DESCRIBE SALEM AREA
Department of Agriculture
10 this
treats Expensively Upon Meteorologi
cal Conditions, Character of Soil and
Mechanical Analyses of Same Also
Supplemented With Maps and Tabu
lated Data of Interest to All Valu
zble to This Section as Advertising.
A pamphlet has recently been issued
by the United States department of ag
riculture, which is of great interest and
vast importance to the people of Salem
and surrounding country, embracing an
area covering 2S4 square miles. This
pamphlet is issued in accordance with
a joint resolution adopted by the Fifty
sixth congress and approved March 14,
1904, which provides for the making pf
a survey of the United States by sec
tions and the publication of reports
covering each section surveyed. The
work is carried on under the auspices
of the- department of agriculture, and
is performed by the most competent en
gineers.
The survey of the Salem area, which I
is treated in the pamphlet referred to.a population of but little more than
- . . '.11 iiAA I tcr. . j. t . .
was made by Charles A, Jensen late
ia tue year vv , uuu we report nas
but recently been issued. The work- is
done by t7ie bureau of soils, and this
pamphlet, which is illustrated with
maps, showing the position- of the Sa
km area and character of the soil, is
well supplied with tables showing the
temperature and precipitation and also
the mechanical analyses of the differ
ent soils.
. m . fill I 1 t - .4 i
About a uopen copies oi these re
ports have been received by Secretary
of Slate Dunbar. Mr. Dunbar volun
teered to turn them over to The states
man, where anybody who is interested
enough in fhem to desire a copy 'may
. pnx-ure one for, the asking. They are
subject to distribution by the members
of 'congress from this state, and any
one eau secure as many copies as he
stay wish, within reason, by either
writing fit any of the Oregon senators
or eongrcsHinen, or writing directly to
the department of agriculture at Wash
ington, I. C. . These reports show the
true conditions, both as to climate and
character of soil, of the country imme
diately contiguous to Salem, and would
prove excellent advertising material
for distribution abroad. The; full text
of th report is printed , herewith :
Location and Boundaries of the Area.
Tie Willamette valley i: located in
the northwestern part of the state, ex
tending from Portland on the north to
some distance beyond Eugene on the
(tonth, a distance of between 130 and
110 miles. It is traversed by the Vil
lapfe rivcr The valley is bounded
on the east by the Cascade mountains
nt on the west by the Coast range.
The area surveyed comprises a rectan
gle, of riyht townships, two north and
Houth and four east and west, contain
ing 21 square miles, or lSl,.H2t acres,
and includes a part of Marion and Polk
counties. The center of the area is
about north latitude It degrees 50 min
utes and west longitude 123. degrees.
Kalcm, the capital of the state, is in
cluded . within the area.
History and Agricultural Development.
The first settlement in Oregon was
made at -Astoria, at the mouth of the
Columbia river, in 1811. The first set
tlers supported themselves "by fishing
and fur trading, meanwhile fighting tho
CO
71 ZT A
By Caution 2:25
IY1A
Sunxhlne (?.) 2:lfi. Caution ' rtre was Electioneer, fire of 1(52 In the list and 93 dams of 131
latnelitt. Iliii sous have sired 1231 In tbelUt.
FirKtdam Ouvi K , by Prism 17js fire of Frank M. 2:17'4. noaesty 22... Second
dam bv Hawthorne KWtt. sire of Little Thorre (P) 27$. Backihorne 2:'SK, Frank b. (p)
2:U,'Matiiroon2:17!4. Tempest 2:19. Thorn wood 2:1V it, Capt. Thorns (p) 2;11J and fifteen
other, and eifht damn of ten In the list. ;
CO M4l hand tome blood bay with black points, IS 1 nsnds high, six yeaniold and
trace to the very bent famtlte. Ha la a cloae, compactly built horae: a trotter w tb natural
ftpeeil. lie reu a very uniform lot of colts, all pore gal ted, which may be seen at the
fairgrouuds to will make the seaaon of 1W5 at the osaoow nm nut osorsos at
S0. With VsmI Ktm PrJvllaft ;
FPAl mares bred toco ma wilt be nominated la li $SUK Otmnn Fntnrity. which In
rltilea veal's ubrltption to tha Kural Boirt. HOLMES FARM, Owser.
kobt. stktson. Keeper, f air urounas, uregon. , - bcj.uiuw
A War Map Free:
We will give you a finely colored map of tho Orient, showing where
the present -war is being fought, with all the names of tho towns of
which we are reading every day, and also a complete map of Asia, free
to each of our subscribers who will get us one now subscriber for three
months, remitting us 25 cents. Hero is; a chance for tho children to
get this map with little effort. The map Is 12x18 inches. Do this at
once as we have only a limited number of them.
