Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1865-09-20


roads, built some years ago by the since
famous Gen. Hooker, brought us out of
sweet, June-like afternoon, upon the hill
that overlooks the head of the Willamette
(Wil-lam,ette) Valley. Here the noun
tain ranges cease their mazy dancing to-
gether, and take their places east and
west, feeding river that runs midway
north l25 miles to the Columbia river,
and watering valley through that length
and for so miles wide. This is the Will
lamette river and valley-the garden of
Oregon--itself Oregon that which led
emigrants here years before the gold dis
coveries on the Pacific coast; the holder
of nearly two-thrds of all the inhabitants
of the state; the source of the present
strength and prosperity of the state; and
its sure security for the future; lifting it
above the uncertainties of mining, and
giving guaranty of stability, intelligence
and comfort to its people. We were led
down into this indeed paradisiacal valley
through richest groves of oak; the same
are scattered along the foot hills on either
side, or people the swelling hills that oc-
casionally vary the prairie surface of its
central lines /; while the river, strong and
free and navigable through the whole val
ley a part of the year, and though the
lower half at all times, furnishes deep
belt of forest through the very middle Of
the valley. Never beheld | more fascin-
ating theatre for rural homes never SEEM
ed more ftly united natural beauty and
comforts, and fertility of soil, and variety
of production; never were my bucolic in
srinc,s deeper stirred than in this first
outlook upon the Willamette valley. The
soil is a strong, clayey vegetable loan, on
hardpan bottom, holding manurcs tight
ly, and yielding large crops of the small
grains, apples and potatoes. Wheat and
apples are the two great crops at present !;
much of the improved land being set out
with apple orchards, that come into full
bearing from two to three years after
planting. Wool and beef are also, with
the lower valleys, leading items in the
agricultural wealth of the Willamette.
The hills and valleys of interior Oregon
furnish almost inexhaustible and contin.
ual pasture grounds, The spring is toe
cold and wet for peaches; the summer
nights are too cold for corn, though it is
grown to limited degree; but Isabella
and Catawba grapes ripen perfectly; it il
the home of the cherry, and pears, plums
and all the small berries reach high per
fectiou. The average yield Of wheat ir
the valley is 25 bushels to the acre; bu,
so is often obtained with careful cultiva
tiou. Though this valley supports "a pop
ulatiou of 10000 by agriculture only
probably not one-tenth Of its area has ye
felt the plow, and certainly not over one
half is under fence. Its best lands can bC
bought for from S. to $25 an acre, de
pending upon Improvements, and nearnes'
to villages and river. Only specially ia
vored farms 60 higher, as some do to $50
. and even 500 an acre. Much of th'
farming is unwisely done; the farms arr
t generally too large, the original locations
8 being mostly of GAO acres each and thu
| agricultural population are largely Mis-
g sourians, Kcntuckians and Tennesseans
$ of that class who are forever moving
: farther west, and only stop here becaus
there is no beyond but the ocean. Ih
eastern men proper in Oregon, of whom
G there are indeed many, are mostly In tn
t villages and towns, leaders in trade. ant
| commerce, and manufactures, as well a
in the professions
The agriculture of Oregon knows n
| such drawback, and doubt as the loDi
t summer drouths that hang over that o
e all the rest of the country west of tn
+, Rocky Mountains, and renders expenslv
: irrigation necessity to certainty in cul
: ture. Her fertile region--so made fer
t tile, indeed-between the coast noun
r tains and the Sierras, or the Cascades, a
| the interior range of mountains is callet
: in Oregon, is abundantly supplied witt
(; rain the year round. There is enough il
u summer to ripen the crops, and not to
g much to interfere with harvesting; AM
n the winter is one long shower of 81:
c months. The Californians call thei
d northern neighbors the Web Feet; an
e from all account there is something to
e much of rain and mud during the winte
e season but the facility and perfectio
II which its agriculture enjoys in cons'
n ouence leaves the practical side of tn
t. Joke with Oregonians. There is no sno
IS in the valleys of middle and western Orr
% gon only rain and mist deaden the do
s. mant season; but February is usually
,, clear and warm month, and the work
d the farmer then actively begins. 1T
is summers are long and favorable wit
Or warm days but cool nights, e'
IS durable for the human system than Ne
y England summers, and kinder for all ye
es citation, with the single exception, perhal
50 Of Indian corn. The average tempcratu
n, of the Willamette valley for the six sur
C. mer months is from So to 20, and of Il