Willamette farmer., June 01, 1883, Image 1

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VOL. XV.
4$amglg0ntlent4.
QUESTIONS ASKED AND ANSWERED
Under this head we would be pleased to
receive questions pertaining to agricul
tural subjects. They will be answered as
correctly as possible.
TO DESTROY MOLES.
" T. A. Q." asks, what is the best way to
destroy moles without traps? Answer
We have been sorely afflicted lately by
these little pests and have tried traps but
i to no avail. We are now trying strych
nine. We place it on a small piece of
meat and put it in the burrows. It is
generally the best way we flnd.J
In answer to our Eagle Creek corres'
pondent who wants to know where he
can get some Angora goats, we will inform
him that Mr. W. H. Longley, of Walla
Walla, W. T., has a small band that he
wishes to dispose of.
Please inform me the length of time
required for incubation pf white English
ducks, pea fowls, geese and turckeys.
Answer. We don't like anonymous cor
respondents, but as this is a question that
deserves an answer we will answer but we
must insist upon our correspondents send
ine their names. It takes from 28 to 30
days to hatch ducks' eggs ; 27 to 29 days
for peafowls ; 27 to 30 days for geese, and
27 to 29 days for turkeys.
An eastern subscriber wants to know
how best to transfer funds? If he has a
check on New York it will pass here at
par and sometimes may bring a small
rnmiiim. Alan, tin Oreeron banks tmv
interest on deposits? They do, from four
to six per cent, according to length of
time left in tne oanics nanas.
A subscriber asks us to describe Cheha-
lio nnnnfv W T Tn H OTnirill WAV WO
have written p Western Washington, but
cannot clearly aenne me irauaoi-jiieim-lia
TOMintv Tt. in fTAnprnllv n. timbered
region and there is a fine body of valley
1 1 I ! lltnt ...nn AAA linilaH tllft COl
anU 111 lb MlUfc WHO Ulli;u iiv. ov.
Eventually Chehalis will become a great
farming country. It will bo famous for
its dairies and its hop yards. There is a
rrmot ,lnol nt mwl hnttnm and bench
land in it, and its vicinity to the sea ought
to Keep its pastures green an auuuutu.
Prom British Columbia.
Victoria, April 30, 1883.
Editor Willamette Farmer:
Please in reply to " Subscriber in British
Columbia" mention as soon as conven
ient in your paper how the plan answers
in the northern and upland portion of
Western Oregon of sowing fall wheat in
June, and having it eaten off bare by
calyes or sheep in October or November(
whether such a crop yields as well as one
sown in October, other things being equal,
and also whether farmers sow grass seed
over the early sown wheat, just before
having it fed off, after that process or not
at all. Fall sowing of grass seed to suc
ceed a grain crop is, I think, generally
preferred in Oregon to spring sowing.
Something on the most approved way
of cultivating flax, and of sowing, and
after management of alfalfa, or lucerno
would be very acceptable soon.
I am recommending my neighbor far
mers to take your paper, as the climate
of North-western Oregon and of Western
Washington Territory more nearly resem
bles our own, in South-eastern Vancouver.
Canadian, or eastern United States agri
cultural papers are. less suitable for us.
I would say, in reference to a late arti
cle in the Farmer regarding the largeln
dian reservations in several parte of Ore
gon and recommending grain cultivation
for these people, that reaching l. e. the
production of homed cattle, or good hor
ses would come more naturally to tho In
dian just emerged from the condition of
the barbarous hunter or fisherman.
Twenty-five years ago and much earlier 1
had great experience of the Indians, fre
quently the Hudson Bay Company s de
pot, Fort Vancouver, and for a longer
period, though later of those of Pugets
Sound and the Fuca Strait I quite agree
with what was lately stated in yourpaper,
that Indians have most confidence in
United States army officers. Protectedon
their reservations and duly encouraged,
soon utilize the lands in stock farming.
Beef and mutton are likely to in
creasing demand for an mcalcuable tune.
g Respectfully, W.F. Toon
The foregoing letter was laid aside for
the editor's perusal and as be has been
absent much of the time, be has wot be
fore found time to answer, which wo hope
will answer as an explanation for delay.
