Willamette farmer., November 21, 1884, Image 1

VOL. XVI.
4wrt$$imAtnt$.
Kotos and Obiervatlons In Wasco.
Sai.em, Nov. 18,1881.
Editor Willamctto Farmer;
My former communication closed on
October lllli, nt which tinio I wiis Hear
ing Iho Who Mountains vin tho valley of
llock Greok. Coining within liftccn
miles of tho timber lino of theso moun
tains I noto tho gniFs is greener. Tho
variety known as "big bunch grans" is
rapidly giving wny by overstocking, but
in itH stead n liner grass which is
deemed moro vahiablo for sheop seems
to bo thickening over tho ground, nfi'ord
ingat this (Into an excellent pasture,
which I find improves as tho timber
lino is approached. It is observable,
also, that actual settlors aro morn nu
morouH as wo near tho mountains, for
which there ore sovoral vory good roa&ons.
First, tho land is better in quality and
capacity to withstand drouth; hccoihI,
it, by contiguity to tho Bluo Mountains,
has n better summer climato; third, tho
opportunities to locate a homestead
cither with a supply of s'pring wator or
by wolls of modcrato depth is much
greater than on tho plains nearer tho
Columbia probably at least four to ono ;
fourth, Iho nearness to tho timber as n
supply of fuol, fencing and building
material, is n vory potent influcnco in
tho choico of a location ; fifth, if. is found
that within this distonco from tho moun
tains tho winter as well as summer cli
mato ja better for stock as well as for
crops ; as tho winter cliiiiali, liko tho
summer, is moro chnngcablo and moro
moist. Tho Chinook winds frequently
cut tho snow from tho face of tho hills
with magical power, whon tho plains bo
low nro hold in tho ombraco of hoary
Borenlis. As a result of theso and other
causos bonifido settlement Is moro gen
eral within theso limits, and school dis
tricts moro numerous; moro towns nro
locatod, and theso show moro signs of
lifo and thrift, than in tho plain country.
Indeed, I bcliovo that in tho thrco loca
tions of Fossil, Hoppncr and Adamsvillo.
Dairy villo included, there wcro moro now
buildings erected within tho year Until I
have seen altogether during that tinio in
so much of Oregon as has fallen under
my observation. Theso aro business
points amidst grazing districts; and
though tho buildings in many cases nro
- nothing groatcr thnn is nocossory to
sheltor tho family of a citizon during
tho winter, for tho enjoyment of educa
tional facilities, and racial communions,
still they aro indications of pormaucuoy
on tho part of tho builders and still
stronger indications of a futuro develop
ment and stability of thoso little towns.
Somo of tho older residents within this
bolt aro acting on tho belief that tho in
crease of "bunch grass farmers" is des
troying tho country as a stock country,
and aro looking towards othor districts
for grazing lands, in conscquonco of
which stock of all kinds in moving not
only eastward and southward, but also
northward on to the dry plains nnd
amongst tho breaks of tho canyons of
tho Columbia, Deschutes, John Day and
their minor confluents. Whilo I concede
that for men who desiro to run horsos or
cattlo by tho hundreds, or sheep by tho
thousands, on tho publio laud;, tho in
crease of homostcaders who plow nnd
fenco theso lands tends to leaden their
profits and will ultimately compel them
to either buy their rangos or seek new
locations. Still, regarding tho country
as nssentially postural, both by nnturo
and situation, I fully believe that it will
bo mado to carry more than double tho
stock of ajy given kind that it now feeds
and support them with moro safety.
Tho change I think I foresee will como
' -about in this way, and is beginning bore
.and now: A new como homesteader
offers a neighbor flock owner to take a
band of Bheep and herd them from his
own home, boarding himself, at herders
wages ; thus giving the flock owner all
SALEM, OREGON, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1884:.
tho grass ho owns, and probably much
moro, and doing tho herding at one-third
less cost. Tho cost to keep a bonier sup
plied bciiiK nbout fifty cents per day.
