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About Willamette farmer. (Salem, Or.) 1869-1887 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 5, 1883)
VOL,. XV. vrnfyttmUnts. MASONS AND KNIQHTS TEMPLAK. Lookino Glass, Or., Sept. 11, 1883. Cditor Willamette Farmer : The Masonic fraternity is a large and not unimportant one. Tho Knights Templar are one of its most ancient and honorable orders. They are not Don Quixotes to revive old customs and tra ditions but to maintain them as a pre scribed rite. There can be nothing wrong in that. There can be nothing wrong in the staunch patriotic virtues of this order. Enmity to them on the one score presumes almost per force the other. There is so much of covert dis loyalty now-a-days that those who really love the flag of the republic and would promptly defend it, would seem to court some abeyance of hostile opinion. With respect, A. O. Houston. The Masonic order and its rites and traditions are mysteries to us. While we sincerely accord to Masonry much that is noble and worthy, judging from what wo see of Masons who are our friends, and the workings of the order, some of its manifestations strike an out sider, who has a practical turn and knows literally nothing concerning the rites and their meanings, as almost ab surd. From that standpoint we thought lessly made lately strictures on tho get up of Knights Templar in the Farmer. It w$s an unkind act that we should not repeat. It may have hurt the feelings of 6ome good friend, which was reason enough for not saying it. We do not comprehend the character of the Knights Templar and have perhaps misjudged them. While we do not ad mire gorgeous trappings and parapher nalia wo do respect old traditions. It is more than probable that the Masonic rites possess value to those who prac tice them based on old time traditions and historic facts that tho world does well to cherish and emulate. SOUTHERN OREGON FRUITS. Jacksonville, Sept. 22, 1883. Editor Willamette Farmer : Wo acknowledge the receipt of a fine lot of wallnuts, apples, pears, peaches, plums and grapes from B. F. Dowell, of Jacksonville. They arrived in good order. Southern Oregon is certainly adapted to a great many varieties of fruit of a semi-tropical nature, as well as those that grow readily in the Wil lamette valley. He says : "Tho fruit I send vou are from trees twenty-two years old. Tho wallnuts are natives of North Carolina. Tho stripped apples are known by tho name of Northern Spy. They are exten sively cultivated in Western New York, Vermont and in tho Willamette valley, Oregon; but they grow much largor here than at any other place I ever saw them. Tho white apples are the 'White Winter rear-mains; they will keep until next summer in this climate. The pears are the Victoria and the Winter Nellis; tho formor generally keep until Christmas, and tho latter will keep in my barn all winter. The Bartlet pears also grow here luxuriently, but they are gone. Tho yellow peaches are Cox Clings, and were first raised on Cox farm near Salem. I he remaining peaches are Dowell's Seedling.' they grow larger and equally as good as tho crafts. I have a great variety of. plums, but they are all gone excepting the small black ones I send you. Mv trees were all twenty-two years old last spring, except the almond, chorry and wallnnt trees, which are only sixteen years old. I measured some of them this morning and tho following are tho dimensions and circumferences: Hard-hell almond, three feet, three inches, and soft-shell, three feet five inches. Winter Nelljs pears, two feet seven inches. Victoria pears, two feet ten inches. White Win ter Pear-mains apple trees, two feet three inches. Northern Spy apple trees, two feet nine inches. Peach trees, two feet nine inches. Wallnut trees, three feet six inches. I also planted at the same time four locus trees, two at my office and two at my dwelling-house, and they measure in circumference as follows : South tree at the house four, feet nine inches; north tree at the house, four feet; south tree at the office, five feet three inches. The almond trees and locus trees are br themselves. from which it will be seen that all trees J require plenty of sun, even tho locus trees on the south side are larger than those in tho same soil immediato north. My trees are twenty feet apart, and their limbs are never lapping. They would do much better thirty feot apart. The trees