The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-01-01


over the virgin son and harvest goes
crop the second rear. This Is n great
present advantage 70 the settler on orr
fertsl : grassy plains.
so far. this land appears 20 be adapted
only 70 the production Of small grain The
production OF corn Is only moderate sue
cess IN the southern counties. All root
crops do vel everywhere, bat the cultiva-
ton Of clover. asfalfa and tame grasses for
fodder and pasturags. oxing 10 the absence
OF summer rsins. has not peen success.
1t Is very probsbEe. however, that such
grasses may be discovered snd introduced
the cultivation Of which win remove the
difficulty
The annual amount Of precipitation Is o.
the utmost Importance 70 the farmers %
the TEland ETnpsre. and this is consequently
matter for thorough investigation for
either national or state authorities We
know as general fact that the annual
rainfall Is heaviest ia the surrounding
mountains. being from 80 70 % inches:
that il is from y 70 $ inches where the
umbered slopes merge into grassy table
land: that il steadily iimInishes as ne de-
scend TO the center. and that about fifteen
inches OF rain during the year is the MIN
lures supply. but we do not know
the necessary details and consequently dis
astrons ventures are frequently made BY
settlers from states and countries where
the amount OF precipitation IS not such an
ail-important factor as here The country
should be dotted ali over with observers,
even II they are amateurs. and observe the
amount Of rainfall at least. and thus estah-
ftats
OF settlers. the same IS cur bars and
hsrbeTs lines OF depth are established by
surveyors Tor the guidance OF mariners
Leaving the wheat belt and advancing to-
wards the centre. we enter vast area OF
country where farming without irrigation
Is unsafe, where springs are scarce, but
where the whole country IS covered with
good growth of very nutritious grass.
Until now this has been the paradise OF the
stockgrower. The climate was mild. the
winters usually not severe. the grass at all
seasons abundant pasturage was free and
the assessor generally far away; conse-
quenily the thrush of sheep. cattle and
horses into this vast common was large,
until, like the patriots Of old. the cowboys
began TO elbow each other. the springs
were monepolized and the range eaten out
so that any severe winter threatens to be
disastrous to stocknaeTi.
This land should be disposed of BY lease
or sale in large tracts of several sections
each. The land could then be taxed, bear 3
portion OF the pnbiic burden and in this
way. the grain produce OF the wheat belt
would be enabled TO combine farming sue
cessfallv with stock raising. Any farmer
could have a section or more of this grazing
land; he could inclose il and keen his stock
there until fall TO take il home To his farm
ana keep il there during the winter.
IL seems 70 be the experience Of other
sections recently developed that the adj
vance OF civilization, with its cultivated
lands, planted groves. etc, is followed by
an increase in the annual amount of pTeei-
pitation. II this be a universal law then
the so-called wheat belt must slowly and
steadily broaden as the country is culti-
waited and The area OF land only fit for grsz-
ing must correspondingly decrease.
The center and the western portion of
this basin is composed largely of arid
plains. totally useless unless irrigated. A
large area in the valley of the Yakima
and the lower Waller of the Waila Walla
and UmatilIa can be irrigated at COMPARE
lively little cost. Perhaps. also, that the
waters OF the Snake and the Columbia can
be utilized 10 a limited extent. The irri-
CATION Of these arid. sagebrnsh deserts has
heen begun in earnest. II should and viii
receive al the aid possible from the state
and federal government and il viii not be
many years until thousands of acres Of
bleak, dreary desert in the Yakima and
around PaSco. Waliula and UInasilla will
be converted into 4 very Eden, where the
light. warm, fertile soil, heated by an un-
ciouded sun. and watered from artificial
canals, viii produce grain, vegetables and
traits of superior quality and in enormous
quantities.
HORTICULTURE.
Fruit growing will always be q very inn
portant industry in Washington. Apples,
pears and piums grow with great success in
all parts OF the western division. and on the
agricultural iisnfs and in the timber OF the
eastern division. Formerly il was thought
that the country north and south of Snake
river vas poorly adapted to fruit raising;
now Walla Walla is quite famed for the
abundance and quality Of its fruit. and the
Palouse and Big Bend countries are making
rapid strides in advance. Almost every
farmer now plants al orchard, snd many
are now bearing SO that in few years this
county will have fruits to ship. Peaches
can be grown on the Columbia, on favored
places on the Sound, and after irrigation
has been introduced, on the sage brush
plains Of she center The Crane is confined
10 a still smaller area. but viii yield splendid
results on the banks Of the Columbia and
snake. from Vancouver % British Columbia
and Idaho. There is good reason to kope
that the grape produced on the banks OF
the Columbia. between Cascade locks and
the mouth OF the Snake. and also Of the
lower Yakima valley. will some day earn
an enviable reputation. With the help OF
irrigation the barren lands Of The center are
destined at an early day 10 become oHe
vast fruit orchard. supporting 8 dense
population. The cultivation Of cherries
and prunes Of superior quality is confineti
10 the western division, TO the lower Colum.
hia and the shores Of Puget sound. This
branch Of horticulture Is one OF extraordl-
nary promise.
Besides the peculiar adapiability OF the
largest portion OF cur state 70 successful
farming and fruit growing, | might men,
ton, in conclusion, another fact Of great
iu4uesfanss to these classes, This Is ready
market FOR their products near home The
resources Of oar state are remarkably
varied. The commerce and shipping on
the sound and on the Columbia, the work
ms Of the mines. coal iron and other metals
in the Cascades. the CuEr 4 'Alenes and
in our northern counties. the lumber indus
,ry at the mills and IN the logging camps,
via employ MANY thousands Of families.
Who for their 6aIiy supply ct proF1ssoass
aiFf 30 6euanSeyat ugun our farmers. a