If this introduction results in proving
tho homesteader as good n herder as tho
ouo ho has taken the place of, tho nat
ural result will bo that no.xt year ho will
run a baud of sheep on iho shares nnd
run his farming operations so as to pro
vide winter feed for tho llock, should
Unit bo necessary. Ho will thus become
a small llock owner with n ntngo lim
ited by the neighborhood of others like
situated. To increaso tho llock tho herd
or tho hireel, as sheep, cattlo or horses
may bo kept by such settlers to the ut
most extent tho ability to carry through
winter will justify. To keop tho best
quality of stock in order to get tho most
iwssiblo return for feed and caro, it is
reasonable to supposo will bo the natural
and dcsirablo outcome. As to what par
ticular breeds of horse, cattlo or sheep
this country will most profitably curry,
ovory succeeding chance of observation
confirms mo in tho judgmont I had
formed beforo I had other means thnn
a general descriptive knowlcdgo of it,
namely: Medium sized nnimals of tho
rcspoctivo kinds. "While it is a grass
country, it is also n short grass country,
and ns tho largost kind of grass, tho big
bunch grass, (which is bunch grass bc
causo tho climato is too dry to sustain a
vegotation forming a donso sod) it will
becomo more and moro n short grass
country, though it vory likoly will bo
that tho surfaco of tho soil will bo moro
goucrnlly occupied thnn it now is.
Who'thor tho causes now operating to
coiupol largo llock owners to cither movo
to now ranges or plant themselves per
manently hero, by purchases of lands
commanding tho freo grazing of dis
tricts too rough for homesteads, or pur
suo n courso of leasing bands of sheop to
bo kept on shares, in lots according to
tho rango of tho leaser, I fully boliovo
tho homestead settler, within a lino of
fifteon or twonty miles of tho timber
lauds of this entire Columbia vnlloy, is
going to bo a permanent rcsident,a homo
builder, and though such is hardly his
condition now, ho will becomo a. homo
liver, and yet n stock raiser. His pros
ont helps, which nro fow, and his Inn
drancos, which aro many, I will endeavor
to notico in my noxt. J. Mi.vro.
Tho Cider Question In England.
Conv.u.i.18, Or., Nov. 10, 1881.
Killtor Willamette Farnierj
Just at this time, with our magnificent
npplo crop, many uro rcgrottiug tho
consequent wnato. Except whero tho
luxury of n "drier" can bo nllbrdod it is
impossible it can bo utilized. In tho
tho southwestern countios of England
(hor spocinl npplo countios), tho farmers
are in a moro dillicult plight still. Till
within tho last fow years applos wcro
grown for cider, and tho cidor was usod
ns partial payment to tho farm laborors.
Thanks to tho educators and agitators of
tho country, this practico is gradually
dying out. But thon, what to do with
tho surplus apples? There has been a
populnr suporstition that feeding them
to tho cows niakos tho milk dry up.
Whero this is exclusively tho case tho
effect would probnbly bo injurious, but
mixed with othor food tho rovereo is
found to bo tho fact, At a conference
of western farmors lately held nt Salis
bury, England, u scoro of letters wero
read on this subject, of which wo tako
the following :
No. 2 (a Somersetshire farmer) givos
his men no intoxicating drinks, gives
Is, a woek extra, and tea at harvest,
threshing, otc. lias no difficulty in
getting men for extra work. "Tho effect
on tho men who volunteer to do without
cider or tilo is very marked, both in
themselves and their homes." Has four
acsesof apple orchard, but mada no cider
for five or six years. Sells all marketablo
apple, givos tho "men a quantity of
those rather small for market, and for
tbe last two years lias put tho remainder
through tho rot pulper and mixed with
hay and straw chair for tho stock. Does
not think largo quantities should bo used
in mixing for stock, but simply enough
to act as a tonic and to llnvor tho chair.
Would rather havo tho work of niuo
men with ten than ten with elder for nil
harvest and extra work, taking nvorago
men and not pledged abstainers, as they
will do moro work in a givon time. The
secret of tho curso is iii giving boys
regularly their quart of cider n day, and
training them to bo drunkards by tho
time thoy aro men. llo farms 210 acres,
and harvests over 100 acres of liny and
grain annually without intoxicants.
