The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-01
THE PALOUSE COUNTRY.
Famous for Its Mighty Yields of
Grain.
Happy Combination Of Healthy Climate
and Fertile Son-101 Bushels Of
Wheat From an Acre.
FARmrSeros, Wash, Dec. IA, 1890.

rARMlNG1ON, WaSn., Dec. Ia, 1881.
Whitman county and the Palouse
country are synonymous terms, the
boundary lines of the former en-
bracing all but small portion of
the latter, the portion excepted being a
part of Latah county, Idaho, lying west of
and contiguous to the Occur d'Alene range
of mountains.
Whitman county is situated in the south
eastern portion of Washington, bordering
on the Idaho line, and has an area Of about
2.l60 square miles, or l, 3s2, 100 acres From
east to west the county extends A miles,
and from north to south an average dis
lance of ~ miles, with Snake river, one of
the tributaries of the mighty Columbia,
for southern boundary. The county was
named in honor of DR.. Marcus Whitman,
the martyred hero who was chiefly
instrumental in saving the great
Northwest to the Union at a time when the
American authorities were on the verge of
conceding the country to England. The
county which bears his name is the most
worthy and enduring monument vet
erected to the memory of this noble man.
whose history has been often widely pub
ished by the Northwest press. Whitman
county was organized by legislative act
November g. 1871, to take effect the follow
ing year. At the time of its organization
Whitman county had 200 inhabitants and
an area of $3.50 square miles. In 1853.
when the population had increased to over
1900, the counties of Adams and Franklin
were created from the western portion of
Whitman, reducing it to its present limits.
SURFACE AND SOIL.
To newcomers from the level prairie re-
gions the surface formation of the Palouse
country, generally described as a rolling
prairie, is sometimes disappointment at
first sight, the succession Of hills and val
leys which compose il forming a rough
yet grand picture when viewed from an
eminence, suggesting to the mind heavy.
rolling sea. But when ii becomes known
that the highest hilltops and slopes pro-
duce equally with the lands in the valleys
or FLATS" and that farm machinery of
every kind is worked upon them with
equal facility, the feeling of disappoint-
ment is dispelled, giving place TO one
wonder at the great resources with which
the country has been endowed by nature
The soil is of volcanic origin. being rich.
dark loan of great depth, everything a clay
suhsoil resting upon a baSaltie formation.
II 10 et akkLhSt huiduitN1 QAFAbi&lEF. never
washes, is free from rocks or gravel. is
easily broken and pulverizes readily. The
soil is impregnated with a sufficient
quantity of slkali to form a natural fertil-
izer, being cultivated year after year
without apparent loss OF any of its produc-
tive qualities. In addition to its other vir-
tues this soil msnifests a determination 10
produce the usual large crops with or with
out moisture from the clouds, inst rs II
happens. All crops are grown without ir.
rigation, and the absence of rain from Nav
until after harvest, which, although not
the rule, Is sometimes the summer record.
does not materially affect the Weld. the
porous soil having happy faculty OF alb
sorbing from the atmosphere sufficient
moisture 10 insure the regular returns for
the hushandman's work. The relative
productiyeness of this soil varies accord.
ing to the nature OF cultivation. With
ordinary care in blowing and sowing the
yield per acre has always been from twenty
20 thirty-l4ve bushels of wheat, ana With q
higher cultivation from forty 10 nfty hush.
els may be obtained, in either case githout
the aid of fertilizers. This year the
yield has been marvellous. SURPRISING
that of even the bountiful seasons of the
past. Sixty bushels of wheat on single
acre have not been infrequent, while 70
90 i0l bushels have been grown, according
70 afiidayits of committees appointed in
various portions of the county, who meas