Willamette farmer., December 07, 1883, Image 1

VOL. XV.
fyQrrt$im&ttt$.
THE HOP
PICKERS
SUMNEE
OF PDYALLDP
VALLEYS.
AMD
Sumner, W. T., Xov. 20.
Editor Willamette Farmer:
With the first days of September come
the Indians into our valleys (several
thousand of them) from every direction.
The Klickitat, Yakima, and Kittitas In
dians ride hundreds of miles on their
cayuso ponies, accompanied by their
klutchmen, mounted Mexican fashion
on the pack saddles. These are by far
the finest specimens of the aborigine we
have seen here. Most of the men are
tall, with regular features and a dash
or rod on their checks. They wear their
hair in two long braids, cut square
across the forehead. When dressed in
leggings, gay with fringe, with long
coats, made ulster fashion of red or yel
low blankets, and with great hoods on
them, gay colored silk handkerchiefs
around their necks, a slouch hat with
perhaps an eagle feather in it, they are
very different objects from the Indian
dressed in some white man's cast-off
clothing. Their women are the onl3'
ones we have ever come across that
might bo termed good looking. Some
of them, when clothed, in scarlet leg
gings, beaded moccasins, in riding
dresses with flowing sleeves, generally of
red, bordered with some bright colored
material, with a guy colored shawl
wound round the waist for a girdle, a
necklace of curious shells,shell ear-rings,
and a handkerchief bound half-turban
shape over their flowing locks, they look
almost picturesque, and possess a sort of
wild beauty not to be found among 'any
other Indian women that are seen herp.
The Khckitats are perfect riders. It
is a pleasure to watch them vieing with
each other in horsemanship. Most of
them Bring ponies with them for trado
or barter. Some have as many as
twenty apiece. Good horses may some
times be bought of them. 'The majority,
however, aro the genus cay-use, and tho
evil qualities of that class are well estab
lished. The Sound Indians come from the
various reservations, JBnohomish, Muck
iashute, Puyallup and Tullalip. There
are many different tribes, flr rather rem
nants of tribes, among them. They aro
a low, degraded class, resembling tho
Indians along the coasi, in Oregon.
Some arrive in wagons, others on hoise
back or in canoes. Dressed in all sorts
of wonderful garment, in connection
with stolid features and unkompt hair,
there is nothing prepossessing about
them. Mingling with low whites does
not tend to elevate them. The only ck
eptions are the few who como directly
tinder tho influence of ruliu'ious teach
ers, bo they Presbyterian, Mi tlnMli-t or
Catholic. These Indians bring mot of
their household goods with them, cook
Stoves, looking glasses and baby wagons
are sometimes to be seen. But their
"lares and penates." generally consist of
what white people would call "trah."
Cats and dogs, likewise, aie brought
along with them, of which they seem to
bo very fond. And lastly come tho
British Columbia and Alaska Indian.
They are more intelligent than tho
others. They more readily aelafit them
selves to civilized ways ; are moru ingen
ious and more monoy-making, but u t
so good looking as the Klickitat. They
have large heads, broad shoulders and
are low and thick bet. Many travel
hundreds of miles to reach the valley
and are a month or even more in mak
ing the journey, mey have largo
eanoos hollowed out of single trees.
They are about thirty feet long and four
feet broad, with high prows and steams.
They are capable of breasting hwavy
seas. The prows are carved, sometimes,
quite artistically, and further ornament
ed with figure-heads of curious min
sters. Great oyoi are painted on them.
Sometinios twenty Indian;, t Jgether with
their baggngo, embark in one of them.
They are profiled by oars, although
many have sails. When gliding over
the water they much resemble minature
hips.
The men wear the ordinary American
costume, with blankets for extra wrap
pings. The women wear the Russian
garb of skirt and tack, cut with yoke
waist. They part their hair in two lone
braids. Some wear ear ring. Most of
them posse. puriouly carved silver
bracelet. i which they highly prist. Fin
ger rings of carved silver are also worn.