would grow larger and tho apples would be larger and better. My peach trees have been bearing twenty years, and they were never fuller or more thrifty than now. What country could do bet ter? The blue grapes I send are from the great big vines which covers ten acres in California. There is no better grape in this country. The ones I send you are from the top of my house, about 35 feet from the ground. They will riot be fully ripe until the middle of Octo ber, and then they will be good on the vine until about Christmas. From the Puyallup Hop Fields. Sumner, W. T., Oct 1, 1883. Editor Willamette Farmer: In a former communication a des cription was given of tho Sumner and Puyallup valleys, on Puget Sound. Here are found thirty farms which are principally devoted to hop growing. The fiolds used for such purposes are from one to ninety acres in extent; tho average being ten acres. In this re gion of country the land thus culti vated is estimored at HUO acres, some 200 ncres having been set out in now hops this year. Hop growers have met with both success and failure while en gaged in this business. About ten years ago Mr. Meeker first tried the experiment of raising hops. He was fortunate in his venture and as a con sequence most of the farmers, one after another followed his example. It was a question for years whether it would be engaged in on a large scale or not There was much to be learned concerning the cultivation, tho drying and successful curing of tho hops. Each man had a plan of his own and thousands of dollars was fruitlessly expended in erecting kilns which prov ed fnilures. One gentleman, now ono of the most successful growers in this region, had quite a varied experience before ho obtained kilns that woro suitable for the work. Several thou sand dollars wns spent on the first. A brick chimney laid underground was used, but it smoked the hops in drying and was abandoned. Next kilns with hot air pipes were tried, but thoy did not sufficiently heat the hops. Finally largo dryers with enormous fans for producing a current of air were built and are found to work admirably. They are costly, however, and many prefor kilns on a simpler plan. As tho hops aro cured at a high rate of tem perature terrible fires have occurred and whole years crops destroyed in a short spaco of time. In fact wo woro a witness of this three nights ago. Despite all tho precautions that aro now used it seems nlmost impossible to absolute eruard acrainst such a dis aster. Mr. J. It. Dickenson of Sumner valley, who owns tho Delanoy farm near Turner Station, Oregon, had th largo kilns which hold each a quarter of n ton of hops, thus destroyed. Tho dryer had been at work for nearly throe weeks. New hops had been laid upon the floor about twelvo hours pre vious and the thermometer indicated 175 degrees of heat. A spark from one of tho stoves flew up and lit upon tho siding of the lower room in tho middle kiln. On account of its beincr heated for so many days it took fire at once. The watchman immediately turned on water, but it had already ignited tho sackin on the floor above and then the hops laid upon it Littlo tongues of flames circled around tho interior Hashed up and caucht tho con tre and tho whole layer burst into ono immense sheet of flames. Five min utes and the entire building was aglow with no hopes of saving it Five min utes more and tho firo leaped across and swept the roofs of tho remaining buildings, ran down the sides and engulfed them in the tide of destruc tion. Ono hour from that time scarce ly a timber was left Two tons of hops wero lost This is the second disaster of the kind for this season. It is needless to say the growers run great risks in regard to fires. Tho manner of curing the hops, of bailing and marketing them were ques tions which time alone could settle. Prices too are a subject of conjecture. The first years hops sold at a high rate, then came a depression in the market and several men became bankrupt and many plowed their field. But the last two years have been ones of almost un exampled prosperity. Some growers re ceived as high as a dollar and ten cents per pound for hops, with a net gain of one dollar on tne pound, lliu was PORTLAND, OREGON, simply wonderful. Some made as high as fifty thousand dollars clear of all ex penses last year. There is said to be a dark side to every picture, and in the lottery of hop grow ing tho wheel of