Bartlett, who joined tho Jeannette at Mare Island, returns to California. His com rades say that he possesses wonderful endur ance, is full of resources, never discouraged, and always animating those around him by his example, and interesting them by tales of hunting exploits in the Wahatch mountains and other spurs ot the hierra .Viva iss. , "Neglect old friends for the sake of new, and lose both." But remember that Kidney-Wort is a friend oi cannot afford to i elect. Plasters may relieve, bat they can't cure that lame back, for the kiilnejs are the trouble and you want a rem dy to act direct ly on their secietions, to purify and reitoru their healthy condition. Kidney Wort has that specific action. FRIDAY, APRIL IMPORTANT RAILROAD RUMORS. A San Francisco dispatch, of March 28th, has considerable to say about railroad rumors and concludes as follows: The large number of prominent railroad of ficials from the Ejist who have been visiting tin1 coast recently, are responsible for cons 'ti trable possip in connet tion with the contem plated changes in the railroad system of the State No pretense was nindo to creitu the impression th.V their visit was merely for tho pnruose of recreation, and during convcrsition last night with gentlemen connected with Eastern railroads running t'iroiigli New York, P unsvlvania and Illinois, the subject of Vil lard's proposed visit was broached. Coisid trable importanco was attached to his pres ence in the West, as ho is couce led to bo a man who is thoroughly wrapped up with his business, ami whose task is not such as to in duce him to leave his active scene of opera tions for a mero pleasure trip. It was stated, in this connection, that the clnnues r cent'y made by the promotion of John Muir and the appointiiiint of a thoriughly competent sail road man ti the acancy thereby caused would obwato any necessity fur Villaul's present trip, unless the following gos ip was tiue in ifs main p ints. From pers nal obser vations made by one of these men ho was sat isfied that the purchase of the Southern Pa cific Coast road would be perfected, and that it would rapidly be fellowed by further im provements, and probably by the ext-mioa fioni its present terminus of S.inta Cruz. It also was repre; nted that Villard owns the controlling interest in the railroad commenc ing at Port Harford, in Southern California, and running th'tugn San Luis Obispo with a prospective t T.jiinus at Santi Birbara. Cer tain remarks thit he had made recently in the East were interpreted so a to apply to the Sossible extension of the Southern Pacific oast railroad, in the event of its purchase by him or the syeduato in which he is the mov ing spirit, to Port Harford, making a junction nt San Luis Obispo, and thus reach the ex treme souther' portion of the State. To ac complish th's object considerable tunneling would have to be done, especially along the line of the coast. It was strODgly intimated that should the purchase be carried out an endeavor would be made to so work tho lastet Villard acquisition as to make it subsidiary to the O. R. k N. Co. an I the Northern Pacific system, so as to insure carrying trade at least from Southern California to tho Northwest generally, and that but little doubt existed but that the combination would ultimately be made as against the Southern Pacific. On the other hand it was not improbable that in ag gressive move would be made so as to offset the advantigesof the extension of the Central Pacific to Oregon, via Redding, by either the purchase or lease of the North Pacifio Coast railroad. It is a well known fact that the lat ter road, which is owned almost exclusively by English capital, has been previously of fered to Villard, and that for some reason or another the sale fell through shortly before making out the final paper. In view of the vast interests at stake, in the event of this gossip being well advised, it is imp-ssibloto obtain either confirmation or positive denial from those who are in a position to know the minutest details. James D. Walker, president of tho road, and others, when asked concern ing the truth of the rumor of the proposod sale of the road, said they know nothing about the matter. A well known local capi tslist, however, who is in a position to know much of the inner workings of the corpora tion, stated that the original idea wss to ex tend the road to Ukiab, and gradually work up the coast to Eureka, in Humboldt county, and finally from the most available point ex tend it to Oregon, but that he was unable to state if that arrangement had been entered into with Villard or not. The Oregon Pacific. San Fra.nci!,co, April 3. Special In an interview of the Orryonian'a correspondent this afternoon with T. Egenton Hogg, director of the Oregon Pacifio railroad, as to contem plated developments in connection with the extens on from Corvallis, he declined to make any statement, urging as a reason that the company proposed to pursue the even tenor of its way without being obliged to forestal its work by newspaper noto.'iety, Tho gentle-nan was consid-rably exercised over a iccent te e gram to the (Jregonian announcing his return from the East and giving the motive of the purported meeting in the East, at which it was decided to push the road to a speedy con clusion, and which he regarded as unwarrant able interference with private matters. He said he did not propose to be forced to say anything in regard ti the matter while the contemplated improsements were yet in a nebulous state, and he would stand on bis in alienable right to maintain silence if h felt so disposed, adding, "I Know perlectly well what will be done, and through the headf Mice is at Corvallis