Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1882-11-08
OREGON WHEAT.
Ernest Ingersoll in Hsrpers' for October

Ernest lngerSoli IN Hsrpers' for October.
All the cereals ere raised here. but
you viii see little Of anything except
wheat, which for half a century has
made Oregon famous. In 1881, it is
related, the first wheat was sowed at
French Prairie, in Marion county,
and that same field yielded thirty
five bushels to the acre in 1879.
Rich land that, but equalled in many
parts OF the western valleys, where
the soil is a dark loan, underlaid by
clay. The richest acres of course lie
along the wooded river bottoms, in
many of which can be traced exten-
sive beaver dams. The beavers have
long ago departed. but their occupa-
ton, by making broad reaches of
still water, overfowing the lowlands,
and permitting wide deposits of allu-
vium, has produced a soil of extra
ordinary fertility.
OF wheat, the Weld to the acre
runs from twenty to thirty five or
more bushels, full and heavy grain
often exceeding by five to nine
pounds the standard weight of sixty
pounds to the bushel. Land sum-
mer- -fallowed and fall-sowed is GER
tain to produce twenty FIVE bushels
as minimum yield. In some parts
of this valley (the Wahlamet), where
the fields have been cropped continu-
ously for a quarter of century, they
still produce enormously, thus dem
onstratinS the great strength and
permanent qualities OF the soil. The
wheat of this region is a plump, full
berry, from which -four of uncom-
mon whiteness is made Its eXcell-
ence IL this respect is SO fully recog
nized that in the English markets it
commands premium Of from three
to five cents over the best produced
in California. Many varieties of
wheat are cultivated. The old white
Writer wheat, originally introduced
by the Hudson Bay Company, is ex-
cellent in quality, and retains its hold
on popular favor. White velvet
wheat is eestainlv s:.s good, good and per-
naps more productive. Spring va
rieties of white wheat, as Chill Club,
Little Club, Australian, and others,
are well liked and give good crops.
The peculiarities of the soil in the
various counties mainly determine,
however, the kind of wheat which is
nsed for seed in different localities. "
The surplus yield of wheat at pres
ent is about 100000 tons annually
IN western Oregon-more than two
thirds of the crop of the whole State.
This amount represents about 5,0O0,-
600 bushels, much of which was con-
verted into -four here. This year
the acreage and crop will be a little
larger. There is at every little rail.
way station grain warehouse, to
which the farmer brings his wheat
fer sale as fast as it is threshed
This obviates the need of barns and
you will see very few of these struc
lures in Oregon, except stables used
for live stock. All the wheat thui
gathered in the country warehouses
finds its way before the winter is ov
er to the wharves at Portland, tn,
railway charging uniform freight
rate from all points. At Portland
vessels are loaded. ard the grain o.
-four starts on its long voyage around
the Horn. Neither mildew nor rus
has appeared to any great extent
and no failure of the wheat crop ha
been known since the settlement o
the country. Owing to the dry sum
mers the wheat is not affected by tn
long sea-voyage to Great Britain
whittier most of it is exported, ant
by the double passage through tn
tropics incidental to its transports
ton
Warrants have been issued for th
arrest of parties charged with attempt
ing to brite jurors in the star rout
case.