The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-06-28
Written for the Vancouver INDEPENDENTLY
Bunch Grass Letter.
EDITOR INDEPENDENT:


The winter this side Of the Cascade
Mountains has been the mildest known
for many years-not over two inches
of snow falling in this locality-some-
what deeper in more elevated regions
Spring is several weeks earlier than
usual. Stock is looking exceedingly
well. Crops, as a general thing, are
not good-too dry-no rain for six
weeks. This is not natural farm
ing country, as there is no certainty
about the crops, without irrigation ;
and irrigation in great many locali-
ties is impossible; consequently but
little farming is done, with the excep-
ton of Willow Greek, Butter Creek
and the Umatilla River bottoms.
Some little farming is done along the
Columbia, where the massive rocks
fail to connect with the river, but the
sturdy tillers of the soil are greatly in
the minority. Stock raising has the
preference, and for this the country
is we'll adapted. Thousands of acres
of the best of grass is yet untrod by
domestic animals. One can travel for
days and see nothing but waving
sea of grass, dotted here and there
with droves of cattle and bands of
horses, while the hillsldes are covered
with large focks of sheep. Lumber
is quite scarce in most localities; some
Willow and Cottonwood on the river
bottoms, while on the high ridges
may be found Juniper and Green
wood. Pine, spruce and Lamarack
grow in abundance on the foothills
of the Blue mountains. The grasses
here are more nutritious than those of
the lower country; the most common
are Bunch Grass, Wild Rye, and
Blue Joint. Goat raising here, we
think might be profitable, although
it is now in an embryonic stage, as
there are thousands of acres on the high
peaks and in the canyons, not Access
sible to horses and cattle. From
geological investigations we think this
country has been, at no very remote
period, the bottom of the sea. We
deduce our conclusion from the forma-
ton of the rocks and hills, and the find
ing of shells which are unquestionably
the work of marine insects, on the high
est peaks. The lover of Botany would
do we'll to visit this country, as the
hill-sides and valleys are covered with
flowers and plants of an endless vari-
ETY.. We gathered, during our ride
yesterday, seventy-three different va
rieties of flowers, all of them unlike
any we had ever seen in Clarke Coun-
ty. Crickets are quite bad this sea
son; ''worse than usual" so they say
One farmer here, taking advantage Of
their non-amphibious nature, ha:
sown his grain on an island whence
he expects to reap bountiful harvest
From indications here we think the
water will be quite low this season
as the De Schutes and John Day
rivers were quite high some two
weeks ago, but are falling now, g
fact which indicates but little snow in
the mountains. The Typographical
and climatic character of the country
is admirably adapted for the culture
ofgrapes and peaches. Fruit growing
although in its infancy, will in few
years, be one of the leading features
of the country. Schools are begin
ing to receive proper attention in the
older settled districts, and ''Ye Peda
gogue" finds his way here from al
parts of the globe. These few facts
not in disparagement of the country
but to let Lewis-riverites know boil
sides of the story.
Very Truly Yours,