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

years. This was because 1 summer
Iallowed the land Experience has
proved that on lands not under irriea-
ton one crop every two years is more
profitable than a crop every year, and
results are certain, SO that many farmers
put only half their acreage into wheat
IN any one year cultivating the other
half the succeeding year. The course is
expedient because of the characteristics
of the soil and the insufficient rainfall,
summer following preserving for one
crop nearly all the moisture of two sea-
sons. In time irrigation will take the
place of summer following and the wheat
raising capacity of the state will be more
than doubled, so that he who thus will
enrich himself and the state will be
greater than he who conquers a city"
The markets of the surplus wheat of
Washington lie beyond the seas. An in
considerable amount is ground by local
mills for home consumption, and some
has been shipped east by the rail- The
bulk of the crop is sent to the tide water
OF the Pacific. There considerable -four
is ground for Asiatic markets and the
remaining wheat is shipped principally
to Europe. The cost of transportation,
to tide water has been about 121 cents
per bushel, but competition and public
Glamour and appeal are bringing about
reductions. There is no question but
that the cost of marketing Washington
wheat has been excessive, but that is
matter which is rightlng itself. The in
crease of rail transportation facilities
promises lower charges to tide water
and as the commerce of Washington's
cities on Puget sound, the Columbia
river and other gateways to the open
Pacific enlarges, charter rates will be re-
duced. Is has been the custom in the
expectation of wheat to cause the entire
cargo to be sacked. in view of the fact
that the ship must twice cross the equa-
tor, supposedly endangering he wheat
by heating and changing place or shift
ing. An experiment is now being made
to show that this is an unnecessary ex-
pense in any case, and that there is no
increase in danger when the cargo is
carried in bulk. The Ben Macdhui
sailed June %, 1891, for Havre, France,
with cargo of wheat in bulk A sue
cessful voyage will work revolution in
the method of exporting, and the farm
ers of the state will be largely benefited.
While wheat is the great cereal pro-
duct of Eastern Washington, it is by no
means alone. The conditions which
promise success for the efforts of the
wheat raiser are favorable to the pro-
duction of other grains. Mr. Eldri0ge
Morse in his article for the state board
of trade on tide marsh lands has noted
the wonderful yields of Western Wash
ington. Eastern Washington can also
make most attractive showing. Bar
ley has been found a profitable crop and
the yield is from thirty to fifty bushels
to the acre. Often the yield is much
beyond the latter figure. Oats need
more moisture than wheat, but thew
thrive in lands under irrigation and
higher up in the foot hills where the
is greater. Flax, also, is
destined to be wealth producing crop
for the state, and the abundant water
powers will insure economic pressing of
oil. Washington is not usually looked
upon as corn producing state, though
it does finely in some localities, the
nights being TOO cold in other places.
Planted in summer following land it will
yield from twenty to forty bushels per
acre without cultivation, and in lands
under ditch the yield often exceeds the
larger figure.
The Industrious, honest farmer who
establishes his residence in Washington
will find that he can undertake varied |
pursuits with profit to himself. His
8 lccess will depend entirely upon his
will to succeed, for nature has provided |
more than is usually bestowed any To-
cality. The farmers of Washington are
enterprising men, and the
newcomer who is ready to work shoulder
to shoulder with them is certain of a
warm welcome.