This correspondent givos Is. n week
in lieu of cider, and tea, cocoa, eoH'co,
lemonade, or o.itmoal drink. The men
say they can work bettor and longer
with tho latter. Has "not tho slightest
difficulty" in gutting in hay or coin
harvest. Hvcn the other farmers' men
who can get elder will cmnu in tho
evenings without asking and help carry,
and aro moro pleased with his drinks
than with cider. There is an improvement
in tho homes of thoso who do not use
cider, nnd tho wives porsuado the
husbands to work for teetotal farmers in
preference. Ho has orchards, and tho
unsaleable fruit ho gives his cows, with
chaff, which improves tho quality of tho
buttor. Ho is continually cu.ting down
o'd trees and grafting others with market
ablo fruit, and has no difficulty in sell
ing really good fruit. Ho also rofuses to
grow and soil barloy for malting, but
sells nnd raises it for feeding puriwsc,
and find it pays better.
No, 2 (a Gloucestershire farmor, farm
ing about -100 acres, half pasture, half
arablo) has given no intoxicating drinks
for fivo years, nnd Iioh had no difficulty
in finding labor, oven in haymaking
and harvest. Gives oatmcal-nnd-wator,
skim-milk, tea or coffee, nt harvost tinio
only, l'nys Is. per weok extra in winter,
2s. 0d. in summer tho women Is. Tho
laborers are moro trustworthy nnd moro
inclined to pay their debts than formerly,
their houses aro moro comfortable, and
tho men nnd their families nro moro in
clined to attend somo place of worship.
t Is trying tho plan of giving his surplus
cidor applos to tho cows and finds from
tho exporienco of others that tho acid
would bo hurtful if cnttlo wcro confined
to thorn, experiments already tried do
not commend apples nlono for feeding
purpose, though tho evidence is con
clusive that thoy aro invaluable as a
condiment mixed with other food.
MeMIIEU OP Wll.UMKTTK GllANOE,
Bon ton County.
Urange Hall Dedication.
Woonnun.v, Nov. 17, 18S1.
Editor Willamette. Farmer t
Woodburn Ornngo Hall is nearly
completed nnd will bo dodicntcd Satur
day, November 22, 1881, by tho Stato
Master ; aeo publio spoaking at 1 o'clock
i'. M. by tho Stato Master and H. K.
Hayes, Stato Lecturer. Como nil.
B. S. Don.ney-, M.
i i . . . ,
Queen Victoria's Appearance.
Queen Victoria I saw twice in Eng
land onco on tho platform of a railway
station, and a becond timo walking in
tho grounds of Windsor Castle. Tho
Queen looked just as do hor pictures,
with tho exception that her color and
her eyos, mouth nnd hor gross figure nil
givo her a very common npjicaranco.
Thcro is nothing regal, or oven dignified,
in her manner or walk. Sho wears vory
largo shoes, nnd dresses in deep mourn
ing, with n window's cap. Sho has no
graeo of liguro or outline, nnd, in thoit,
her wholo appearance goes to disprove
tho theory that patrician birth isoidcn
cod in appearance.
Dillon Bros., of Normal, III., havo at
tended fivo fairs this season with their
Norman horhcs, and wero awarded fifty
four premiums ;forty-fivo first, and nino
second, seven of which wero swecpstnko
premiums. Tho class of fairs they have
attended has .brought them in com
petition with tho best stock in tho United
States, and tho largo numbcrof premiums
thoy havo taken speaks volumes for
their stock. Horsos that can carry away
tho prizos from tho Illinois nnd Indiana
Stato fairs, nnd tho St Louis fair, can
compete successfully at any fair in tho
worhh Dillion Bros, will have u number,
of their Norman hursos on exhibition nt
tho fut stock show in Chicago, in
November, and from thero they will go
to tho World's fair in Now Orleans,
whero they will exhibit a number of
their finest stallions uud mares.
Henley, Democratic, is probably elected
in the horthern district of California by
a majority oi io, as representative in
CoBgreM.
Big Holds Afloat.
Should tho rovored Goorgo Washing
ton suddenly roappear in tho llesh ho
would probably oviuco tomo astonish
ment at tho sovcrnl improvements mado
in tho world sinco ho went out of it.