TO
(DILUD MdDMIIEi
If you are going home-to 'your childhood's born this
year, remember that the NORTHERN TACIFIO leads to ev
erybody's home. , '
.... (.'... ' -
You can go by way of St rani to Chicgy or St Iouis.
and thence reach the entire East and South. Or, you can go to
Duluth, and from there use either the rail linv or one of th,
enperb Lake Stcaiacrd down the Jakes to Detroit, Cleveland
Erie, and Buffalo tho Pan-American City. ? ? ( 1
Start right and you wiil prolwably arrl vo at your de?U- ia
tion all right, and, to start right, use the Northern Pacific, and
preferably the 'NORTH COAST LIMITED'? train, in service
after MAY 5th. !
Any local agent will name rates. ;
A. D. CHARLTON "ut",t
Issues Pamphlet Valuable
Section
Anajans. Astoria was foan.M bj Inr
companies, and fur trading was the
principal industry for a number of
years,. ami wa .-confiaed to the region
along the Colombia river' and the coast.
Not until many years' after the t first
settlement waa the interior sufficiently
explored to encourage agricultural set
tiers to make their homes there. - "
Originally the territory of Oregon
was considerably larger than the pres
ent boundaries of the state, including
all the- country north of latitude 42 de-grees--the
present southern boundary
of the state and 'west of the Rockies,
comprising the present states of Ore
gon," Washington and Idaho, and parts
of Wyoming and Montana. The popu
lation of all this territory was but 13,
294 in 1830. Territorial government
was granted in Oregon in 1843, and in
1859 the state was admitted into the
Union. '
A Methodist mission was established
on the present site of Salem in 1839,
and the town of Salem was incorporat
ed in 1843, and was shortly thereafter
selected as the eapital. ,- . j. '
WitE but thirteen settlements in the
territory in 1838. which included the
large area above mentioned, and with
13,000 in 1850. it must be seen that the
building up of the state went on very
rapidly, after a start had been made,
the population in 1900 being about 413,
000. -
The mild winters and the luxuriant
growth of grass in the hills were early
incentives to stock raising, which was
the pursuit mostly followed by the first
settlers. This was supplemented to a
small eitent by farming.
As usual in the pioneer life of the
west the search for mineral treasures
was one of he motives for eiploration
of the state. Oregon Is not, however,
important as a mineral producing state.
Climate.
The climate of that part of the Wil
lamette valley surveyed is humid,
though the summer months are compar
atively dry. The annual normal precip
itation at Salem is 45.18 inches. Of
this, only 4.31 inches fall during the
months of June, July, August and Sep
tember. As the heavier rainfall occurs
during winter and early spring, crops
during their growing season arc well
supplied vvifii moisture. This, together
with the moisture-retaining capacity of
the soils especially the "prairie" soil
insures sufficient moisture for plant
growth.
Great variation is shown in the date
of the last killing frost in spring. At
Salem it has varied irom March 2i to
June 6, since 1893. - The climate is
greatly influenced by the Cascade
mountains, which often receive consid
erable snow during the winter, thus
causing late and cold spring seasons
in the valley. This probably accounts
for monthly killing frosts at Silverton
for a number of years. This town is
located about two miles north of the
northeast corner of the area surveyed,
being - considerably nearer ' the moun
tains than Salem. These late frosts
have sometimes done considerable dam
age to fruit.
The winds are light in the valley,
very seldom causing and trouble. Tho
hills andthe large amount of growing
timber on these and on. the prairie
lands furnish admirable natural wind
breaks for orchards.
The following table shows the nor
mal monthly and annual temperature
and precipitation at Salem. The first
column denotes the number of degrees
Aire of Francisco 2:t2,
2 Oveta 2:l.V. John
Edison 2:1. Kitty Caution 2:Z.H. Juniper 2:22.