Many yea ago wo knew wbe
sowd JiMud ttMB pawad,bt it
a J
seems not to have answered expectations
and is no longer practiced. Fair crops
came but not equal to summer-fallowing
land.
Sowing grass seed with grain is prac'
ticed and there are different ways. Some
sow grass' seed after wheat is put in in
the fall ; others sow grass seed on fall wheat
in the spnng. Some sow grass seed with
spring wheat It is considered safer to
sow grass seed in early spring than in the
tail, as severe winters will sometimes kill
young grass.
Concerning flax, we have perceived that
the farmers of the Santiam Forks used to
sow flax on wet land, rather late in tho
spring. lax likes lowland. It is not dim
cult to grow flax but we cannot give the
precise methods. If some nax grower will
give us his method and his views for Mr.
Tolmie's benefit we will publish it with
pleasure.
Concerning alfalfa, it only succeeds on
sandy soil,!(in river bottoms. Mr. Minto
has a piece of it growing in sight of our
Salem windows. We invite him to give
his experience and what he knows of
other's experience. We have very lately
heard people say they could not do any
thing with alfalfa and they charged fail
ure to the cool, damp climate of Western
Oregon. Dr. Tolmie may recollect that
last July we gave an account of Lair
Hills success in making alfalfa grow on
a sharp ridge 2 A miles from Dalles City.
That eastern soil is a deep, sandy loam
that retains .moisture sufficiently to make
alfalfa set well last year m the dryest sea
son ever known. It formed a good sod
and the first cutting the second year
vielded a ton and a half to the acre.
Whether alfalfa can be grown in Western
British Columbia we doubt.
Dr. Tolraie's views concerning tho In
dians were riven as private correspond
ence but we take the liberty to quote
them because thev are based on the ex
perience of one who has known them for
two generations and thoroughly under
stands the nature and capacity. He is
correct in saying that Indians can ap
proach civilization most naturany as
stock raisers.
interesting Letter from Cheney The Ms
Bend of the Columbia.
CheneyVVVT., May 25, 1883.
Editor Willamette Farmer :
I thought you would like to have a few
items from Spokane county. Real estate
is firm, with an unward tendency. Our
court-house is completed, a fine two-story
buildine, with offices below and court and
jury rooms above. It shows off to good
advantage on the hill ; a good fire-proof
vault is completed in connection with it,
to contain county records. Our first brick
building on Main street is under construc
tion. The bright, cherry-colored brick
piled up in the street, points to tho begin-
ningof a better class of business buildings
in Cheney. The Benjamin P. Cheney
Academy is in operation with a full at
tendance. Immigration comes steadily
in. The Big Bend of the Columbia seems
to be the immigrant's paradise for the
present About two hundred families
have located between Wilson Creek
Rnttes and the Grand Coulee. There is
an air of general prosperity throughout
the entire country. The building boom
; inct cnttinc in in Chenev this snrintr.
Tho Rango addition to Cheney is laid out
and was put on tho market last Tuesday,
smco which time $800 worth of lots have
been sold, and two dwellings are being
raised to-day; others will go up soon.
Quito a number of farms are cnangmg
hands in this locality. The heaviest pur
chasers are: Mr. Cole, formerly of Fort-
land, and Mr. Bngham, o: opoicano
Falls. We are having a fine spring ; gen
iu ai.na.ani tun or three times a week and
fine crowing weather. Crops never looked
. .. b ,l: ., Tho ;itn. nf lm
betier in una wmuwj. v ...,. . ...
soil is made happy by the present crop
prospects.
T net out a small orchard of about forty
trees on my lots here in Cheney last
spring, consisting oi apples, cncrries,
plums ana pears, which mv uumg hiij
and have made from four to twelve inches
-f nn, wnnrl nlrmulv this SDntltT. TllfCO
Ul lit" ----- ,
of the cherry trees are bearing this year ;
one of them, a way jjuw, w quim iuu,
and the young fruit as large as currants
., .i.:. ,ito t lan have 1.300 strawberry
plants out; they are looking exceedingly
healthy ano are now m uiwm.
are a foot high and pods forming; pota
toes Urea enough to hoe and corn and
melons up. My catalpa trees stood the
winter all right ana are tooKing une. j.