Tbey wear braided hat, rewmbtiBg in
1 verted soup plates. These are painted
in bright colors with figures of animals,
owls' heads, or hideous 'faces. They are
considered by their owners to be worth
five dollars. Such are the three classes
of Indians that gather from various di
rections to pick hops in the Puyallup
and Sumner valleys. Those from the
Cascade Mountains generally arrive first,
as they are anxious to obtain good pas
turage for their horses. This is an im
portant item with them. One grower
pastured seventy -five horses for his
pickers during the month of September.
They, in connection with the other
tribes, send forerunners, who go from
one to the other of the different hop
growers and ask for the prices they are
willing to pay for their work, tho amount
of bonus furnished, whether potlatch will
be given, and so and so. They then re
port to their tillicums, who make a selec
tion of their yards. On arrival, the
Klickitats picket their horses and erect
their tents. Ihey generally place a
number of poles together, ten feet in
height, and meeting at the top; these
they cover with cloth or skins; they
much resemble tho Indian tents pictured
in the geographies. They build the camp
fire in the center, and range their beds
around it. A general mixture of dishes,
clothing, provisions, nshes and smoked
salmon is noticeable. They are by no
means versed in cleanliness. Boston doc
tors are often called upon to enter them,
to vit their sick during bop picking
time. One, they term "the little doctor,"
fresh from the East, it was a new expe
rience io invade the sacred portals, lie
was called upon one night to set an In
dian woman's arm. She had broken it
three days before, when crossing the
mountains, in trying to lasso a wild
horse. By the light of the fire was re
vealed children and dogs in close fellow
ship, sound asleep; scarcely visible
through the smoke, was his patient
moaning with pain, and surrounded by
her dusky friends. Nothing daunted
the doctor made his "way to the group
and prepared , jto, setter, arm, hut at
every move a uerce looniug inuiun saiu,
"That's no good, you hurt him squaw,
me not like." For three hours he strove
in vain to perform his benevolent task,
but was prevented until he thre.Uenc I to
leave, wJin he was allowed to finish
his work and departed. Such is one of
the experiences of a frontier doctor.
The Sound Indians have tents fur
nished them by the government, or clo
they construct coverings of bark or In
dian matting. They seem to have a bet
ter idea of the culinary art. Some of
them bake bread or boil vegetables. Tho
Mountain tribes live mainly on dried
salmon and crab-apples. Some of those
who ape tho white man's ways
bring trunks, use china dishes and really
practice .some of the arts of civilization.
The Alaska and British Columbia In
dians also have tents ; these they use
merely for sleeping purposes and as stoie
rooms for their bagg.ige. They are quit"
Diuall. They have a common camp-Iin-,
over which (hey build a bark roof.and lieu
they eat mid spend fheir leisure mo
ments. Tn y are superior to the other
Indians in many ways. Their tents are
kept comparatively clean; the ground is
covered with woven mats, on which their
beds aro placed ; their goods are wi lipped
in mats or enclosed in baskets, or boxes,
hollowed out of wood, and with handles.
The Sound Indians usually airive at the
H'.it of the'r labors the Sunday before
hop picking, and also the British Colum
bia Indians ; tents aie made, wood hauled
and everything prepared ready for the
next day. The leprcsentativt's of the
various tribes aie quite clanni-h and
form their tents in lit !e i'ele. The
three prevailing clas suhlom, if ever,
camp together, as there is, a. slightly hos
tile feeling among thorn. Crcat are the
greetings on the day befoie work com
mences. In some ways it reminds us of
a first day at the State Fair or a gigantic
camp mooting. Such were tho 4-.000
pickers who for one month were camped
in our villages. In our next we will give
a glimpse of them at work.
'Saitjuiii:."
Dry Bet in Apples.
K litor Willamette Fanner:
In most of the apples this year I find
under tho skin little pithy ejtots; in some
there is so mueh of this sort of dry rot
that the apple U of no use; it will look
fair enough on the outside, this gives the
apple when cooked a slightly bitter taste.
Now, what is tho c.ui-e of this? Is it
not for the want of cultivation? I just
I "ought a place and do not want to cut
down what few neglected trees there are.
Being a new-comer, I would liVe to (ret
some advice what to do. Some of the
apple have theae vpota clear to the core,
others only on the surface near the akin.
