Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1848-05-23
0rsgOn-E1tracts from Ii. HoWison's Report.

There was scarcity of game in the
country. The venoson was poor; elk nu-
merous, but found only in the depths of
the forest. Nearly all the fowls and birds
of the United States we're found there.
Timber grows TO great size, but is not
as generally useful as the timber of the
United States. Much remained to be as.
oertained on this subject by further ex
ploration. We close our notice of this
Report with the following extracts:
Oregon, from its extent and varied
topography, must, ofcourse, possess some
diversity Of climate. As general re
mark, it is equable and salubrious; and
although ten degrees of latitude father
north than Virginia, its assimilates to the
climate of that State, particularly, In
winter. qualified by less liability to sud-
den violent changes. The same season,
however, in Oregon is characterized by
more constant rains and cloudy weather.
Our log-hook records rain, hail. or snow,
every day between October 29th, 1916,
and January 18th, lS47, except eleven,
and a continuation of such weather was
anticipated until the month OF March,
But during this time there were but few
days of severe cold. Grass grew yer.
dainty in every spot that was at all shell.
tered. and yielded sustenance to the cattle
which requires neither shelter nor feed
ing { except what it procures itself
throug bout the year. From March till
October the weather is delightful; occa.
sional showers obscure the sun and re.
fresh the earth; but what is very remarka-
BILE, the summer clouds in Lower Oregon
are seldom attended by thunder and
lightning. During the winter, at the
mouth Of the river, we experienced this
phenomenon, and witnessed lite effects
occasionally upon conspicuous trees In
the forest, but 10 the interior it is not com.
mon at any misunderstanding circum
stance 10 our country women, who bad
been previously subject TO its terrifying
effects, on the banks of Ihe Illinois and
Mississippi.
The products Of the soil depend mainly
upon the climate, and the excellence of
the latter is Indicative of the abundance
of the former. Hence we find from the
sea coast to the Cascade range of noun.
tains, an average breadth of ITO miles,
a most vigorous natural vegetable
growth; the forest trees are of gigantic
stature, while the intervals between them
are filed with rank, impenetrable bushy
underground. Where the growth is rapid,
maturity and then decay quickly succeed,
and the soil is enriched from itsown fruits
This region, like that of the United States
before il was colonized, "has been gath
ering fertility from the repose Of centuries,
and lavishes Its strength in magnificent
but useless vegetation" 1t lie not, how
ever, woody solitude throughout. With
in the limits alluded to lies the whole
Willamett valley; continuous ranges of
prairie lands, free from the encumhrance
Of the trees or other heavy obstacles TO
the plough, stretch along, ready for the
band of the cultivation; in their virgin
state these are overgrOwn with fern, the
height of which, say from three to ten
feet, indicates the strength of the soil
No telling of trees or grubbing is neces-
sary here A two horse plough pros,rates
the rankest fern, and fine crop of wheat
the very next year succeeds il. The
fields, however, continue to improve un.
der cultivation, and are much more prolif.
10 the fourth and fifth years than before.
Wheat is the staple commodity; the
average yield is twenty bushels to the
acre; and this from very slovenly culture.
These who take much pains, rsap forty
or fifty. Although population is dispersed
over these clear lands, and large por-
ton OF them is held by "claims," there is.
Notwithstanding, mere fraction cuItivat-
ed. A fair estimate of all the wheat raised
Ia 1916 does not exceed 100000 bush
els, which, by the average, would grow
upon 5000 acres of lands breath COM
pared to the whole body claimed and held
in idleness. The quality of tho wheat
produced here is, believe, nnsqualled
throughout the world; it certainly excels
ia weight. size ofgrain. and wilderness OF
Its flour. that of our Atlantic States. Chill,
or the Black sea, and is far before any
[ have seen in California. Oats grow
with correspondent luxuriance, bu, the
nights of this salubrious valley ere too
cool for Indian corn or rye. These last
grow to perfection further interior, where
the summers are warmer than they are
westward of the Cascade mountains. The
few experiments made with hemp and to.
baceo have proven the competency of,he
soil and climate to their production. 10
short, | can think of nothing vegetable in
its nature, common within the temperate
zone, that Oregon will no, produce
Fruits have been, so far, very sparingly
introduced; there are q few orchards of
apples, peaches, and pears among the
Canadians; but growing upon seedlings.
the fruit Is inferior. A great variety of
berries are indigenous and abundant;