. ,t nn the old Harris place, now
owned by Dr. Kirkwood. The orchard it
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PORTLAND, OREGON,
about five years old and is looking well ;
his cherry trees arc almost overloaded
with fruit ; he will have a nice lot of ap
ples, pears and plums. I candidly believe
that for apples, pears, plums, cherries and
shrub fruits this country is more than an
average. From my observation in the
past few years I am satisfied that fanners
who live above an altitude of 1,800 feet
above sea level would enjoy more satisfac
tory results if in planting their rchards
they would secure the variety of apples
and pears that mature the growth of
fruit the quickest. I have noticed that
slow growers, such as the genatins, White
Winter Pearmain and Yellow Newtown
Pippin do not ripen well and arc not fine
flavored, and do not grow to their usual
size in their high altitudes, while tho
Baldwin. Jo Davis, Fall Pippin, Blue
Pearmain, Yellow Bellflower and other
more rapid growers mature well and are
fine flavored. In view of the foregoing I
would suggest that the farmers of tho up
lands of Whitman, Spokane, Garfield and
Columbia counties would, when sotting
out orchards in the future, take this into
consideration. I would also suggest that
nurserymen like Phillip Ritz and others,
would classify their fruit trues so as to
designate which varieties will mature tho
growth of fruit the quickest. I also would
like to see such a classified list pub
lished in the Farmer. Pears should be
classified in the same manner. The above
has reference, of course, to winter fruit.
One of my neighbors, a Mr. Bartlett, has
just returned from a trip to the Big Bend
country, and reports having found a large
extent of fine agricultural country west of
the Grand Coulee and south of Badger
mounta n, a nice stream of water running
through it large enough to turn a mill.
He thinks it is the finest stretch of coun
try that he ever looked at, not excepting
Central Illinois ; says he could turn a fur
row ten miles long without breaking the
sod ; also, that there is sufficient timber
in close proximity to this belt of country
to furnish plenty of fuel to settlers. He
traveled for several days without seeing a
human habitation.
Yours truly, J. W. Banqe,
ALONO THE COLUMBIA IN WASCO AND
DMAT'LLA COUNTY.
We have recently been in Northern
Wasco county, and have fully realized
that our statements hitherto made con
cerning the value of the country south of
the Columbia river havo been within the
bounds of truth. There is an extensive
country in Northern Wasco that awaits
settlement. Many persons are now going
in there, and the face of the country has
changed very materially within a year.
Much settlement and improvement has
taken place this spring. Botwccn John
Day and the Deschuttes river thcro is an
upland of rolling prairie that has every
prospect of becoming good land for wheat
farming. Homes are seen starting up all
over this section of Wasco. Fencing is so
rapid that tho traveler who lately had the
whole surface of the plains for a road and
pasture, now travels through lanes. The
good old times when the cattle on a thous
and hills grazed in Northern Wasco are
gono forever, and instead thereof wo shall
havo homes and orchards, gardens and
grain fields ; civilization will cover thoso
rolling plains with prosperity and plenty.
At Blalock there is 3,000 acres of wheat
that stands knee high and promises a
ery prodigious yield. Traveling back
from tho Columbia for sixty miles,
towards Heppner, or Lone Rock, you find
settlements, new farms, wheat fields and
general improvements, indicating that
people have faith in that portion of the
country, and their faith shows itself in
works. We have wondered that a section
with such material advantages should re
main so long unimproved, when it is so
much nearer Portland than the regions
towards which the tide sets so strongly.
The time lias come when Northern Wasco
and Western Umatilla county will be pop
ulated and cultivated. That section of
country will furnish a much larger sur
plus of products the coming year than is
now anticipated. Another year it will
enter la gely into wheat production.