8nHm 2:2I$. Lady Careful 2:26, felteM 2:25, Baby
Ruth 2:2, .Electrophone 2:29. and the dams c-f OlUa
M.3:m' Helen Norte 2:li, Belladt 2:19. Oregon
THE?
Fahrenheit - and the second column the
number of inches:
, Tempera- Precipi
' ' ' : ' , :' : ' ; ture, tat ion.
January 40.7 6.15
February ... 42.9 L 4.17
March . 45.8 ' 4.61
April 49.8 4. 07
May S5.9 3.42
June ................ 61.3 1.47
July 65.7 - .28
August .............. 65.9 .65
September 60.1 ' . 1.94
October ......,."..;... 52.3 3.62
November ............ 47.4 8.18
December 42.5 6.62
For the year.....V 52.5
45.18
The following gives the dates of the
latest and earliest lulling frosts in Sa
lem, the first date mentioned designat
ing the last frost in the aprinz and the
second one the first frost in the fall:
1893 April 17, October 13.
1894 May 9, October 11.
1896 April 15, November 20.
1897 March -30,Octdber 15.
1898 April 19, November 12. .
1899 June 6, Oetober 13.
1900 April 15, October 13.
1901 March 24, December 12.
Physiography and Geology.
The Cascade and Coast ranges are
geologically recent, and the valley it
self more recent than either. The Cas
cade mountains appeared at the close
of the Cretaceous period, and, together
with the Sierra Nevada, formed a sea
dike, which shut in an enormous lake
on the east with the Blue mountains as
an' island. Siskivon mountains in South.
ern Oregon were formed at the same
f time as the Rlne monntains. and the
time as the Blue mountains, and these
mountains, then islands, were the first
land areas in the west. At the begin
ning of Tertiary time Eocene the
Coast range was elevated above the sea,
forming an immense bay between this
and the Cascade, range to the east,
which extended from the Siskiyou
mountains on the south to considerably
beyoffd the present mouth of the Co
lumbia river on the north. This bay
formed, geologically, the outline of the
Willamette valley, and remained in this
state through the middle. Tertiary pe
riod. Jn the Pliocene period the valley
was freed of its water and became ex
posed land, but. was again submerged
during the Cbamplain period, when
John iay la:o and its sister lakes were
formed in the "northwest.
The Eocene and Miocene beds are
very tossiliferous, containing loth land
and water species, which indisputably
attest the ages of the rocks.
The rocks from whieh the soils were
formed- the weathering of whieh pre
sumably took place during the Miocene
period consist of sandstone, argilla
ceous and schistose rocks, and a close
grained, heavy bluish basalt, the lat
ter having been intruded during the.
extensive northwest lava flows and vol
canic, eruptions. These lava flows are
more recent than the rocks, which are
often found capped by basalt. A com
paratively large proportion of iron is
contained in the basalt, and there is
also considerable iron in the sandstone,
which causes the characteristic red
color of the soils on the hills.
Willie geologically the Willamette
valley extends from the Cascades on
the cast to the Coast range on the
West, physiographically this is hardly
so. The valley proper is comparatively,
narrow, consisting of a level area which
varies in width from a few rods to thir
teen miles in tha area surveyed. Be
yond this level area, which extends
along the Willamette river, is a series
of hills, varying in Itfight from about
fifty feet to probably 400 or 500 feet.
The extreme altitude in the area, sur
veyed does not exceed 800 or 1000 feet.
The altitude at Salem is about 200
feet. These hills occasionally reach to
the river, cutting off entirely the level
eountry along the stream.
-Willamette river and Mill creek un
doubtedly occupied the entire level
areas along their respective courses in
earlier times, and these areas have!
since been filled up to their present
level with soil transported from the
hills.
The slopes of the hills are generally
not to great for cultivation, excepting
the front slopes facing the level vai
lev and those along the creek channels.
Outcrops of basalt, and, more rarely,
sandstone often occur on the slopes of
the creek channels, but generally speak
ing the hills themselves are quite free
from rocks.
Soils.
But four types of soil were recog
nized in the area, viz., Salem loam,
Salem claj. Salem gravelly loam and
Salem sandy loam. The following ta
ble snows the absolute and relative ex
tent of these soils:
Acreage of Different Soils.
Acres.
