Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1891-09-04
The Raising Of Wheat.

high an authority as DR.. N. g. Blalock,
OF Walla Walla, president and executive
commissioner of the Washington Worlds
fair commission. DR.. Blalock gives
some OF the results of his years of sue
cess in wheat growing. This years
crop he estimates at from 100000
to 100000 bushels. The average
yield per acre for 1890 he puts at %. 5
bushels, though yields of from forty to
sixty bushels are common. In closing
he touches on the other grain crops of
the state. The bulletin follows:
1nasmuch as the Washington farmer
engaged in raising wheat has all the
year to seed and all tho year to harvest
he can cultivate an area which would
require the labor of ten men IN the
harvest fields of the east This, in con-
nection with the high average yield per
acre, permits the industry to be pursued
with great profit. 1t also admits of a
surprising volume of production in pre-
portion to the extent of rural population
In view of the great capabilities OF
the soil for the production of cereals.
aud in view Of the fact that only small
part Of the agricultural lands of the
state is under the pillow, none can esti-
mate with any degree of accuracy the
wealth bringing possibilities of the
state of Washington in this direction,
though experience has demonstrated
that the wheat fields are certain to yield
to the state annually many millions OF
clear profits. There has been much DIFF
ticulty in obtaining reliable statistics
concerning the wheat crop of the state
Washington has been accredited com
monty with having produced 21,000,00O
bushels of wheat in 1890, but these fig
ures are an exaggeration. The secretary
OF the state board of trade collected fig
ures showing The yield, aside from tn,
amount held for seeding, to have beer
in the neighborhood of 100000 bush
els. Figures collected by the secretary
of the Spokane chamber of commerce
were but slightly in excess of this.
endeavored to obtain the exact amount
OF the yield, and, considering the amount
held by producers for seeding, have
reached the conclusion that the crop of
1890 is properly estimated at from 49,
100000 to 100000 bushels. The
crop Of 1891 is about the same in amount
Wheat is produced both in western
and eastern Washington, but the east
ern part Of the state contains the great
belts that yield for the export trade
Three distinct districts contend for the
palm OF superiority. One Of these is
known as the Big Bend country. This
is located in the geographical centre OF
the state, and derives its name from the
eccentric course of the Columbia river,
as it forms the northern, western and
partially the southern boundaries of
Douglas county. The soil and climate
are finely adapted to the production of
all cereals, and success has attended
every effort of the farmer. While there
has been large immigration to this
district during the years 1890 aud 1891,
production has not been carried on to a
1.-THE Of the limits of the capabilities of
the district. This is entirely owing to
the absence Of ready means of transpor-
tstion. The railroads had neglected one
of the richest portions of the state
Now two or three lines are being pushed
into these cereal fields and the progress
OF development before long will be I'M
impeded. Another district, and the one
which has produced the greater volume
OF the wheat crop of the state, is the Pa
louise valley. The Palouse is a tributary
Of the Snake river, and with its branches
drain almost all of Whitman county,
whose yearly yield of wheat is from T.
100000 to 100000 bushels. Garfield
and Columbia counties, in proportion to
their size, show the same capabilities of
production. South of the Palouse val
ley is the third wheat belt, known as the
Wslla Walla valley, much of which has
been under cultivation for many years
without the slightest exhaustion of
the soil. These three districts have
much in common in climatic conditions
and in the character of their soil, so tina
what may be said of one would apply to
the others.
The wheat raising soil of eastern
Washington is like that Of Italy, which
for q thousand years and more has been
obedient to the husbandman. Washing
ton soil is in like manner inexhaustible.
For forty years some tracts have yielded
annually forty bushels of wheat to the
acre and no compost has been used
The soil is from ten to one hundred feet
in depth, and contains those salts and
silicates essential to the profitable cult
vst;on of cereals. It is sedimentary
deposit, evidently of volcanic origin, as
it is made up of sandy loan, disin-
tesrated basalt and ash. 1t is quite
norous. readily drinking In moisture
:. raodad and allow |