Traveling from Heppner to Dalles
City you now pass through a cultivated
country much of the way. Between John
Day's and Deschuttes rivers land is taken
up and improved. But there is only a
beginning made, for there is room for
thousands more. Grass valley is about
tWMtv-f ve wiles from tl w Columbia, but I
W
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FRIDAY, JUNE
they are grow ing wheat that distance from
transportation. With the growth of that
country there will spring up lively towns
all along the Columbia and on the rail
road. Grant's will receive the trade of the
John Day prairie, and should become an
important place. Blalock will have an
excellent farming region close by it, ex
tending back to tho Blue Mountains. It
will also have a heavy trade with the ex
cellent farming country on tho north side
of the Columbia in Washington Ter
ritory. Alkali, a few miles above, is a lively
town in the sand heaps, and has already a
good trade with the country back of it.
Castle Rock, in Umatilla county, a few
miles cast again, will receive the trade of
all the country between Butter creek and
Willow creek, which will insure its pros
perity. Some years ago a company of Portland
merchants, more for pastimo than for
profit, bought 5,000 acres sixteen miles
from Umatilla, in tho sand and sage
brush. They commenced farming exten
sively, much to the amusement of old set
tlers. They met with some discourage
ments and had a very dry season, but
harvested over twenty bushels to the acre.
They have a prospect this year of realiz
ing much better returns. We came down
the Columbia river on our return with
one of these gentlemen and received in
teresting particulars of the prosperity of
the country. Prospect Farm is doing re
markably well., They expect to see wheat
crops improve for several., years, jmJX
takes considerable time to subdue that
land thoroughly. The proprietors are well
satisfied with the prospect Since they
adventured there others have taken
claims in sand and sago land close by
them. It will soon all be occupied and
improved. Along the Columbia is a long
stretch of low shores, entirely unoccupied.
Sand and sage brush rule supremo. We
shall not bo surprised to know that set
tlers are convinced that this is good. land
and locate there. Above Wallula there is
such low shores. The value of all tho soil
is beyond question. As available lands
are taken up, pcoplo will appreciate what
they havo hitherto overlooked. The
desert looking shores of tho Columbia
will, in course of time become garden
spots.
Deep Ploughing, Useful ana Injurious.
One intelligent practical farmer will tell
you his experience has shown conclusively
that deep culture of the soil is important
and highly profitable Another, of equal
intelligence and experience, will assert
that he positively knows deep ploughing
to bo injurious. Both may bo right. The
agricultural journals havo abounded in
such statements during thirty years past.
An examination of the why and where
fore will afford a useful lesson.
How do plants get materials that in
creases their bulk? Mainly from tho air.
A loam mado up almost wholly of sand
and clay, after growing two or three tons
per aero of clover, for example, will con
tain mora vegetable or organic matter than
before bearing tho crop. Tho leaves havo
upon their surface a vast number of very
small mouths or openings, often over a
hundred thousand upon a singlo square
inch, as shown by the microscope. Through
these carbonic acid and other cases are
absorbed and decomposed, part being re
tained as plant food. Remove the leaves
from any plant, and it ceases to grow.
The fine rootlets and root hairs doubtless
absorb a little food from fertilizers and or
ganic matter in tho soil, especially nitro
gen and the minerals to ashes.
Without discussing tho question now
much comes from each source, we know
that the sap conveyes the food both from
leaves and roots, and deposits it hero and
there and everywhere through the plant
just as the blood gathers materials from
tho digested food passing through the ali
mentary canal of the bodies, and deposits
the atoms that nourish and strengthen the
muscles, nerves, bones, and all other or
gpns. The sap is to the plant what the
blood is to the body. This sap comes
mainly from moisture in tho soil.
The sun's warmth creatlv assists the
preparation of the food material collected
by tne leaves, adapting it lor piant nour
l.l.mBnt W muV i,t warm " irronlni
weather." But while the hot tun rapidly
r
1, 1883.
increases the preparation of plant food, it
dries off tho sap faster from the leaves,
end also tho moisture from tho surfoco
soil, so that the roots can not get full sup
ply. In both these ways the sap the life
blood of the plant. is diminished, and
for want of this tho food distribution or
growth is lessened, and, frequently is stop
ped altogether. The leaves curl, the plants
droop, often dying out after a few hot
days This is especially tho case on shal
low soils, and on prairie land, which, by
reason of its dark color, absorbs more of
tho sun's heat than those of lighter color.