Salem clay 86.400
Salem liam 78,656
Salem gravelly loam .... . 13,120
Salem sandy loam...... 3,048
P.C
47.5
43.3
7.2
2.0
Total .1S1,H21 ....
Salem Loam.
The surface soil of the Salem loam
consists of from eighteen to twenty
four inches of brown to black loam,
the color at the surface being darker
on account of the presence of consid
eiable organic ; matter. The surface
foot is often very silty. From a depth
of eighteen to twenty-four inches down
to three feet the soil is a. .yellowish
or red clay loam or clay, the texture
becoming heavier with the depth. Th
third foot is often mottled gray and
yellow. his fype occupies the level
areas of the valley and generally ex
tends some distance up the slopes of
the hills. Its topography is level or
gently rolling. The native forest growth
is 'mainly oak and Douglas spruce, with
ash. birch and alder. The soil is
formed almost entirely from the trans
ported material brought down f ronv the
hills by rains and flood streams. The
original materials from which the soil
is formed are a close-grained basalt,
and to some extend "sandstone and
schist. The soil is easily tilled, but if
cultivated while too wet it forms a hard
crust. : . f "A ' , ''
' 'A; few : areas occur as lowlands or
badly drained areas, in which ithe sub
soil is invariably yellow or gray and
usually clayey ia texture. These areas
occur usually in swales or along natur
al'depressions which receive the under
drairiage from the higher or lying
lands. The . soil in snea places is only
a phase of the type proper, there be
ing not 'sufScient difference , to warrant
its classification as a. new type.
, As. would natuiy Jbsexpectedthe
dissolved, organic matter sinks into, the
ground more readily " in these low
places, causing deoxidation of the
large amounts of ferrie oxides in the
type proper and giving rise to the yel
low or gray color of the subsoil. Where
some of these areas have been drained
the color of the subsoil is the typical
red.
These areas need .artificial drainage,
ano in most eases this can be supplied
with comparative ease. Ik .their pres
ent state they have but little agricul
tural value and are generally used for
pasturage. ' .
The Salem loam is well adapted to
hops, grain and small fruits. Fifteen
hundred pounds of hops per acre is con
sidered fair yield, while wheat pro
duces from twenty-five to thirty bush
els, and oats from thirty-five to sixty
bushels per acre. It would also seem
to be a good celery sojL .
' Salem Clay.
The Salem clay consists of from
twelve to fifteen inches of reddish yel
low loam, underlain to three feet by a
clay loam or clay of the same color.
The reddish' yellow color even extends
into the ' partially ' decomposed Underly
ing rocks from .which the soil is de
rived. ;'
The type is located on both sides of
the "prairie" or level valley soil
(Salem loam) and consists of a series
of rolling hills, which vary ia height
irom about fifty feet to 400 or 500 feet.
The front slopes of these: hills that is,
the slopes facing the level lands, are
often too steep for cultivation, as are
also the creek channel slopes, but in
the hill area itself .the slopes are rare
ly too steep lor 'agricultural purposes,
Very rarely is a level area found in
this type. Bock outcrops often occur
on the steeper slopes' and those along
the creek channels, but jelsewhere they
are not common, and such as do occur
are hot of sufficient extent seriously to
interfere with cultivation. These roll
ing hills arc intersected by many
creeks, both perennial' and intermit
tent. .With the exception of a few low-lying
areas . along creek channels this
type is wellJ drained. It has been
formed in sitn from the decomposition
and weathering of the underlying sand
stone, argillaceous and schistose rocks,
and a dense, close-grained basalt. All
the exposed rocks on which the weath
ering effect could be noticed were found
to contain a large amount of iron, and
a magnet could bo - quickly covered
with soil particles any place along the
road. Often beds sf iron, oxides were
noticed in wheel ruts after rains," and
the universal red cojor of these soils
is due to the presence of this mineral.
It nearly always shows itself iu crev
ices and joints, where weathering first
begins. . Mp'N ,
'Washing and gullying3, of the soil andi
the leachipg away of plant food are
very- 'effectively -pwjeente! - by: the na
tive forest growth .oJC, Douglas spruce,
oak, maple and alder, and the dense
growth of un.rb rush, grass and fern.
The Dousglas spruce is the predomi
nating tree in the forests,
The crops grown pn this soil type
are wheat, oats, tree fruits such as
apples, prunes andpVach'es--arid hops.
