Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1886-01-01
SOIL AND PRODUCTION

~.
Territory 10 costained in nav renc,, - -
the year 1874. l also there inslnSss
sketch of the geologic foruatiop ~ ~
Territory, showing that the ksss.
Ocean once flowed unhindsred ov.s
what 70 nov sastern Washington, ans
IN retiring left Its fine sediment and -
sil ssa beach.
Careful chemical analysis has rec.,.
ly shown that the soils taken from ~
oas places in this region have an Ara
sant supply of the constituents 49,
ssry TO give them enduring qualisiss ~
sdsptsbility to a variety OF cross.
The eastern section Is prolific In mr.
duction OF wheat aad other csreals N.
average yield of wheat being oyer q
bushels TO the acre.
Tobacco is cultivated to some sxsar,.
and delicious fruits, including arspss
peaches and melons. are there displsv.S
in tempting luxurisnce. Il is estimsssS
that in four counties alone, the ens,.
NOUS yield of nine million bushsls 4,
wheat has been harvested this wear
The central aud northern regions ea,,
OF the Cascades IS less developed, OWNS
to lack OF railroads, until recrutly: huf
il has many of the same characteristics.
Sweet potatoes, sorghum, tobacco. ssv
plant. melons. corn and hops thrive in
the Yakima valley. Much Of this coan.
try has hitherto been devoted to stocs
raising.
Irrigatiou-At a comparatively fsv
localities only is artificial irrigation
needed, and Ia most of these il is read.
lily obtsinsble at moderate expense
However there are some places wharf
the sell shows great capabilities and
where irrigation is difficult. In ordsr
to encourage the purchase and occc.
psncy Of such land. il seems TO me enj.
nently proper for the Government %
set on foot a system of irrigation, either
directly through its own aeerts a,
through some indirect plan Of relie,
and encouragement to the settler.
Western Washington is espscially
adapted to al the grasses and to ost
and the root crops. Some wheat i
raised on tie upiands, bot the rich ala.
vial bottom lands are most sought for
by the farmer. Two and one half 10
four tens of bay per acre eact year are
frequently obtained.
The following vegetables and fruits
grow in perfection IN the counties bof-
dering on Puget Sound: Cahbages,
asparagus. beans Except Lima, beet,
brussels sprouts, csulitio~er. carrots,
celery. cucamber, kale, leeks, lettuce,
onions, parsley, psrsuips, peas, pota-
toes. radish. rhubsrb, squash, turniPs,
blackberries, eoossberries, currants,
rast berries. Strawberries, and certain
variety of peaches in favorable loca-
he al ~
tirs Of fruits are such a. are generally
cultivated along the belt OF the middle
latitude, more particularly that die
trict comprising Weslern NV York,
and Northern Pennsylvania Many kinds
of the apple, pear, qnInce, peach, with
the smaller fruits from the vines and
shrutbery Il 'urish in great perfection.
Here the plum and cherry attain slaree
size and superior d vor. Corn is bot
little raised IA the western part OF the
Territory, aud then generally for use
white It IL green.
Our winter climate Is 30 2ild that
protection of trees and vines is never
tnOusht Of. and it is very rare thai any
ara injured; nor do the diseases peculiar
| to the same classes in the Eastern States
affect them here, such as woody sphs
on the apple. the blight on the pssr, the
black kuot on the plum and the yeAovs
on the peach. That destructive enemy
of she plum in the Eastern States, The
ourculio, Is unknown here.
Tide Lands: On Puget Sound TWEEN.
| ty. seven thousand acres have been
| dyked and reclaimed with great profit
| Wonderful Drops Of oats are obtained
on these lands. Probably 10000 acres
more can 10 reclaimed.
sugar Recent Investigations and
| experiments have developed the fast
that Washington Territory Ia pre-emi-
nently fitted for the production Of
sugar, upon very large scale, from
the beet root. We have here the sell
and climate suited for cheaply produc
ing a choice quality Of sugar beets. We
have the necessary lime and cheap fusl
at hand, and all other conditions 60
| Aiding rs to successfully engage In
this husiuoss except one important
fostor which Is, the course OF the Gov.
eminent In admitting she importation
of sugar free of duty on the Pacific
Coast. Undoubtedly the object Of the
Government Is TO give the consumers
here the bonetit Of the duty, bat The
fact is shat the people receive no bensht
from this remission Of the tariff on 90
gar. because that article Is handled bys
monopoly thai nxes the prices OF the
imported sugar without reference 10 10
cost, but does 30 mainly with reference
TO markets on the Atlantic Coast, and
the cost OF transportation thereffom.
Certain energetic payties have recently
interested themselves largely in the pro
duution of beet sugar in this Territory,
and they feel that the facts as above
stated should be represented to the Gov.
eminent, to the end that this importans
home industry may DO pfotectea oy
suitable Legislation. IL is believed tnas
We have a large sugar producing area
sutficiently 81, II developed, 10 maiefF
ally effros Oh .nge in the sourcs OF sop
ply Of sugar for the entirs nation M.
Ezra Meeker, WHO has visited all toe
sugar producing countries OF Earope,
| and devoted himself to the development
of this industry here, unhesitatingly
asserts that the sugar producing Ares
OF ibis Territory II equal to that Of usf'
many.
Hops-rhe harvest Of 1885 bss been
mere satisfactory than was anticipated
ct the beginning, and more renuneft
tive than expected. This result nss
been attained entirely upon the SCORE OF
quality; the Washington Territory hops
for the first time having reached
standard Of value In tue market eqaa
70 that raised In the Uoited States. tne
crop for the year has been less than ~
average. reducing the yield 10 sooot
l6,OOS bales; enc bali Of which VIII D
shipped direct TO London, for consumr
ton 10 England. Although many gfos
ere were discouraged in ths beRtnni1k
OF the season, In Consequence OF tns
Low price prevailing in the worlds mar
kos, and later, with the report OF %
enormous crop harvest the world over
yet, now the business is more hrmly -
tAbllshed than ever by reason OF ~
prefsrsnoe given to our qualities. sna
the fact that 90 are able to sell ~
prods vhiis other less favored localitis
are suffering q loss. The facility wisn
which shipments are nov made over "
lines OF transooutiuental roads. ooupiss
With the fires use Of the telegraph sn.
Gable, has rsvolutionized our methods o.
nArkstiax, % that aov We ship or ssh
direoe upon the markets, and get w
olRnision before denied rs, wnsn com'
peiied 70 market our hops IN ssn ffsn,
sisco. 10 Is believed that there Sin
hefeaftsr be large increase in the aere-
age, bot = careful system of culture, re-
soitisR In tse general production Of Dst-
tor qualities at such low cost. that tnm
Industry will be 30 hrnly est Rblished ~