I mad good cider of the most of them;
SALEM, OREGON, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7, 18S3.
by cloe observation I could judge pretty
well which were tho best, as the spots
can be faintly seen through the skin.
Will trimming and mulching help?
Advice will be thankfully received.
Immiorakt.
,
Weather Report for November, 1883.
H
Editor Willamette Farmer.
Eoi-a, December 1, 1883.
During November, 1883, there wore 13
days during which rain and snow fell,
and 5.29 inches of water; there were
3 clear and 14 cloudy days, other than
those on which rain and snow foil ; 2
inches of snow fell on the 24th, all of
which passed away on tho 25th.
The moan temperature tor tne niontn
was 40.90 deg.
Hichest dailv wean temperature loi
the month, 53 deg. on tho 10th.
Lowest daily mean temperature for the
month, 35 deg. on the 24th.
Mean temperature for the month at
2 o'clock r. m., 49.53 deg.
Highest tempeiature for the month, 5S
deg. at 2 r. m. on the 29th.
Lowest temperature for the month, 32
deg. nt 7 a. M. on the 25th.
Frosts occurred on the 3d and 25th.
The prevailing winds for the month
were from the north during 7 days,
southwest 19 days, south 4 days.
During Xovembcr, 1882, there wwe 12
rainy days and 3.59 inches of water,
9 clear, and 9 cloudy days.
Mean temperature for the month,
M1.33 deg.
Highest daily mean temperature lor
the month, 46 deg., on the 6th.
Lowest daily mean temperature for
the month, 34 deg. on tho 12th.
T. Peabc.
Lan County Pomona Grange.
InviNG, Or., Dec. 3, 1883.
Editor V illametto Farmer:
Please publish that Lane County Po
mona Grange will meet with Grand
Prairie Grange at Clear Lake Hall on
the third Saturday (December 15, 1883).
Election of officers and important busi
ness will be before the Grange. All
Fourth Degree members in good stand
ing are cordially invited.
A. C. Jenni.nos, Sec'y.
Grange Notice.
Salem, Or., Dec. 5, 1883,
E litor Willamette Farmer:
Special meeting of Marion County
Pomona Grange, Thursday, the 13th
inst, at 11 a. m., in tho hall in this city,
Officers to be elected and other important
business to be attended to. All Grangers
in good standing are invited.-
E. Stko.no, Sec'y.
Cotton-Seed Oil.
Cotton-seed oil may be commended to
po:-ons of vegetal ian tendencies as a
puio vegetable carbon, without odor or
unp'easant taste. It is need in the man
ufacture of fine soaps, to adulterate other
vegetable oils, and is exported to Europe
as a substitute for oliooil. Manufac
turers of lard add it to their inferior
products in the ratio of from ten to fif
teen per cent. It is produced cheaply
and on a largo scale, and the Southern
cotton fields furnish each year an al
most unlimited quantity of seed. Almo-t
unknown ten jcars ago, this oil has
already become an important factor in
domestic economy. The crushing sea
son of this year is over. Manufacturers
havo been holding a convention in Chi
cago, at which some interesting things
transpired. Sixty mills had representa
tives at this gathering. Theio aro now
eighty-five mills in ojieration, and twen-ty-livo
more in course of construction.
In lo7fj there were but twenty-four cot
ton-seed oil mills in the country. Dur
ing tho past season alxiut 500.000 tons
of heed were crushed, tho product of oil
being estimated at 550,000 barrels. As
tho product of seed for the year wos
3,500,000 tons, it may readily be conjec
tured that the stock of raw material will
allow u considerable expansion of oil
production. About $10,000,000 is al
ready invested in the mills, which now
form one of the imjiortant industries of
tho South. The recent tumble in lard has
bo affected the market that manufac
turers of cotton-seed oil will probably be
compelled to resort to exportation to get
rid of their surplus stock.
Kitiitaa U a new county mad out of
Yalriaa county and Ellenaburg U the
coOBtyaeat I
Became Good.
