, 1889-05-02

with long roots. which are killed by the
first plowing. From the hills and ridges
extensive views are had OF broad sweeps of
country, and of the mountain rauRes north
of the Spokane and north and west OF the
Columbia. The only mountain range
within the Big Bend is Badger mountain,
u low, wooded ridge about thirty miles
long, lying on the extreme western part OF
the region and Immediately east of the
Columbia.
Just as the general appearance of this
region cannot be compared closely with
that Of any region with which our Eastern
readers are familiar so the climate does
not admit of such comparison. It's Pecu.
liar. like the climates OF other parts of
Washington. The latitude 10 as far north
as that of Northern Minnesota or low r
Canada, or Maine. but the mean winter
mperature is as high as that of North
Carolina or Tennessee. Short,
mild winters are, In fact, the great
climate feature of the country. The win.
ter begins about the middle Of December
and the first Of March. Usually the plows
sre going in the fields before February
10th. This year spring was late and plow-
ing did not start until the first week in
March. There are generally about four
weeks OF sleighing. The roads dry up
fast after the snow goes and very little
rain falls during March or April. There
are copious showers 10 May and June, fol.
lowed by long rainless summer, which
lasts until the cool days of October. July
and August are pretty hot. The beautiful
autumn weather lasts till about Christmas.
Severe storms never occur in any season.
Cyclones and tornadoes are unknown Crops
are never damaged by hail or wind or
heavy rains. In short no reasonable fault
can be found with the climate.
PRODUCTIONS or THE COUNTRY.
Wheat is the great staple crop. Soil
and climate favor the production of this
cereal. The straw is large and stiff; the
heads large and plump. Little Club is the
variety generally sown. Last year the
average yield Of the entire Big Bend
country was about twenty FIVE bushels to
the acre, and well prepared ground
yielded as high as forty bushels.
Wheat is shipped to the sea port of Taco.
ma, on Puget Sound, in sacks holding
two bushels each, but the Eastern system
OF grading and shipping In bulk at eleva-
tors is now being introduced. 1t will
save the farmer the cost of the sacks.
both headers and self.binders are used in
the header being The more
popular machine. Oats yield from
fifty to lOO bushels to the acre. Bar
ley is a profitable crop. yielding
from fifty to seventy.hv live bushels
and the grain equalling in merit for
brewers use the white barley OF Canada.
Corn natures well, but because OF the
II mited demand for shipment Is usually
raised on small ie,ds only and for home
fnad for atnck Pot N
prising size. Specimens weighing from
two to three pounds are common. Sweet
potatoes do we'll, and sometimes attain u
weight Of five or six pounds. Other sue
cessful crops are broom corn. sorghum.
'"''"'' 'u'"'p'' o'o'e' """ ''''o'ny'
AN ANrh"'"HNf
made last year to domesticate the wild
bunch grass by sowing the seed on titled
land produced q much taller stalk and
broader leaf than the wild plant ever ex-
nibits.
So far IS the products Of general farm.
nav sum marize the saying that all the
grains, grasses and vegetables that grow
IN the middle belt of the East. fram Kan
,as to New England, flourish
in the Big Bend country. The
,cxt question the inquirer will want ans.
vered is this--is it o fruit country?
There need be no doubt on this point. Very
title fruit Is raised as yet. for the settle
nent of the region is new, but thriving
richards can be seen at Cheney. near
Davenport, near Fort Spokane, at Brents,
md at other points. Apples, plums, crabs,
herries, gooseberries and currents thrive
With no more care than is required in the
east. In the warm, narrow valley of the
Io'uui 'la' peaoSes pS;a u "IoV
my farmer as easily as garden vegetables.
The fact that the whole Big Bend country
,as a GOOD climate for fruit culture ia one