fortune only brings eleven cents a pound this year. As. it costs from seven to ten cents per pound to raise hops but little will be realized. The lowest price that was ever paid for them in this region was seven cents. If a man embarking in this enterprise hap pens upon a lucky year, he is safe, but if the reverse he is very apt to become bankrupt unless provided with ample means. The Sumner and Puyallup valleys are said to raise tho finest hops on the coast. We have seen some which were six inches in length. The moisture of the atmosphere, light, warm "oil, and sheltered position are all'conduciv (o hopraising. Half a million dollars were realized here last year from the sales made. From this time on they will be shipped direct from Taeoma to the East instead of being sent to San Francisco. This is much cheaper. Already several bales have lieen sent to New York and we feel already tho results of our new railroad. " Sapphire." Weather Report for September, 1883. During September, 1883, there were 3 daysduring which rain fell, and an ag gregate of 0.78 inches of water ; there were 4 clear and 6 cloudy days, other than thoso on which rain fell ; during 17 days tho sky was obscured by smoke arising from forest fires. Tho mean temperature for tho month was 61.05 deg. Highest daily mean temperature foi the month, 70 deg. on the 21st. Lowest daily mean temperature for the month, 54 deg. on the 25th and 28th. Mean temperature for the month at 2 o'clock P. M., 71.00 deg. Highest temperature for the month,' 88 deg. at 2 P. M. on the 21st. Lowest temperature for the month, 48 deg. at 7 A. M. on the 28th. The prevailing winds for tho month were from tho north during 23 davs, southwest 3 days, south 4 days. No frost. During September, 1882, thero wero two rainy days and 0.52 inches of water, zl clear, J cloudy and 4 smoky days. Mean temperature for the month. 59.24 deg. Highest daily mean temperature for tho month, 70 deg. on the 21st. Lowest daily mean temperature fo tho month, 40 deg. on the 23d. T. Pharos Eola, October 1, 1883. In the Blue Mountains. Mr. Reddington, of tho Heppner Ga zette, enjoys Nature and gives a graphic picture of a jaunt into tho Bluo Moun tains from which we mako extracts, ns Miows : Leaving Heppner, a party can mako an easy march of 18 miles tho first dav and nnd a good camping place well into tho timber. Sport logins on prairie chickens won after leaving town, and about ton milesout you commence strik ing tho grnuso. They aro now ripe and tender, and when you get their jackets off and have them rolled in flour and fried brown, you will relish your sup per as you never reli-hed in the crowd ed confines of civilizntian. Before eat ing you had better cut a lot of fir boughs on which to spread your blank ets, and then you have the fragrant springy bed found only in tho wild woods A blazing campfiro of pine logs will furnish a cheerful chango from the insignificant affairs yon have soon cooped up in stoves. 1 nkintr tho busanvillo trail, von climb a rather Bteep mountain, ju-t beyond which you strike n'succossion of pretty prairies known as tho Suanvillo swale. You can camp hero and find trout, door and oik, and sometimes bear, or con tinue on and reach tho North Fork of tho John Day river in tho aftornoon. Hero you see some of tho roughest rock work and boldest breaks to lw found anywhere. Towering thousands of feet above tho lied of the stream aro old castellated domes and picturesque para pets presenting tho symmetrical ap pearance and regular outlines of forti fications built by the hand of man. The river is easily forded, and climl ing a canyon on the opposite fide you traverse a picturesque, park-like coun try, dotted with lordly pines, tall tama racks and green, grassy glades. You follow pleasant paths throusrh tho tall timber, and soon approach the beauti- rui vaiiey oi .Middle fork or. the John Dliv Hara aro antna vsrm enrinmj where you can bathe and relieve your rheumatism. Following ud the river you traverse rich bottoms covered with FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1883. a luxuriant growth of wild timothy, iragrant liowors and scattering sarvis berry bushes. Grouse aro plentiful, and largor game mny bo found by hunting for it Thero is a good sup ply of wild fruit, tho water is clear and cold, and comfortable camps may be made at any point. About 25 miles from the warm springs you come to the old mining camp