The latter are grown to a limited ex
tent, and the crop is not so common on
this soil as on the 'prairie" and river
bottom lands. The quality, however,, is
usually superior to that of the hops
grown on the lower lying soils. Hop?
grown on these red "hills are not sub
ject to mold or to attacks from insect
enemies to sucn an extern as tney are
on the soils aTT lower elevations. On
the other hand, the reddish yellow loam
does not produce as large yields nor
quite so large a hop as does the. sandy
loam along the river. When, however,
it is considered that sometimes an en
tire crop on the river soils is destroyed
by mold, and that -in any event they
have to be picked while yet green,
there does not appear to be much ad
vantage In hop' growing on the sandy
loam.
A better quality of grain, especially
of wheat, it is claimed, can be produced
on the Salem clay than on the'"prai-
rie" soil. Prunes, the special fruit
crop in the valley, do better on this
type than on the Salem loam. A very
fair price has hitherto been ' obtained
for this fruit, and many orchards have
been stt out.
The average yields of wheat and
oats arc said to be from twenty-five to
thirty bushels and from thirty to sixty
bushels per acre, respectively, when
the soil is in good condition. Hops
average about 1200 pounTTs per acre.
The net profit for fruit is stated to be
from $50 to $70 an acre.
Salem Gravelly Loam.
The soil of the Salem gravelly loam
consists of black or brown loam of the
same character as the Salem loam, in
termixeH with gravel varying in' size
from fine gravel to stones two or three
inches in diameter. The gravelly loa'nt
varies, in depth from a few .inches to
several feet, the gravel content in
creasing in the lower depths and the
whole resting on a bed of waterworn
gravel. The type is located on Mill
creek, forming a strip a little more
than a mile wide along that stream.
Occasional small areas adjoining the
creek consist entirely of gravel, being
merely a river wash, but with these
exceptions the soil is of considerable
value.
The area is level and is intersected
by an occasional water channel. Some
portions of the type, near the ereek and
small channels, are poorly drained, but
as a ''general thing the natural drain
age is goodl
The origin of the loam of , this type
is the same as that jof the Salem loam
transportation of soil from the high
er lying lands by rain and flood streams
while the gravel has been carried in
by the creek, which formerly occupied
a much larger area than it does now."
The natural growth is scrub oak,
birch, alder and underbrush. ,'; Where
not too gravelly the soil is adapted to
grain and fruit, and large areas are
used as pasture. ...,) .,' : ' Wr '.
Salem Sandy Xioam, ' . y
The Salem sandy loam consists of
about twelve inches of medium tex:
tared brown sandy loam, underlain to
a depth of three feet ITy a coarse sandy
loam, whieh "Usually grades into sand
and gravel. The surface foot generally
contains "considerable 1 organie matters
This soil type occupies the lower, over
flowed areas along the liver, .The areas
are level, and are intersected by a few
shallow channels,, which - generally ex
pose the . upnderlying graveu : Gravel
rarely , reaches the surface in other ,
MILLER
. Owing to pie great demand, for cutting and fitting
of garments and the unprecedented sales in our wash
goods, silk and dress goods departments we have
prevailed upon these artists to remain with us dur
ing this week. As an extra inducement we offer their
services f ree of charge to every one buying their, ma
terial here at 50 cents per yard or more. ;
MeiVs GlotKes
Oour stock presents! satisfying vari
ety in both fabrics and price . ranges.
Every suit: is made over a'carcfully de
signed model. Each Coat has the most
handwork that its price can afford; and
the better grades leave little that the
best tailors could improve, even when
paid double the price. . See these new
things; yon 11 be satisfied.) ,
S10 to $25
Jewels ;
Necklaces and neck pendants in all
wanted stones. All sizes and ew shades
are represeted in this collection.
