Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1891-07-24
Eastern WashingtUA.

various streams. The land is generally
undulating, rarely abrupt, These
prairies are covered with a rich, nutri-
ftrious grass, called bunch grass, owing
to its peculiar habit of growing in stools
or punches from eight inches to a foot
IN diameter. The soil is from a dark
black or red clay soil, to that of fine
alluvial and warm sandy soil. There is
also considerable whitish, ashy soil.
This last named is generally very dry
soil, and requires irrigation to make it
productive. When water is used plenti-
fully it is the most productive soil in the
state. The eastern part of the state is
known as the "great wheat producing
country" where, IN an ordinary good
crop year, there is produced an average
OF 30 bushels to the acre, some places
yielding as high as 100 bushels to the
acre.
1t is an old saying that ''where wheat
will grow fruit will grow" This proves
true in this state The Walla Walla
valley is veritable paradise for the or
chardist and gardener Apples, pears,
cherries, peaches, plums, prunes, grapes
and melons do exceedingly well here, as
do also all kinds of small fruits. Thous-
ands of bushels of choice fruit are con
sumed and shipped from this valley every
year.
On the land of the two great courses
of the Snake and Columbia rivers are
found hundreds of prosperous fruit
growers. The choicest of peaches are
grown here. Thousands of peach boxes,
IN which to market the crop Of peaches
of 1891, haYe been ordered at the lead
ing box factories of the state. Grapes,
melons, small fruit and apples, pears,
ETC., here find congenial climate and
soil for their growth
The North Yakima valley, as a fruit
producing region is attracting great at
tention. The land requires irrigation to
some extent to make it produce the best.
But for this purpose there Is abundance
of water convenient Hundreds of
thousands of dollars are being expended
each year in the construction of irriga-
ton bitches. Many corporations are
formed to engage extensively III fruit
raising and gardening. The apple
cherry, pear, peach and plum do well
here, and hundreds of carloads of melons
are shipped to the markets in the west
ern part of the state and Oregon annual
ly. Grape growing is also an important
industry, and fine grapes for the table
and for wine are produced. Tobacco is
grown somewhat extensively and at
great profit. Sweet potatoes and pea
nuts are also produced, and all kinds of
small fruits. Corn is good crop.
The section Of country known as the
Palouse valley, which has been conceded
as being the banner wheat producing
country of the northwest, was thought
at first to be too far north to ever become
a good fruit country, and orchardists
living in the Walla Walla and other val
leys consoled themselves with the
thought that they would always have
market in that rich country for their
surplus fruits. But experience has
proved that the Palouse country can
produce an abundance of nearly all kinds
of fruits, and have plenty to spare As
country for gardens, it exceIs others IN
the production of many of the staple
vegetables. Cabbages, onions, beets,
potatoes, etc, grow to an almost in
credible size. But it may properly be
said that the whole of the eastern part of
the state is generally good land for rails
ing the usual garden vegetables.
1t is to be regretted that the various
railroads that traverse the eastern part
of the state, generally speaking, do not
pass through the best producing land
and anyone passing through on the cars
would, from what he witnesses, form an
erroneous impression as to the agricul-
tural and horticultural producing wealth
of this portion of the state.
A couple of young men who we're
looking for work in the Palouse country
came to Pullman from Colfax last
Wednesday evening. AS they came up
on to Main street the scribe heard one of
them remark to the other this Is a big
sight hvlier town than Colfax; guess
we can get a job here" When next
seen they were both hard at work, hay
ing found the desired Job"
Pullman ladies are believers in the
exhilerating exercise of horseback riding.
and every pleasant evening some of them
can be seen cantering down the streets.
It's because of such health giving exer-
else that Pullman's women are the hand
soonest to be found in the state
! The agents of the Union Pacific sys-
tenn are provided with railroad and steam
ship tickets to all points east, as well as
to and from foreign ports.