How did the edible strawberry got de
veloped from its barren ally? Well, if
we take the fruit of any potentilla, wo
shall find that it contains of several
small, dry, one-seeded nuts, so tiny that
they look themselves like seeds, crowded
.on a thick receptacle or flower-stalk,
without any signs of redness or succu
lence. In some potentillas, however, as
the fruit ripens, the receptacle becomes
a little spongy, something like tho hull
of a raspberry, only without its pulpy
charncter.' It is a common tendency of
fruits to develop such pulpness and
sometimes they do so quite suddenly by
apparently spontaneous variation, as
when an almond tree has been known to
produce peach-like fruitB. But no fruit
will permanently acquiro such succulent
character unless it derives some benefit
by doing so ; the change, once set up,
will only bo perpetuatod by natural
selection if it proves of advantage to the
plants which happen to display it. Has
it dono so in tho case of the strawberry?
A strawberry, a we all know consists of
a swollen receptacle or end of the flower
stock, dotted over with little seed-like
nuts, which answer to the tiny dry
fruits of tho potentilla. Suppose" any
ancestral potentilla ever to have shown
any marked tendoncy towards fleshi
ness in the berry, what would have hap
pened? It would probably be eaten by
small hedgerow birds, who- would swal
low and digest the pulp, but would not
digest the seed-liko nuts imbedded in
its midst Hence tho nuts would eret
carried about from place to place and
dropped by thp birds in hedgerow or
woods under circumstances admirably
adapted for their proper germinations.
Supposing this to happen often, the
juciest berries would get most frequently
eaten, ami bov would produce hearty
young plants oftenor than those among
their neighbors which simply trusted to
dropping offcausually among the hcib
ago. Again, the biids like sweetness as
well as pulpness, and those berries which
rew most full of sugar would bo most
likely to attract their attention. Onco
more, tho bright colored fruits would he
most cosily seen among tho tall foliago
of the hedgerows, and so theso berries
which showed any tendency toward red
ness of flesh would bo sure to gain a.
point in attractiveness over their groener
rivals. Thus, at last, the strawberry has
grown into the fruit we know bo well, by
constant unconscious sob ction by the
little hedgerow birds, excited nt onco in
favor of tho pulpiest, tho sweclebt and
tho reddest berries, Longman's) Maga
zine. Indians Returning Home.
Those interested in Indian iiulu-timl
schools located among white peoplo,
where tho Indian children are removed
from the daily contuctof Indian society,
have felt an unusual interest in the
event of the children being returned to
their people after ha ing been for several
yearn entirely separated from them. .Vol
long ago twelve Indian cliikhen were
sent hack to Dallas, Oregon, for a vaca
tion visit, where tboy met their friends
and relatives from Warm spring agency,
having been separated from them for
three j caiv, while attending the I'nited
States Indian training school at Forest
Grove, Oregon. An eye-witness thus
de"cril)CKtho meeting of some of tho par
ents and childi en: One old man, who
had parted with liisj boy of 15 three years
before, with many injunctions to work
hard and study hard and lie a good Itoy,
wan theio to meet the lad. Jfo looked
all aiound and aski-d for his Uiy, while
at the same time tho latter was looking
farther, neither knew the other. .So well
had the loy olicyed his faiherV) injunc
tions that he had risen to the jwjsilion of
first sergeant among the boys. lie was
tall and straight and his hair cut short
and neatly parted, His well-fitting now
suit of clothes altogether transformed
him from the half-grown lad of three
years ago in his dirty blanket, with long
uncomliod hair coming down over bin
forehead, and cut off square just above
the eyes. On tho other hand, his father,
in expectation of meeting his soa, who
he fondly hojed wti now almost like a
"white man," and not wanting bin boy to
feel ashamed of his old Indian futiier,
had cut off his own long hair and bought
himself a new auit of clothe-Hjand his
appaarance to, was changed almewt a
much a that of the boy. Only the hole
in hi none and the hole in his ear told
of the old auncntitiona and barbarou
habit. All elae spoke of an.awakening I
How Strawberries
realization of a rower l'fo, nobler aims
and better purposes. "'i-ii told by the
lady in charge which was his boy, his
only response was the tears streaming
down his dusky cheoks as ho took the
lad's hand. One widow who had sent
her little 8-year-old girl, could hardly re
alize the change in her child, and seemed
never too tire of fondling her, stroking
her hair, and examining every article of
her wearing apparel. Three covered
carriages owned by the Indians wore in
waiting to convey them to their homes,
nnd they informed us that every camp
ing place on the road homeward has
been arranged with especial lcfetcnce to
tho comfort of tho children.
