Union gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1899-1900, 1899-08-25
THIRTY YEARS Ago.
Not Since That Time Have Oregon Far.
mers Had Such Conditions to Contend


merS Had Such Conditions to Contend
With.
The unusual summer rain that has
just passed is unprecedented for at least a
period of % years in the history of Ore
gon. A great many of our old pioneers
and Oregonians tell of a time about 80
years ago when there was large Au-
gust rain-so much in fact that the
standing grain, that which was cut and
all that was exposed to the weather was
totally ruined. The rain fell for
weeks, not steadily but at intervals, and
during the intermissions the grain was
taken from the fields and hauled to the
warehouses, barns, sheds and any
place where shelter could be found.
Here it was stirred and stirred by the
anxious farmer during the many long,
weary days while the little rain drops
pattered on the roof or beat tattoo on
the window-pane.
That was thirty years ago and prob
ably Oregon has been all these years in
getting her climatic condition the same
as it was then. She evidently did it and
the present rain was the result. The
records of the state weather bureau cover
a period of 20 years, and those records
fail to show any weather even approxi-
mating that which has prevailed this
month, which proves that such spells
are only spasmodic with Webfoot at this
time of the season. In August, 1896,
rain fell from the LIST to the 9th, but it
was followed by warm, clear weather;
in 1891 rain fell on the 18th and 14th and
again from the 26th to the end of the
month in 1879 rain fell from the Goth
to 28th inclusive. These are the only
years on record having any unusual
weather, hence this year is an uEprece-
dented one. Since the rains began on
the 9th from l to inches of rain has
fallen.
Harvesting fall sown grain is prac-
tically at stand still. Reports vary as
to damage to the shocked wheat. Tele-
grapic reports received today state that
sprouting has commenced in the shocked
wheat and also la that which is yet
uncut. No serious or general damage
has yet occurred, though should current
conditions continue. which is not prob
able, much damage will result. The
fall-sown grain is all ready to be cut, and
the rains have caused it to fall and
lodge, Some loss will result, no matter
how soon fair weather again sets in.
The rains have been of great benefit to
spring g-sown grain, and especially to that
which was late sown. Within week
after fair, warm weather sets in, the
spring gram will be ready to harvest
The rains have put the soil in good con-
dititlon and plowing has already COM
menced.
Grass which had commenced to dry
up, has been revived, making the second
crop of clover as promising as the first
crop turned out to be.
Potatoes have an excellent growth and
large crop appears to be assured. Gar
den produce of all kinds has been great
| ly benefited by the rains and good gar
den crops are assured. The onion crop
of Washington county is superior to that
of former years.
Hop growers report their hops in better
condition than ever before. There are
fewer lice than for years. The vines are
clean and healthy and are we'll filled
with burrs or cones, The rains have in
creased the size of the burrs, so that un-
less adverse conditions prevail, an extra
good clean hop crop will be secured,
Lice are fewer than they were one week
ago.
Peaches are ripening in the southern
counties. Watermelons. apples and
pears are slowly ripening. The rains
have cracked few plums. The prunes
are reported to be of better size and of
more marketable appea rance than usual.