But nothing, perhaps, would bo moro
surprising to tho good old man than tho
fact that tho .hundreds of people ho
might see, magnified twofold, in tho big
reception room nt the Ihirgo Olllco had
nil been brought across tho ocean in ono
vessel. Indeed, it is nhnost beyond tho
belief of the minds of today that moro
than half a thousand persons could bo
comfnitably nnd safely transported in
ouo ship a distance" of 11,000 miles in a
week ; but such is a reality, and a con
firmatory idea of the magnitudo of tho
undeitaking may bo obtained from the
fact that the cost of a round trip of ono
of thoso monster transatlantic couisers
ranges between .fj 0,000 nnd 50,000.
Aud'tho hundreds at the Uarge Olllco
aro more than duplicated by tho steerage
passengers at Castle Garden.
"Tho cost of a voyage differs according
to tho speed of tho vessel," said Mr.
Gustav Schwab, of tho North German
Loyd line, yesterday, "tho faster vcssols
being more oxpensivo than tho slower
ones."
"That hccms rather illogical," replied
tho roporter. "Ono would naturally
imagine that tho shorter voyago would
cost tho less money."
"The explanation is in tho consunip
of coal. Tho faster steamers uso fmin
125 to 1110 tons of coal tier day, whilo
tho slower steamers uso only nbout GO to
70 tons per day. Tho distance to South
ampton is nbout 13,100 miles, and our
faster steamers mako tho trip across in
from seven to eight days anil tho slower
stonmcrs mako it in tho neighborhood of
ten days."
"How ninny in u crow do your largest
vessels carry?"
"About ono hundred and sixty men,
including officers. Thn salaries of
captains are never loss than $1,800 a
ycari and sometimes reach if 1,000, ac
cording to their porcontago on gross
earnings. Tho wages of tho soainen and
petty ofllcors nvorrgo $1 Tier day each,
nnd tho dally cost of feeding tho crow
and officers is averaged nt fifty cents per
day capita."
"How much does each person on a
voyage cat in tho day?"
"Oh, I could hardly tell that, but wo
calculate on allotting a pound and a
half of meat for each person."
"Can you givo liesh moats nnd
vegetables on ovory day of tho voyagnT'1
was asked of Chief Steward Charles
Winter, of tho Elbe, who ovorheard Mr.
Schwab and the reenter talking.
"Oh, yes," wns tho roply. "On our big
trip wo ship about fourteen thousand
pounds of fresh meat, and wo servo it
daily, not only to tho first uud second
cabin passangurs, but to the stoomge
and tho crow. Should wo meet with nny
nccidont causing delay wo could givo
tho first and second cabin passengers
fresh meats nnd all the luxuries of tho
season for several weeks by nutting tho
crow nnd Btcerago pnssongcrs on regular
sea fin" of salt meats. Wo have threo
Jco cellars ono for fresh fish, ono for
poultry nnd ono for meats and
in theso everything is preserved.,'
"How much ico is required for a voy
ago! "Tho amount varies, according to tho
souson, from ton to twenty tons."
"How alxiut fresh oggsj do you havo
hens on board?"
"Ha, ha, ha. Oh, no, net exactly.
"Wo got fresh oggs at tho beginning of
of each trip, and they, aro kept
fresh by a natont preparation of lime
and soino other preserving matter."
"Butter how much butter is con
sumed on ii voyage?"
"Between twelve hundred and four
teen hundred pound". We uso from two
to three thousand cigars. Wines and
beers nro not so largely consumed, be
cause wo keep tho prico up in order to
keop down intoxication,"
On a well regulated steamor, it was
learned, the bcdclothos, towels, table
linens and coverings for nil the furni
ture aro changed every day. On n ves
sel of 5 000 tons 2,000 napkins aro used
on every trip in tho firet cabin and about
1,000 napkins nro used in the second
cabin, whilo the sheets number about
2,000 and the towols 3,000. Different
colors aro used on tho upholstery nnd
furniture every day, because of tho relief
a change of scone affords to persons who
become seasick, and also owing to tho
additional freshness of the atmosphere
NO. 41
of tho cabins thus obtained. Tho steamer
is newly painted on tho outside from
stem to stern every voyage, and to do
this work, together with the repairing
and cleaning of upholstery, from two
hundred to four hundred men uro em
ployed. Tho washing is done nttho ond
of each voyage.