25c to $1.50
tm fzzfm t&xzizn' Kxn, liters
places. This type is well drained when
the river is down to. its normal stage,
but 'during nigh water the areas are
sometimes flooded to a depth of several
feet. This is also the case with the
Salem loam, which occupies : much 6f
the river bottom land. Owing to the
porous nature ox the sandy loam, to
gether with the underlying gravel bed,
the flooded areas soon drain off. and
dry. The type owes its origin to river
ueposit uunng nign water, lne na
tive growth consists of Douglas spruce, subsoil which has been formed by eon
oak, heavy underbrush and grass. ) tinued shallow plowing. A clover
This type forms the best truck soil j Mammoth would probaSTy be suited to
in the area, to which use it is put to the climate could be sown With spring
a small extent, but the principal crop 'grain, thereby avoiding a year's loss
grown on it is hops. Some grain is j of the land. As clover will not do well
also raised. By tar the heaviest yields j without the presence of the nutrifying
of hops are obtained on this type, but ' bacteria, it would pay even to Inocu
unfortunately the hops and vines are late small portions of a field with soil
more subject to AliscaHC on this type," from a clover field on the 'prairie"
than on any other in the area. The fre- land, where clover does well, provided
quent fogs, along the river cause con- these bacteria are" not' present in the
siderable trouble by -producing a mold, i red hill soils. xIied clover, Mammoth
which seriously affects the "quality r' of, clover, Alsike clover, vetch ana field
the crop, and sometimes even complete- j peas are all excellent for such a soil,
ly destroys it. L'sually, too, the crop The clovers are especially jood for im-
must be picked before the hops are en
tirely ripe. Insect enemies are more
numerous here than 'elsewhere.' .' The
latest to become plentiful enough to
endanger the industry is a Worm which
lwres Into the roots about ' six inches
below the surface, causing either the
entire loss ot the vine, or at best the
crop for that year. As high as 3000
pounds of hops per acre arc claimed
for the sandy loam, : but the average
yield is considerably less. On account
of the good prices obtained during the
last five . years, and especially. In
1902-3 a large numlkr of hop yards
have been set out in the area surveyed.
Agricultural Methods.
The original growth on much of the
soil types in the area surveyed con
sisted of. Douglas spruce, oak, alder
and heavy underbrush, Die, clearing of
which necessitated considerable work,
The timber areas 'are "Usually pastured,
and while this is not relied upon for
clearing away the underbrush prepare
tory to clearing. It reduces the labor
considerably. , The timber after being
felled is cut info post, cord wood or
poles, according to kind and use. On
many of these areas the stumps - are
lrf t standing for a number of years,
awaiting the slow process of decay,
and the land is pastured in the mean
time. This requires six to eight years
for Douglas spruce from eight to
twelve inches in diameter. For larger
stumps dynamite Is used. This method
of clearing is slow, and.wTTen the land
is to be cropped as soon as possible the
stumps are grubbed and pulled. Lit
tle or no stump pullinjr machinery Is
used. The land thus cleared, both in
the case of the hill soils and of the
prairie soils, is in a very good condi
tion, both mechanically and chemical
ly, and yields excellent crops.:
The practice of planting one crop on
the same piece of laad year after yeal
is much too common in the Salem area.
The writer was shown many fields
which had been sown to wheat or oats
for from ten to twenty years, with no
alternation of erojs and no rest except
an occasional summer fallowing. This
conitnued growing of one' crop tends to
deteriorate the soils and to decrease
the yields. ."
The soils of the area, especially the
Salem clay and Salem loam, are well
adapted to the' pro'duction of the ce
reals. When the yields show consider
able decrease the Usual practice is . to
let the land lie fallow for a season. In
faet. it seems that about half of the
land under cultivation is in this condi
tion. The land Ta then planted - td
grain crops. It is admitted that sum-
mcr fallowing brings belter yields in
mediately, afterwards. The gain, how
ever, is more than the offset by the
losses ia having the land entirely idle
during the whole year, bringing no re
turn on the investment, in the washing
of hilTy areas, which is necessarily "con
siderable on the steep. slopes of the
hill soils in a region where Che normal
annuar rainfall is forty-five inches, and
in the depleting of organie matter and
humus.' ' -1
A good "system of. rotation would
greatly Tmprove fhese conditions. Dif
ferent plants have different feeding
depths and exert different influences on
the soil constituents, flotation "pro
duce the destruction of weeds ad
checks the' increase of insect enemies,
and is the means of greatly improving
the physical condition of heavy or
poorly cultivated soils. The soils ' in
the area, especially the red hill soils,
are in need of such .improvement, Ce-
reals, cultivated crops, humus-producing
& MILLER I
ilOBH
To encourage and promote
morning , buying, to equalize
the rush of afternoon shopping
which at times is almost more
than our large force can handle
we institute - in the morning,
and every morning this' week,
a three-hour" sale which in
scope and effect covers every
aiticle in the establishment, ex
cept contract and special sale
goods, at sweeping reductions,
bale begins at 9 a m and closes
at 12 noon. Anticipate your
needs and supply them in the
uiornin:
so alternated that summer fallowing
and humus-consuming crops could be
could be done away with.