Owing to the loose texturo of such soils
they bring up moisturo from below much
less rapidly than fine, compact loams and
clays.
Is it not plain, then, that if a noil is
ploughed deep and mado fine, so that air
will penetrate deeply, and tho plant roots
bo thus invited well below tho surface out
of the sun's reach oven in a drought,
which soldora dries more than two to four
inches deep, tho plants having such roots
will be always supplied with the needed
sap, and the growth will proceed rapidly
eyen in the dryest days? Hence, as a rule,
deep ploughing and working of the soil
aro highly advantageous.
But not always. The porous prairio
soils are usually in fair condition a foot
deep or more; tho air has circulated
thro Jgh them, destroying deleterious acids,
poisonous salts, etc. On heavier soils, so
compact that tho air has never circulated
below the imniodiate surface, the sub-soil
may be actually filled with poisonous sub
stances. We know that earth brought up
in digging wells and deep ditches will sel
dom support vegetable life, for a year or
two at letst. To run a plow down into
such a soil three or four inches below the
Ereviously stirred surface, and turn up a
eavy layer of it, may actually kill tho
first cron town or planted.
Tire rbrhtwayr'wlh ch soiUtstego
down an inch or (wo annually, and bring
up a little new soil each time, but not
enough to materially harm the growing
crops. In this way wo may in time se
cure a healthful, porous aerated, deop
plant bod, that will furnish abundant
moisture in the hottest season, besides
providing new supplies of inorganic food
needed for the best growth of crops.
Orango Judd in American Agriculturist.
Alarmed at America.
Following is an oxtract from an article
which recently appeared in a St Peters
burg paper :
Since 1850 the population of tho United
States has doubled, but its production of
wheat and corn has increased fivo times.
Their surplus of grain thoy havo sent to
Europe. The grain market of England is
now in tho hands of tho Americans. Thoy
send their grain also to Franco and Ger
many. Even at iume, the Austrian
grain expo t'ng port, American grain
has appeared. Our own alcohol distillcis
aro beginning to import American corn.
It is evident that Americans aro step by
step dnvinc their competitors from tho
European grain markot. Tho Americans
havo a perfect system 01 transportation.
To their lakes and rivers thoy havo added
numerous canals and numberless rail
roads. Tho grain freight from Chicago
to Hamburg is lower tlian from Pcsth
(Austria) to Hamburg. Tho grain mar
ket of our neighbor, Germany, is more
and more occupied by our transatlantic
friends : in 1880 wo furnished to Ger
many 24 per cent, of wheat, and tho
Americans 22 per cent ; oi corn wo lur
nish 2 per cent, and the Americans 22
per cent.
Now, what aro the particular circum
stances which cnablo tho Americans to
drive away European grain producers
fiom European markets? It would bo
quite wrong to attribute tlioir success
chtelly to tho natural qualities oi tnocoun
try of the Yankees.
In our opinion tho free American citizen
of a free country has dono moro for our
own welfare than nature has dono lor
him. The Americans hold their destinies
in their own hands. Thoir government
costs them very little. Their soil tillers
havo no huge standing army to consume
their substance. Thoy save man's labor
by substituting for it tho forces of nature
and machinery, thus preserving him for
the field of labor in which thero can lx
no substitute mental work. This is tho
picture that tho country of tho Yankees
presents, and the European countries aro
on the other sido of the medal,
Young America is going, in good
earnest, to thrash old Europe. Havo wo
any means of defense? Somo say tho
American competition cannot continue
long, for the population of tho United
States is rapidly Increasing, and before
long the Americans will need all tho grain
thev produce for thtir own use. But wo
believe that Euroiio can be bankrupted
ten times before the United States will bo
densely populated Well, shall we give
up the business in wtucb we cannot com-
NO. 16.
pete with tho Americans? But that is
impossible, at least so far as Russia is con
cerned. Then shall we adopt the Ameri
can plan of farming, of transportation, of
education, and so on? In other words,
shall Europe bo Americanized in order tfl
withstand American competition? But
our life cannot be Americanized unless
our government is first Americanized,
The Family Asparagus Bed.
No ono oven with tho most limited gar
den should be without an asparagus-bed.