Flower Gardens (or Children.
Children love flowors quite as much
as older people, and if they aro pcimit
ted to have a small garden all of their
own, in which they can plant, and dig,
and weod, anil hoc, niul use the tiny lit
tie implements, thut aro mado so cheaply
for tho flower garden, thoy will not only
take the greatest delight in its posses
sion, ond in the buds and flowors, but
will also gain a large amount of faith
ana muscular development. Their love
for the beautiful will also be largely cul
tivated, and they can be taught to give
their flowers to the sick and poor chil
dren, and learn that to givo pleosuro to
others is tho surest way of receiving it
themselves.
But of all the lessons to bo taught to
children by working in a garden, the
most valuablo is tho art, of observation.
So minute, so varied, and so delicate,
ond yet so unerring aro tho operations
of nature that, nlthougli tho closest study
may ran to divuigo nor secret, tho le
wards of such study aro to rich and bo
surprising that they are stimulated by
fiesh researches. Let tho child plant
morning glories, which bloom so brightly
every morning ; mignonette, and Hweet
alyssom, and forget-me-nots to make
tiny, sweet bouquets. Then give n
monthly rose bush, a geranium, a fover
fow, and somo verbenas and pansies, and
there will ho an amount of flowers which
will gladden tho hearts of n schoolful of
children. If tho kind mother will at
tend to it, and havo beds laid out, and
teach her darlings how to plant seeds
'and set out plants, sho will gie them an
occupation that they will not weary of
while life h.stR.
Thin Seeding ot Wheat.
In the winter of '53 and '51, being
offered a high price for my wheat, which
was a new and promising spring aiiety,
I sold myself so short that when I came
to sow in the spring I bad left scant fivo
pecks per acio for my own use, and I
did not know what to do, as hcretofoio
I had followed the practice of the far
mers about me, sowing eight peeks per
acre, and I had tho opinion that a much
less quantity would result in a fuiluie.
However, after pondering over it, as I
did not wish to heed any other kind of
crop, I concluded to rik it, and in har
vest was agreeably sutprised to find 1
had a yield of 1!M bushels of thoroughly
cleansed giuin per aeie. I nay sur
pried, for tho greatest yield I had ever
got fiom 8 pecks was 33 bufehels not
often over 30 and sometimes not over
25 bushels, which was legarded as a
gieat yield. I was so well satisfied with
this accidental experimnt that I (liter
mined to try it again, which I did with
neatly as good resnliH, and fiom that
time to this f hao not sown over 5
pcks per aero, and sometimes only I,
and scldoiilWall below JO IiukIicIh per
acre. This, von will see, is not a single
experiment, h'it one of 2(1 year's contin
uance Correspondence Farm and Fire
bide. Wood Allien.
Coleman's Knral World sajs. "The
best lesults fiom wood ashen are seemed
by adding small pioportiouof common
salt Ashes contain all the miucial ele
ments of the plant, and they exeit a
great inlluenco in unlocking fertility
that would not lo otherwise available.
In bnrniug anything tho chlorine it
contains is carried off with the smoke,
and siiltch'ori'ilo of sodium supplies (he
deficiency."
The Youtli'a Companion will piMulia
series of scientific articles by Dr. Drown.
riujmnl, Or, Win. A. lloiimood, I'rof, K.
Oaden I'oremus, Dr. J. C Draper aud Dr.
Austin Flint, Jr. riiiav trest of tu;h inter
esting sul'jest a the "Curiosities of the Hu
man liody," the "Youth of the Brain' "Com.
mon Adulterations of FuxJ," "Demon of the
Air and Water," and tho "Proper Food for
Nervous I'sepls." Prof. A. H I'sckaid, Jr.,
in eminent stymoloc it. ha wrltUn for the
aua ptt-Icdicai a raloaLle atriti of artscls
a tb iact Mania of the aardeu. ' ta r-
den aa4 th wat-lU.