I direct all the movemsnts, and represent directly Eistern capitalists who are interested in it." "Allow me t) ask, Mr. Hogg, as I desire to telegraph your answer as a matter of news, whether it is proposed to build road at once, or not'" The gentleman jumped from his chsir, his face flushed, and considerably ex cited he said, "Blank, blink it, sir! Telegraph what you blank please. Do yoj take jie and those who put money into the enterprise for howling idiots that they will abandon the road at this late day ! I construe your ques tion as an Insult ana ilur on t e roan. Reporter "Not at all. An answer one way or another is all that is necessary I have rep atedly calhd on jou a id and wait-il your pleasure on your assurance that you would nuke the mat'er public." "BUnk it, sir, whose business is It? V u have 11 u tun neling right along' and if you want any newa go to Corvallis. Parties in the Evit don't 6, 1883. want publicity, and you have already fore stalled our work. Slurs had been previously cast on the road, and our motives nave been impugned, I chum the right to silence just as much as you do to ask information for tho public. I havo no statements to make The road is before the public, at-d though we don't go around asking funds, money is being put iuto it, and wo don't want notoiiety." "Do you believe the r ad will bo pushed to completion this year, Mr. Hogg?" "Sir! I won't mako a statement, and pisi tively refuse to bo Intel viewed on tho subject. 1 ha o no information for tho public. Good day, sir. Come in ajain, young man, and w hen I have any news I will be glad to give it to you. Good day." Whatcom County. The title of immigration to Whatcom coun ty this season will bo enormous bi youd nil precedent. It is deservedly tho field of cen tral attraction to all who arrivo on the shores of Puget Sound in seaich of agricultural tor tious, while it is not less attractive to capi talists in search of business opportunities in the matter of coal and iron mining, lumber and manufacturers generally. When in a few years a railroad will traverse the luterior from one end of tho Sound to tho northern border, to be operated in conjunction with the already ample lines of navigation, its moans of transportation for every interest will bo unrivaled on tho American continent. Whatcom county is the largest in area aud agricultural resources of any county on Puget Sound or Western Washington, and although a great deal of the most desirable land is al ready taken up, tho rapidly increasing popu lation extending into the interior renders good agricultural lands, once inaccessible, now quite desirable and valuable. The bulk of immigration in this county is going into the Nooksack river country, a rich and level plateau, extending from Bellingham Bay to Bi itish Columbia on tho north and to the foot of the Cascade range to the east, because it is rocogu'ed as an exclusively farming country, where newcomers can cither purchase im proved tracts of ICO acres for from $500 to $3,000, or settle adjoining these places on government land. There is now a prospect of a large town growing up on Bellingham Bay, which will in tho course of time furnish tho Nooksack people a good market. Samish, the next farming distu'et to tho south, fionting on the Sound, is fast becoming an important settlement. Improved title marsh land there is worth $5,000 a quarter section, and is backed by so.r. of the finest timber land on Puget Sound, on which al ready considerable logging is done. The tim ber land is interspersed with vacant tracts of lightly timbered bottom land, dosirable fur farming purposes. Next we come to what is known as tho La Conner or Swinomish Flats, tide-marsh lands under a high state of cultivation, tho choicest tracts of which sell for $0,000 or $7,000. Back of these lands are some 20,000 acres of vacant beaver marsh land subject to overflow from the Skagit, and which could bo easily reclaimed by a colony of one hundred settlers and bo made to blossom like the rose, or pro duce 100 bushelsof oats to tho a.ro, which the farmer can realize upon in the local market at from $25 to $30 per ton, according to the do mand. Close to the La Conner Flats are tho marsh lands of the delta of the Skagit, the largest river emptying into Puget Sound, which are similar in extent and value to those already referred to. Though the Skagit above the delta is navigable for a distance of sixty or seventy miles, and has several fine farms or kostions for such along its banks on either side, it is chiefly noted for its iim!er or log ging interest, some 40,000,000 feet having been taken out last year, with the prospect of a greatly increased outport this and for sever' al years to come. As to towns, we may say that La Conner is the principal town in Whatcom county, and u well supplied with large and well stocked stores of ueri'ral merchandise. There is not a vacant business or residence houso in town, and but a few desirable business lots open to purchase within the present limits, aud these command from $500 to $1,500, while residence lots are worth from $50 to $'.'00. The other towns or business places of the county aro Mount Vernon, Skagit, Fir, Sterling, Lyman and Uirdsviewon the Skagit river; Whatcom, the county seat, on Bel Ingham Bay; Fern dale, Lummi, Nooksack and Lynden on tho Nooksack river; Edison on the Sainish; Filial go and Anscortes on Fnlaliro Island; Gueints, Pulilla and Seiniahmoo. l'wjrt Soutul 3Iuit Ten years ao the name of Lydia I'. Pin'-!