Clover would be an excellent crop for
the red hill soils, though it is claimed
that the crop cannot be grown on fftese
soils. As the crop has not been given
a fair trial, this conclusion is prema
ture. In the first place the soil should
1k given a deep plowing; in fact, sub
soiled, in onlfr to break up and bring
to the surface the heavy, close-textured
proving tho physical condition of the
soil, and all of the leguminous crops are
well known lor their assimilation ' of
atmospheric nitrogen, through' which
process they greatly enrich tho soil
with tkik valuable constituent. As
these soils are well drained-f-a requi
site for good, stands of : clover there
ought to be little difficulty In keeping
leguminous . crops in good condition,
;ucc they are well started.
What has been said about summer
fallowing and the consequent condition
of the soil applies, though to a less ex
tent, to the well cultivated orchards.
These are aosolutely bear during the
whole year, j and are subject to exten
sive washing during the fall and win
ter. . There f can be little doubt that
winter cover crops would be beneficial
to the orchards if sown during the late
summer or early fall. They would
check the Jate growth ot the trees in
the fall, causing them to mature ear
lier and to be in better condition for
the winter, while the loss of organie
matter by rain wash would be greatly
checkedr They would also improve the
moisture-holding capacity of the soil
by the incorporation of additional or
ganic matter. If the crop proved large
in old apple orchards it could be pas
tured during late fall and winter, In
which case little would be taken from
the soil, but In plum or peach orchards
or young orchards of any I kind pastur
ing is impracticable. Cover crops would
need to be plowed under in the spring,
and this should be done at such a time
aa to keep the 'growth of the trees
checked until dan ire r of frosts' is
past. Clover, vetch, wrinter rye, field
peas, buckwheat, etc, arc all good crops
for this purpose. Of course, the prac
tice of covcr,cropping orchards in win
ter should be carried on with sufficient
moderation to prevent excessive accu
mulation of organie matter in the soil,
which has a tendency to unduly devel
op the woody portion of the tree at
the expense of the fruiti '
It is not the purpose of the writer to
detract from the importance of .keep-
inz the orchards well cultivated dur
ing spring and summer, which is abso
lutely necessary in order to keep ids
trees in the best condition for fruiting.
Especially is this important 'during the
first few years oi the lire oi me tree,
in order to encourage deep rooting.
Durinsr this early period of growth tu
ber and root crops Can well be grown
as secondary crops. ,.':..
Agricultural Conditions.
Generally speaking, the farmers of
the area are energetic, thrifty and
prosperous. They have a good idea of
the value ot things, and it is seldom
one sees farm implements standing
about exposed to the weather. Fairly
good houses and, farmyard buildings
are seen, and the community in gen
eral appears to be prosperous. . !
The create r number of the farms are
operated by their owners, a f ew are' run
by managers, and a few are rented. 2So
statistics by counties were available,
but 82.2 per cent of the farms of the
state are operated by the owners. A
few Chinese carry on truck growing,
and some also own and , successfully
operate hop and fruit jarms. A few
Indians and negroes, also are engaged
in agriculture ia the area surveyed.
The average size of farms i a Ma
rion county, in which most of the area
surveyed is located, is It acres, while
the average size in Polk county is 216
acres. This, however, includes twith im
proved ahT) unimproved, land. For im
proved land the average is seventy-two
acres for Marion county and 108 acres
V71&
Stirrlnii l Specials in
Dress Goods
Beginning ia the morninr; we make
price concessions in wanted anil de
pendable dress goods such as will
speedily clear our sh .Ives. These for
this week ITTTEX i tttc
1.00, $1.23 and $1.50 values in.'
BIACK DRESS GOODS
78c yd.
1.25 Fancy Knob and ftripe
Voiles ia light shades. Newest au. I
best effects. - -
98c yd.
50c and Coc Fancy Liiren; " lUamine
suiting
35c
30e and . 35e values
In Figured
Fancy Sateen
15c
$125 Embroidered - dot Brllliantincs.
