The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-01

| ured the land. watched the grain cut and
| threshed, and measured the grain secured.
| There are lands in Whitman county which
| have been producing annually since the
1 settlement of the Palouse country from
| thirty to forty bushels Of wheat per acre,
| and vet show no signs Of wearying In the
| good work. In its natural state the land
| is covered with heavy growth Of bunch
/ grass, upon which stock thrive at all sea-
| sons. Such Is the character Of the soil in
| the eastern and central portions of the
| county, that in the western part being
| lighter, with a strong irnpregnation of al
kali, and better adapted to grazing, to
which il is as yet principally devoted. Ag-
riculture. the chief industry of the Palouse
country, is constantly growing in impor-
lance, and these lands must eventually
command much higher prices than the $l5
10 so per acre, at which they are now
held. The unsurpassed productiveness OF
the country has brought railroads and
other evidences Of civilization.
PRODUCTS AND YIELDS.
A happy combination of climate and soil
has made the Palouse country grain-pro-
ducing region unrivaled by any in the
world-a vast natural field and garden
country are wheat, oats, barley, rye, iax.
buckwheat, hay, vegetables of all kinds,
and nearly every variety of fruit, both
large and small Wheat is the staple and
principal production, yielding from thirty
TO forty bushels per acre, and weighing
from five 70 nine pounds more than the
standard bushel of sixty pounds. Oats and
barley rank next to wheat, averaging from
&s.S 81 of1
exceeding the weight of the standard
bushel. Barley is a very profitable crop,
commanding high price in Eastern mar
kets because of its high value for brewing
purposes. The other cereals are success
fully raised and yield abundantly, hax be-
ing particularly good and remunerative
crop. 1t is not necessary TO cut the grain
here as soon as it is ripe, it having been
known to stand for weeks without Smelling,
lodging or being otherwise injured. Grasses
Of various kinds grow luxuriantly, timothy
being the staple for hay, many fields
attaining height of six feet, with a
good stand. Glover, bluegrass and alfalfa
flourish as if they were indigenous
to the soil. The native grass, called
''bunchgrass," grows in tufts or punches
(hence its name), twelve to eighteen inches
high. 1t is highly nutritious, cures in the
stalk and retains its original nutriment
until the new crop appears. Vegetables of
every kind are produced in the greatest
profusion in every farmers garden, with
little attention. They are unexceptional
in yield, quality and iavor, and always of
proportions astonishing to all who first
behold them.
FRUIT GROWING.
Fruit culture is still practically in its in
fancy in this region, yet the adaptation of
the soil and climate to this branch of pro-
duction has been amply demonstrated by
the successful raising of nearly all fruits
grown in the temperate zone. Apples,
pears, plums, peaches, cherries, grapes.
prunes, apricots, and berries of all kinds
and fine flavor, grow to perfection,
and prove great source of
profit, the demand for shipment constantly
increasing. A failure of any crop is rare.
Orchards come forward rapidly and trees
commence bearing at very early age. For
quite number of years after the first set
Element many fruit trees were planted and
but few succeeded, owing to the inexpe-
rience of the planters. But now it has
been demonstrated that there is scarcely
single quarter section of Palouse country
land that will not produce in great profu-
sion, and with certainty, the harder vari-
cites. This has been amply proven by the
exhibits, not only at the county fairs, but
at the recent Spokane exposition, where
the wonderful display excited the greatest
admiration from the observant visitors
from every state.
In the whole upland region large and
small fruits attain a perfection scarcely
equalled anywhere, and which should and
will encourage the landowners to turn
their attention to their culture more and
more in the future and make this region
the garden and orchard it should be. The
strawberry, though ripening late, is of fine
size and exquisite flavor. Currants and
gooseberries are everywhere abundant and
excellent, while all varieties of the rasp-
berry and blackberry cannot be excelled.
An adventurous individual on a Snake
river bar first planted few peach trees.
They grew and prospered until his example
became contagious. Today there are hun
dreds of acres along the banks of that river
devoted exclusively to the raising of the
tender varieties of fruits, as well as of for
eign varieties of the grape; so that, at this
time, it may be safely asserted that the
Palouse country will produce all of the
hardy varieties, and many of the tender
ones as well.
Along the foothills in all the eastern
portion Of the country the certainty with
with apples, pears, plums and prunes are
produced, as well as the great fruitfulness
of the trees, is destined. in the near future
to make the growing and drying of these
varieties one Of the leading industries of
the country. The increased facilities of
recent years in transportation of the pro-
ducts of the fruitful orchards of the
Palouse to the markets of the Puget sound
region, the East and the nearby mines,
has stimulated and viii still further en-
courage the fruit industry in country
with such great possibilities.
HAY AND GENERAL PRODUCE.
Not until recently have the markets for
hay and general farm produce been of a
character to justify the production of but
| little more than sufficient to supply the
| local demand. This year hay dealers from
| the Sound have camped in the Palouse
country and bought up all the crop they
could lay hands on. One firm has estab-
lished general purchasing headquarters
| at Pennington, in the best timothy dis
/ trict, which viii be permanent, and the
| outlook for disposal of this commodity in
| future is bright. Dealers from everywhere
| have nled their orders for produce, which
| has at all times been salable at good prices.
| Ii would seem that they have but this year
| learned the merits of the Palouse as a
| produce supply region. This is a feature
| of the country's business which will grow.
and one which will draw a large amount
Of wealth. The country's capacity of sup