of Susanville, where plaqer mining is still carried on to a considerable extent Turning to tho east you go up Elk creek, passing the rich quartz ledges of McQuaid A Smith and Sloan, Smith vtThurbin, whero you can see quartz mills in operation and investigate both quartz and placer min ing. Leaving tho miners to their hard work, you ascend through huckleberry pastures and greasy pine openings to the miners' old reservoir, whore a vory pleasant camp may be made. Crossing a short stretch of timber, a succession of prairies leads you up to the summits near a prominent landmark known as Indian Rock. These summits aro no peaked points, by any moans, but pic turesque parks studded with scattering timberand covered with green grass and wild flowers. In tho vicinity of Indian Rock you can find all tho g'amo you have any possible use for. If you waijt good fishing, go seven miles further, to Desolation lake, whevo vou will And a shining sheet of water deep beyond depth, surrounded by towering mountains, and full of fish. In a trip or inis mnu you leave all wagon roads, dust and civilized annoyances in your roar, and vou see Mother Nature's love liest handiwork on every side. You can find rough regions if you want them, but as a gonoral rule you can take a horso anywhere through here, and you have to contend with none of the annoying underbrush and vino maplo of tho Cascade rango. Thoso Blue Mountains embrace some of tho m,,,'.. picturesque territory in the world, and a person who makes a summer trip through them will eagerly look forward to a repetition of it whon another yoar rolls round. What Mr. Reddington doos not say, which is, liowover, worth saying, is that through thoso mountains will bo found many dosirablo locations for homos, and whon tho country becomes moro settled thero will bo inducements for occupying thoso favorable spots in tho Bluo Mountains. All around thorn mining is carried on for gold, no doubt quartz mining will tako a moro import ant position as tho country is devel oped. Thoso mountains contain cop per mines, lead oro, iron oro and coal as well as gold placor and quartz loads. oov. NeweU'i Speech at Whatcom. A large crowd assembled in front of the Washington Hotel last Thursday evening to listen to tho address of Gov. Newell, tho opening remarks wero a description of Whatcom county. The Governorsnid ho had travelled extensively through nearly all of Washington Territory, but this was the first time ho had visited Whatcom. Ho had leservcd the best to tho last. Whatcom county, extending one hundred miles from cast to west and fifty miles from north to south, with its superior agricultural resources, its fine timber, etc., had a splendid future before it. The speaker next called attention to tho vast and wonderful country lying to the northwest Alaska, with its great forests of yellow cedar tho most valuable timber in tho world to-day, save mahog any, and worth in market, $100 per 1,000 feet ; its fisheries, which include 700 miles of codfish banks, salmon in inexhaustible numbers and whales in uniiietiso schools ; tho Yukon river, the second largest in the world, navigable for hundreds of miles. And tho great commerce which of neces sity must spring up with this country of magnificent resources, will como to tho Sound. The great water ways of Washington Territory were touched upon at some length. Thero was no country in tho world that had so many miles of navigable rivers. Few people realized tho v.iluo and magnitude of these great water ways. Tho coal fields and timber aro thus brought near to shipping oints and coal could be brought to an ocean strainer within an hour after it ramo from the mine. Ho contrasted this with tho coal fields of Pennsylvania, Illinois and Indi ana, which wero situated mare than a thousand miles inland. As to the extent of tho coal fields in Washington Territory, the sjeaker said ho had been told by a competent author ity that all of Western Washington was one vast coal basin. A large part of this is covered with valuable timber and the soil of nearly all of it is extremely fertile. The tide marshes were also a notable fea- ture of this section, being of vast extent, curo D- Conway discourses learnedly, and wonderfully productive and needed very nt 'J10 samo time entertainingly upon the little preparation to make them ready for "Saint Patrick Myth." Van Buren Dens agricultural purposes. 