-ham was scarcely known outside of her native Ht'te. To day it is a household word all oser the conti ient, and many who read the secular and rtligi .us journals hive bic une familiar with the face that shines on them w b a modist confidence. in which w read the t utn that "Nothing ill can dwell in such a temple " NO. 8. The Crop Prospects of the World. Compiled from tho telegraphed reports Of our daily papers. Catcstio, April 1. The Time prints re ports concerning the condition of tho wintef vvhett crop ot Western states, troni the prin cipal points through the eutiro when', growing section. Tho information is iiot encouraging. The winter has been much less favorable than lasts car to the crow 111, and there will bo no such yicl.l as in 1882. Thero aro few section! whire tho weather has nut uctn more or less sevc-e. 1 he prisjut month has ueoti unfavor able. Tho wosther has bon a sucoes-ion of slurp ficez.'sand tlmwti,aml the winter whoat in most sections is conidcrably injured there ny in Uhio, one ot the largest w lntor wheat- growing states irt the West, tho outlook is ills courning. Good judg s cstima'e tho crop at iU per cent ot that ot last car : while others. believed to bo fully as well informed, think it will not oxceed 50 per cent. In Il'inois the prospect seems to vary with locality. In nearly every part of the State the crop ! damaged by frost, but in some sections the injury was slight. Iu a few cases the loss Is estimated at DO per cent. ; others, 10 per cout ; and others think that favorible weather n the future will repair all damage sustained, The condition of the crop is described in var ious sections ny tno atliectives cootl, tair. bad and poor, applied in about equal number. In Wisconsin a eootl deal ot tho crop is killed. and the weather must be favorable to ensure a very gratifying return ou tho rest. Iu Mis souri, Kansas aud Iowa the weather has been severoly felt, in the former state especially. Wall Walla, April 1. Crops look won lerfully well everywhere, and the country Is one mass of green. Over two inches of rain toll in .March. Ihe highest temperature for tho month was 75 degrees, lowest 30. Caiuaiio, April 1. Iu reply to inquiries ad dressed to the Commissioners of Agriculture and the S oretary of State responses received irom tno secretary ot the Hoard ol Agricul ture of Ohio, estimated the wheat crop at 70 per cent, or under, as compared with the pros pect at the same time last year. The short ago is due to last fall's rains and winter kill ing. Tne Secretary of the Illinois Depart ment of Agriculture says the crop is injured in some localities by freezing, dry weather tnd fly. The Commissioner of Agriculture of Kentucky says a full breadth of winter wheat was sown. Somo damage was done by fly, and the present outlook is unfavorable and tho prospeot 20 p r eent. below last year's crop, which was 20 per cent, the largest ever grown in the State. Magnificent. Last Sunday A. McCalley, of the Standard flouring nulls, took a ride through the country alone the foothills and over into Umatilla county. During tho ritlo he examined the growing crop, ami interviewed a largo num ber of farmers. The crops, he says, uever ap peared Letter to him, and ho has been in the habit of examining them each spring for about a doon years. They are simply mag nificent. The farmers interviewed reported that their crops never gave a bettor promise, and nil agreed that the area was greater than last year. Some estimated the increased acreage at 25 per cent., a larger number placed it at 33 per cent., and somo were posi tive that it was 50 per cent, greater than last year. Not only is tho increase larve but nearly overy fanner is putting in more wheit. All the farmers interviewed by Mr. McCalley were of opinion that if ordinary weather is granted until harvest the lamest and best crop of grain over grown in Wall Walla valley will be gathered. Walla Walla Union. Pobably iht Bark Louse. Mr. Louis Grenier, of Cowlitz, W, T,, sends us somo apple limbs, or branches, that are evidently infested I y some insect pest, aud says his orchard is ruined by them. The bark is covered with small, oblong scales, evidently composed of some glutinous sub staneo, and lifting these discloses minute white eggs, scarce visible to the naked eye but plainly to Ira seen under a magnifiying plass, ranged like peas lu a pod, eight or ten under each scale, Mr. Oreninr does not say anything about the insect that must havo in fested the trees and deposited these eggs last season, and we request that he should write us as plainly as he can what these looked like how they acted. Perhas some orchanlit can tell from our description what the insect la and how to treat it ; whether something should be done before thu eggs are hatched or to kill the insect when hatched. It seems to us cither to be the lurk louse or some sort of acalo Insect. Whatever it la it is a peat to be dreaded and got rid of. Without great care taken our orchards will all suffir seriously from thc-ao and other insect depredations. Howe's Kentucky Jubilee Singers and Consoli dated Minstrels The above named aud justly celebrated genuine colored minstrels are now on their way to Portland, having playetl a most sue- engagement in Victoria, Seattle and New Tacoma, turning away hundreds of people nightly. Tho Evening I'ott of Victoria, de votes an entire column of praise to the excel but performance. The ColonM of tho same city praises the singing very highly and pro II unco Howe's Minstrels as the best company that aver visited there. The company appear in Oregon .Nty, Monday, Aprjl 9th; Ktlein, Tuesday, April 101b; Eugene, Wednesday, April llth; Albany, Thursday, April l'.'tli; Corvallis, Frldsy, April 13th; Indep ndduce, Saturday, April llth We can promise our readers throughout the valley a nre treat if they attend The troupe is a moral ote fnd commands the respect of all. w !