All wanted colors
95c
60c New spring and summer Suitings
45c
Boxbay' Nevcrfear Guarantee Silk
68c
$l.(X and 1.
25 Newest effects in
spring fci'lks
78c
I
for Folk county, the balance leing
mostly : timber land, including a little
waste or worthless land.. There are in
ntv o;-.l farma and in Folk"
county 11H2," practically all of which
have buildings on them. There has
Keen a heavy immigration to North
west Oregon during the last year or
two. and this will ouicklv iuereasc the
area of improved land, a tho immi
grants consist chiefly of the farming
class. I
There is a good demand for timber,
mainly spruce, ia the form of", cord
wood,(ss that is practically the only
fuel used in Northwestern Oregon. It
is used by all the public institutions as
well as by private families, and tho
Southern Pacific uses it altogether on
its engines in Oregon. The price of
second growth spruce cut into cord wood
four feet long is-from 3 to .t.50 a
cortl; original growth, from-3.25 to
$4.50, and oak about 50 cents a cord
more than spruce. Souio lumber is cut
in the area surveyed.
These timber areas are of valuo not
onTy for the wood, but also for pastur
age, and most of the farmers havo
small flocks of sheep or goats. The
raising of mohair is quite a local in
dustry, and considerableWapital is in
vested In St. .Small herds of dairy cat
tle are also common.
The price of land depends, of course;
on whether it js improved ior uot
that is. whether it is cleared of timber.
The "prairie" soil, as the Salem loam
is locally called, brings from 25 to 50
an acre if improved, while the hill soils
are held practically at tho same price7
if the land Ts'nof very rough, although
owing to steep slopes, rock outcrops,
etc., the average price for the latter is
less. than for the Salem loam. Ruhy
and uncleared land brings from $10 to
$1 an acre.
The. vallev, is well known for the ex
cellent quality . of its farm products,
especfslry wheat, apples and prunes.
The hops are of -fairly good quality,
and those grown on the higher lying
lands, away, from the direct influence
of the river, are oi exceptional quality.
The adaptation of soils to crops is
quite well recognized, as much or. per
haps more than is the esse in most ag
ricultural communities, though it seems
probable that hops could le more gcn
e rally grown on tho red hills than at
present.
Transportation facilities are good
(hat is, there are many railroad sta
tions convenient for the farmers. The
wagon roads are, however, by no means
good, and especially is this true of tho
roads in the hill-country. Practically
no. gravel is used, and the soil in tho
"prairie" country soon cuts up badly,
while in the hills poor grades and rock
outcrops cause Trouble. Three lines of
che Southern Pacific railroad syitteni
traverse the , area surveyed, running
north and south, the main ovcrlsndline
passing through Salam and one running
east and another west of that place.
These lines all run directly to Portland,
fifty miles north of Salem, and as it is
a central market and large distributing
point both by water and rail, the far
mers get gooo nei ffriees ior meir pro
ducts. The Willamette river, on the
ank of which Salem is situated, t is
navigable as far south as Corvallis, fur
nishing good local transportation facil
ities. Daily steamcrji run between
Portland and Corvallis.
DR. G. GEE 1700
This wonderfui
Chines doc t of ia
esJMa great . be
iea.ua h cures peo
ple without opera.
tlon that axe given
to to die. lie cure
1
WjritdjL.w' With tho wonder-
ftti Chines toerto, roots, buds, bark
and, ve-tablea, that ax entirely un
known" to mcfl science in this coun
try. Tbrougax the us of these harm
lees remedies, this famous doctor
knows the auction of over tOO different
remedle w4ilcSj he snsooaesfully uaes In
different dlseaaea. H am ar an tees to
cur catarrh, asthma, " lung;, throat,
rtieumatlsTn. "nervousness, stomach.
kidney, bladder, female- trouble, lost
manhood, all private diseases; has
hundreds' . of testimonials. Chsjrg
moderate. , - -
Call axsd see blm. Consultation fre.
Patient out of the dty write for
lank and. circular. ' Enelc mt sm p.
Address) The C. Gee T7o Chinese lie !!-
tins Co., 'Z'V'.-Z'A A! W ft., Forthc !
Oregon, HenUcn t-!s raj?, .'
rv