'ow n an articlo on "Board of Trade Gray's Harbor, said tho Governor, is at- Morality," makes a vigorous defense of trading considerable attention, by reason "e practices of tho Corn Exchange, and of the fine timber and agricultural coun- m particular replies to the strictures of try tributary to it. Were it not for Puget Sound and tho Columbia lltnliio rivar Hi-nm.'a Harbor would ceruinly be tho most im portant harbor in the Territory. ,,, uiij a . Eastern Washington, in the speaker's opinion, equalled Western Washington in its resources. He knew of farmers who had grown rich in five years. Had travelled over hundreds of miles of the country cast of the mountains, every acre of which would produce enormous crops of wheat and other grains. The metals of this region were touched upon, the great quantity and flnequality of tho iron oro mentioned. Tho speaker hoped that gold would not bo discovered to any great extent, as he had nover known any lasting prosperity to attend a gold country, and men" who had studied tho subjret thoroughly were agreed that it cost five dollars for every dollar that was mined. In conclusion tho Governor predicted a mbgnificent future for Washington Ter ritory, bituated in tho crcat chain-belt of commerce that girdled tho earth, in tho same latitude as London, Paris, Bos ton, New York, Ohicntro and the crcat cities of ABia, with her fino climate, groat undeveloped wealth and magnificent har bors, cities would arise on her coast and in tho intorior. There would bo a city at tho head of tho Sound and ono at the foot, but tho greatest would bo at the en trance to the Straits. The Walla Wall Region. Mr. H. H. Dearborn, of Massachusetts, whon lately visiting our country, looking after extensive investments ho has made in different localities, said to the Walla Walla Statesman : "I have seen bettor crops on land be tween Walla Walla and Wallula Junc tion a section that was considered al most worthless whon I visited this terri tory three years ago than I have seen in Minnesota. There has been no rain westward from the Red liver valley and oast of that section there has been too much. I understand that tho grain yield of Eastern Washington this season is enormous, and that you have had no rain lor ovor tlireo months. 1 uon't believe there is another section in tho United States that can mako such a showing. Knowing Mr. Dearborn to bo a gentle man thoroughly posted as regards tho condition of tho grain market, wo asked his opinion about tho pi ospcctivc demand and price of wheat. 'That is a matter on which I dosiro very much to speak,' said tho gentleman. 'I know that thn demand will lw very largo and prices will noid strong. Tell the farmers not to bo in a hurry to disposo of their crop or bond it The harvest east of tho Rocky Moun tains will fall short, consequently good prices aro bound to prevail. I do not say this from any personal financial point of view, but simply because I wish to see farmers reap tho full benefit of their toil.'" That is oxactly what tho Fakmkk has told its patrons concerning market pros pects, and what no other Oregon journal has said to them. North American Review. The North American Review for Octo ber presents a most attractive tablo of coutentH. Senator N. P. Hill writes of "Gold and Silver as Standards of Value," and maintains that silver should bo coined as gold, not for the purposo of inflating tho currency, neither in tho interest of the silver-mining industry, hut for tho moro equitable purpose of preserving uni formity in tho value of metallic money, and of preventing such contraction of tho money as would produce financial disas ter. In "Some Aspects of Democracy in Kngland," A. V. Dicey makes clear to tho Americans how it is that, while all the forms of monarchy and aristoraey persist in Britain, tho democracy, or in other words, public opinion, absolutely controls tho action of tho government. Under tho title of "Co-operative Distribution," tho Rev. Dr. It. Heber Newton gives an instructive historical sketch of tho rise, progress and fluctuations of co-ojwrativo merchandizing in the United States dur ing the past fifty years. Prof. W. Boyd Dawkins writes of "Early Man in Ameri ca," whoso mode of life, and whoso instru ments appear to have been identical with those of the races that contemporaneously inhabited the Mediterranean countries, the Nile basin, and the tropical forests of India. The possibility of "Astronomical Collisions," whether of tho fixed stars with one another, or of comets with tho sun, the earth, or the other planets, is considered by Prof. 0. A. Young. Mon- NO. 34. lur-. onry v. i,ioya, contained in the 1VCV10W IOT AUdlRt. KnHlAfin Hirriintl Reviow for Aueust. Frederio Harriion contributes an article, invaluable to the historical student, on "Histories of the French Revolution." Finally, the Rev. E. E. Halo presents an inventory of th volumo and distribution of "Social Forces in tho United States." Published at 3f) Lafayette Place, Now York. $5 a year, 50 cents a number. Kiddle Idaho. Tho editor of the Lowiston NeWi made an excursion south from that Elaco last summer and wo quote from is correspondence to show the extent and value of tho agricultural lands East of tho Cascades. CamaB Prairie is awaj from transportation and mainly settled by stock raisers. That country was the scono of tho Noz Porco outbreak in 1877, as ho makes noto. Mr. Parker says : It was 3 o'clock in the morning as flr mounted our cayuso, and, lonving Lew iston behind, commenced the ascent of Craig's Mountain. Tho air was fresh ovon to kocnnoss as wo nsconded the plains, and to ono inst nmnnrinc from tho dusty and sultry citv it was rineid- odly refreshing, and wo wondered why the wholo population was not out to on joy tho froshnoss of tho morning olf and tho golden glorios of tho now born day. In duo time wo reached the foot hill and passod fiold after fiold shining in thoir wealth of cloth of gold. Never boforo in any country had we seen such fino grain as that now riponing in the immediato vicinity of Lowiston. The fruitful bloom of coming ripeness covors tho entire region south of Lew iHton, nnd wo felt like riding baok and hammering some of our own views into thoso who so loudly assort that crops aro a fitilnro. Unhappily, tho area opon to cultivation south of town is limited by tho reservation, and our journey honco forward, after leaving tho Spring ranch, where wo break! lasted, is ovor an uncultivated prnirio enamel led with mnny hued flowers ononinc thoir boHoms to tho ascending sun. On Mason's prnirio, or that portion of it at tho hoau of Lawyors's canyon, two sturdy ranchors havo taken up farms. On tho south side of Cottonwood butte wo noticed sovoral ranchos that aro now since our last visit Cottonwood is a stairo station and I lost oflico located on the south bank of Cottonwood crook. It boasts of the finest building on tho prnirio, whore square moals, comfortablo beds and good horso food can always bo obtained. It was at Cottonwood thut somoof tho hardest fighting occurod in "tho dark and bloody duvH" of 1877. Tho relics of that notublo Indian war aro nearly obliterated. The old stockade fort on tho knoll back of the hotel is braced up, roofed in and used us u chicken house. Tho riflo trenches on tho hill' side, across tho crook, aro now only vis ablo to tho oyo of those who are ac quainted with tho dotails, and tho bat tie fiold is now a covered fiold of the finest wheat we havo ovor soon. After breakfast wo pursued our way ovor tho sorono and beautiful prairie. Long stretches of green and cultivated fiolds divide politely as wo pass. Six yours of patient industry have rebuilt tho waste places caused by tho war mid made the face of the country moro boautiful than ovor. Not even the farms of Walla Wfilln valley show bettor ovidoncos of careful agriculture than can bo seen on Camus prairie nt this timo. Tho scars of war havo boon covered with the fruits of pooco, and Camas proirio is now a garden spot. As wo approach Grnngovillo the prairie Incomes moro and more thickly settled, mid tho scene is ono of ruro de litrht. Tho irroeu IwuutioH of the AttiO plains ovor which Byron rhapsodized are not more green or more bouutiful than Camus pruirio at this seuson, when the flora, colored with manyhuos oimmols its vulos and swelling slopoa with a profusion of tints. Our neighbors of Klickitat county are muking calculations for a successful ex hibition at tho coming annual fair, to bo hold next mouth. Some of the finest stock ever bred in this section will bo on exhibition, and there will bo quite an inducement for fast horses. Wo are" glad to note the enterprise of our neigh bors, and think that Wasco could pat torn after hor to good advantage" Mountaineor. Is yoar wife's health poor? Are your ohll dren ilckly 1 (lire them Urovn'i Iron BitWrt It will rerire them.