"How much crockery do you uso in n
day?" was asked of tho stowanl.
"Somewhere in tho neighborhood of
1,000 pieces in tho first'and second cab
ins, separately, and about 2,000 pieces of
glifswaro. Tho silver of the first cabin
about 1,000 pieces is valued nt .$10,
000, nnd the same quantity in tho second
cabin is worth just half that stun. Of
course, you know, although everything
is just as serviceablo and clean in the
second cabin, nothing is as elegant."
Although the principal revenue on tho
big ocean steamers is from passengers,
they all carry tons and tons of merchan
dise, which is generally of a mw nature.
Nearly cory transatlantic steamer ob
tains its wines, canned goods and delica
cies abroad, but of the breadstuff's nnd
most of the smoked meats thoy obtain
on the other side it frequently occurs
that tho steamer has carried it from
New York as inorchandiso freight, Tho
captains say they can carry such articles
to the markets abroad and buy them us
cheaply as at the homo market.
To load a vessel requires tho greatest
skill, too ; and this is another of tho big
expenses that aro included in tho enor
mous cost of an ocean voyage. And
sometimes on u rush, n cargo of 2,000
tons of merchandise has been loaded on
board a Bteamer within twenty-four
hours. A feature of tho transatlantic
freight trade is that cargoos exported
largely exceed thoso imiortod in bulk,
and that tho cargoes imported nro of
much moro vnluo thnn thoso exported.
Everything is run on military, or rathor
naval, discipline, and not a profano
word is over pcrmittod from officer or
sailor.
Chinese Pheasants.
Ono day this fall a llock of Chincso
phonsanU n-lightod in tho yard of Mrs.
Jcsso Parish, near Jefferson, Marion
county. Thoy consisted of ono malo and
fivo or six females. Tho malo bird was
perfectly gorgeous in his plumage,
having a heavy (op-knot nnd n very
long tail, tho feathers being vory
beautiful and nil tho plumage vory
brilliant. This bird is ouo of tho most
beautiful of the feathered creation and Mi
was introduced from China a fow years
ago. Povorah pairs wero turned loaso on
tho Aukeny farm in thoSantiam bottom
about ten miles from Salem several years '
ago, and the llock mentioned must bo
part of their increase. Tho laws of
Oregon forbid tho killing of those Chinese
pheasants. It is the object of the law to
pivo the birds ample timu to grow and
increaso and become domiciled heroin
Oregon. Our gamo laws aro good and
should bo well kept. To fill our woods
with good gamo birds will lie of value to
tho country.
A Chinose farm house is a curious
abodo. Usually it i sheltered with groves
of feathery bamboo and thick spreading
banyans. Tho walls nro of clay or wood,
and tho interior oi the house consists of
ono main room extending from tho floor
to tho tiled roof, with closet-looking
apartments in thi corner for sleeping
rooms. There is u sliding window on tho
roof, mado of cut oyster shells, arranged
in rows, whilo the side windows aro
mere wooden shutters. The floor is tho
bare earth, whero nt nightfall thero
often gathers together a miscellaneous
family of dirty children, fowls, ducks,
pigeons, nnd n litter of pigs, all living
togother in delightful harmony. In
some districts infested by marauding
bauds houses aro strongly fortified with
high walls, containing apertures for fire
arms, and protected by a moat, crossed
by u rude drawbridge
Says tho Crescent City Itccord: A
largo wlialo camo nshoio down tho
const below Alexander's place last week,
measuring 1)8 foot in length and 12 fcot
across tho ilukos, which is the largest
fish t hut wo recollect of coming ashore
or of being caught nbout here sinco tho
placo was settlod by the whites. This
is a regular bonanza for tho "noble red
man," as it will give him muo-a-muo
for tho winter.
fiiin flnrdnn writnd iih Intn nu n. 4.
that ko can hold out against tho Mahdl.
lie confirms the report that Col. Stewart,
nd paity wero Wiled.
i -fr-i'i I W'nl ifilW ,.