Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-07-18
Good Resolutions.

caused our farmers to feel Justly dis
turbed in their minds when gazing
upon their broad acres of meadow
land and we'll knowing that the hay
crop usually is the chief reliance of
beginners who have not had time to
bring their farms Up to II proper
state Of cultivation for warrantiny
an extensive venture in the grain
raising enterprise. Dubious as the
present outlook may appear to
many, there is no reason for any
body to be discouraged. When it is
borne in mind that the failure of
crops in California may be put down
MS occurring almost periodically,
our Washington Territory farmers
have great reason to be hopeful, and
content with their surrounding cir
cumstances. While our climate is
neither subject to the fearful droughts
OF California, nor the inordinate hui
midity of the many parts of Oregon,
it may he said to occupy quite q
desirable mean between the two
above extremes. The fact that old
settlers do not so often suffer from
wet weather during haying and har-
vest time, as those who are consid-
cred newcomers, pretty strongly
evinces that the most frequent
and heavy losers are those who know
least about the peculiarities which
influence and govern our seasons.
Then it becomes every one of our
farmers, of limited experience in
this country, to study faithfully the
principles which are the prime
movers of our weather changes
rain-falls, prevailing winds, and like
influences.
We believe it would be our lot to
chronicle very few losses from Spring
and Autumn frosts, Summer rains,
droughts and cold waves, if our far
mers, as class, paid more attention
to the study of our peculiar meteo.
rolosy. Indeed, it is the privilege
and duty of every intelligent far
mer to practice, on small scale,
the work of signal station observer.
A few cents will buy thermometer,
few dollars barometer. A rain
gauge can be made by anybody who
can make an ox-bow or boot-jack.
Armed with this trio of meteorologi-
cal instruments, farmer is we'll pre-
pared to venture safe prediction of
all local weather changes, so far, at
least, as may be of serious interest
to his own domestic concerns.
We feel assured, moreover, in say
ing that nine-tenths of the uneasi-
ness felt by farmers during the
prevalence of the most critical
weather, is entire uncalled for,
and, like physic mong the ancicnts,
such fears might be thrown to the
dogs. An experienced and reliable
farmer, from the southeastern part
of this county, was in town, the other
day, and spoke very encouraginsly
about the haying season. He as
serted that farmers need be in no hurry
to cut their grass, as it would make
just as good hay in ten or twelve
days hence, Us now. TO those who
live in town and are not prepared to
speak understandingly upon this
subject, this will be welcome news.
Many have looked upon the coming
hay crop with n good deal of doubt
and uncaslness, mainly on account
of the protracted rains. There is
evidence to believe that the farmers
OF Washington Territory arc habitu-
ally wont to commence cutting their
grass at least two weeks sooner
than is expedient or prudent. While
many now corners may feel disposed
to cry out against the eccentricities
of our climate and weather pro-
gramme, we fell like saying with the
Laplandcr that, "Ours is the best
country the sun shines upon" Let
us learn to let we'll enough alone
and bide the consequences.
The new fire cistern, on the corner
of Third and Cherry streets, in East