Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1888-12-21
From Washington Territory.
SpANaLE, Wash. Ter. Dec. 10.

L
territory the 18th of May. Was
dry at that time, but had good
showers through June, which
caused vegetation to make good
growth. Had the finest weather
from the lst of Jnly till the
18th of October that / ever saw;
the days pleasantly warm, the
nights cool, without a shower of
rain. What becomes of vegetation
during all this time? you ask.
Nothing seemed to suffer for want
of rain. Grass and vegetables OF
all kinds seemed to make as good
growth as they do in the states
with frequent showers. The wealth
up to this time has been pleasant
with cool days occasionally. III ad
two light SHOWS, but they remain
ed but a short time. The rain that
comes here is in gentle showers;
never rains hard enough to wash
the land. 1t will rain about half
the time for week, aud not as
much fall in that time as will in
Missouri in four hours.
The prairie part of the country
here is all rolled up, but little of
it is too steep to pillow. Along the
streams will be small bottoms, al
most level, aud much of the tim
bered land is level, or gradually
rolling. In many parts of the
country timber is from four to
twelve miles distant and this they
get from railroad, government, or
school lands. What the people
will do when this land is disposed
of [ cannot tell, neither can they.
The timber here is all pine, fir,
hemlock or cedar. In low wet
places is some willow and aspen
of small growth.
They use pine. fir or cedar here
for wood, rails, posts, all kinds of
lumber and frequently for single
trees, double trees and wagon
tongues.
The wild land here is covered
with "bunch grass" kind of
wild grass, very nutritious, grows
always in punches. The lunches
Of grass elevated above the soil
four to six inches which make it
very rough to drive over, and hard
to beat down smoth. ] have ask
ed farmers here what they intend
to do when the bunch grass is
killed out, which will surely hap
pen, and no one can anwer. They
say something will be introduced
to take its place. Timothy grows
here on low lands, also some other
domestic grasses. l have seen
few patches of blue grass.
Everything punches here. For
est trees Of different kinds sprout
wonderfully from the stem, near
the ground. Corn suckers out
from the root into a bunch; sor-
ghum some way | have couuted
q heads of rye from one grain and
s70 perfect heads of wheat; oats and
barley will do the same. They
SOW from one half to n bushel of
wheat to the acre, the same of
barley and rye, little more of
oats. They are immersed in
blue stone water before sowing to
prevent smut. [ believe it proves
effectual. Very little wheat is
harvested with self rakes or bind
ers. 1t is cut with headers. a
header is from ten to fourteen feet
wide, run by one man and six
horses; the horses go abreast in
rear and is guided by a rudder;
the wheat is cut about one foot
below the heads, falls ON cloth
apron, is carried off to one side
by an elevator, anl emptied into a
wagon with large boxes, which is
driven along at side of header.
-Four wagons keep a header going. |
Sometimes it is stacked, and some
times thrown from the wagons in
to threshing machine. A header
and thresher will drive into field
in the morning and in the evening
farmer will have from $40 to
800 bushels of wheat in his grain
ary. Many times the wheat is
pilel in the field in sacks, and
remains there for months.
Hay is made here by cutting
wheat, mixed with little oats
when in the milk. 1t makes a good
quality of hay; and makes rough
ness and grain at the same time. !
Stock run to the straw stacks and
dry bunch grass, during winter,
and make very good living.
This is a fine, tiowe ry, mineral
soil, free from gravel and sand for
the most part, of a rich, dark COL
or, underiaid on some points with |
clay. Vegetation will not decay
frequently for years. Grass roots,
"Nigger wool" will work to the
surface and kick about on top, and
be sound for ten or twelve years
to the annoyance of far mers.
sPANGLE MARKI,T rs.
Wheat-65c per bu.
Barley-90cts hun.
Oats-60cts hun.
Hay-S9.00 per ton.
Potatoes $500 pr hun.