Sufficient for a moderate sized family oc
cupies very little space. By this time wo
all ought to know how easy it is to raise
this very delicious vegotablo, and how de
sirable it is to havo a dish of it with the
same fvcility that thoy do a patch of pot
toes or cabbages, using in preparing the
ground tho plow and harrow, the latter
being commonly employed in the spring
after top dressing has been removed,
without injury to tho crowns or root.
Somo truckers possess the knack of grow
ing it to a very large size, which takes the
cyo in the market and frequently sells at
two or three times tho prices of that of
the ordinary size, though it is really not
so good, as somo of it at least has a rank
tasto and is not so tender. In the first
week or ton days in this month tho coarser
part of the winter's covering of "manure
should bo removed and tho rest forked in.
This should bo followed by a coat of rough
salt that from the meat or mackerel bar
rel will answer which will suffice for any
additional manure for the season, and At
the same time keep down the weeds,
Care, howevor, must be taken not to ap
ply any salt to new beds for at least a year
after being old enough to be cut, or serious
results may follow. Gormantown, PAty v &H&
Tho prospects aro favorable for the
heaviest crop of hay and grain ever yet
grown in the valley of the Crooked river
and its tributaries. The rain-fall has been
greater than ovor before known at thU
season of tho year. Many of tho ditches
for irrigating purposes aro either filled up
or washed out of shape. The ground is
so well and thoroughly soaked with watery
that grain and vegetables will require only
ono or two medium showors in Juno to
maturo them. Thoso who have fafgeT"
fields of grain sown on tho uplands, are
buoyant with hopo and courago, and only
regvet thoy did not sow moro, while those
in tho lowlands havo been spared the time
and labor of irrigating, and are equally
exultant over tho prospects. Unless some
thing out of , tho ordinary happens to pre
vent it, this region will have plenty and
tosparo, and a "cut" in prosont prices
will follow. Prinovillo Nows.
NEW EVERY WEEIL
Oref on Kidney Tea.
From the multitude of certificates received
from well known citizens who have been ben
efitted by the use of this remedy, the proprie
tor!, Mesirs. Hodge, DtvU & Co., have con
tracted to publieh two new ones each week
for the year ending April 1. 1883,' that all onr
readen may see the great benefits it has con
ferred on the afflicted.
Portland, Or,, Jan. 22, 1880.
I hereby certify that I have used the Obi
oo.h Kidmkv Tka and been greatly benefited
by it. I heartily recommend it to the pnlillo.
Ciuioik Siiarp, Jb.
Traveling Agt. for Wheeler k Wilson Mf.
So., 20 0eiry8t 8. F,
Pindlitok, Or,, Jan. 12, 1880.
Having suffered with my kidneyi, I waa in
duced to try the Oorcoon Kidxbt Tsi,
whioh relieved me in a short time, I take
pleaeuie in recommending It to the publio as
a life remedy for kidney difficulties.
Gzobos VV, Bailst,
County Judge of Umatilla.
Monbok, Mloh., Sept! 25, 1875.
Sibs-1 have heen taking Bop Bitters tor
inflemmatlon of kidneyi and bladder. It hat
done (or me what four doctors failtd to do.
The effect of Hop Bitters aeemed like magio
tome. W. L. Cabtsb.
Lydia E. Finkham's great Laboratory,
Lynn, Mam., Ii turning out millions of pack
are being lent to the four wiudf, and actuallv
And their way to an lanae unuer mm iuhw
to the remotest confines of modern civUlAfr
tion.
. l It 1.1... --J .... iLlakA
ftliKe yoaneu neiiuy u"j
like happy by ulng Brown'a Iron Bitters.
n.M.nl it. .ml tikn no other iron tteDtra
tion except Brown's Iron Bitter. It is the
Deer-
.,..!. Ulva la unrivalled for its SDeedr
healmz dualities, Aik your druggist Iorlt
25 cent.
n rinn't wrar dintm or faded thin whea
the ten-cent Diamond Dye will make the
good a new. They are perfect.
"Baehapalha"
Quick, eompl.U core, all aonotln- KkUejr, Bladder
and Urioarr Pleeuta. H- Praaiwt
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