NO. 43.
AMONG OUIt SUBSCRIBERS.
Mr. llemy Keene, of the hills near
Amnsvillo precinct, in this county, was
in town last week. Mr. K. says his ex
perience with Johnson grass was un
successful And that tho very first frost
killeil it down. Ho has promised us a
full report of his oxporionce.
Mr. J. B. l'eyree', of Silvcrton precint
called on Friday bust, and welcomed us
hack to Marion county, in n substantial
manner. Ho reports farmers iih success
ful in getting in the ne.t years crop,
He lives in the King Hibbard neighbor
hood, which is ono of the most prosper
ous in our county.
Mr. Howell, of Stnyton precinct, who
has hewn out a home in the foot hill
regions of tho Santiam, was in Salem a
week ago. Ho has been very successful
in raising poultry and disposed of up
wards of a hundred dollars worth each
year mid finds it a valuable aid to farm
ing operations.
M r. N. II. Loonoy, of Joffoi'bon pre
cinct called this woek, und fiom him we
learn that farmers aro plowing more
than usual and wo also learn that on his
farm ho combines quite a mixed agri
culture. Fruit and stock tnko a shai e
of his attention.
Mr. W. M. Collard, of Brooks, has jir-t
returned from a trip to tho Eastcfn
States, Ho bays ho enjoyed it voiy
much and was notable to speak fully re
garding farming operations at 13 rooks
Station.
Washburue'B Strength.
A story is told in illiistialion of (Jio
pluck of Elihu B. Wahburuo at tho
time when ho had more physical
strength than now. It was dining ano
of his canvasses in Illinois for a roat.in
CongiesH. He was making tho closing
sjicech of tho campaign in tho Metho
dibt Church at a place ten miles fiom
Galena, and among his hcarcre, who in
eluded many Democrats, was a wijll
known and greatly feiucd bully, ono
Pat 'Welch, who. by the way, was slfot
and killel a few years ago in a saloon in
Colorado. Welch was Hlightly drunk
and had interrupted Mr. Wasliburno
several times, and ho at length appealed
to tho peoplu to eject him from the
room. Thoro was not n man in tho au
dience who dared tackle the bully, and
Iiowiih iMjrinitted to remain until "Undo
Elihu" himself, stung by a taunting and
grossly iimiilting remark of Welch,
leaped down, and, milking liiH way to
where tho drunken loafer was heated,
caught him by tho hand, jerked him
fiom his pencil uud hustled him out of
tho door before ho had fairly limoto
bieathe, much lcs to offer resistance.
Mr. Wiihhlmrno fiiiudicd his speech with
out fiuther interruption, Salem J (agis
ter. It is an old saying thai it is mi 'ill
wind that blows nobody any good." The
low price for poik and pork jnodncts
seems an ill wind to miinj pig hreedern.
Possibly some of these may get out of it
by taking advantage of this tiino to make
a nimn than rigorous weeding out of all
inferior animals from their bleeding
lieids. One class of faimeis may cer
tainly get good -thobo who hno in
sisted that the prices for impiovod sto k
were so high Ihey could not affoid to
piirchiiho. This fall a good boar pig,
a sow or two may bo bought at prices
at which almost any ono can well affoid.
For tho pork iaior it is not essential
that he bhy a registered pig; nor, i
deed, that ho get one with a long ped
iglce. A pig u little off in color may do
him as good service ns ono with the
most fashionable markings. If one
wants tho ery Inst pigs, with carefully
kept lecords, ho must pay well for them.
and ho ought to; but the "common
farmer" can get very Herviccablo stix'k
at unusually moderate prices. Good
stock is fully a's desirable) in times of low
prices as when they aro high.
CiiiiiHTMAH anu Now Years candies
and confectionery can lie obtained in nil
iiautiticH desired, of Amos Strong,
Salem. Don't send away and have in
ferior iiiiKirted stuir forced upon you.
Whenever possible, romit money to us
by Postal Order or Postal Note. Setuj
direct and get a receipt from the office.
For a sour or eoM tksr 1 no rsrnsJr
eqaal to Amman's Cough Hyrup.