The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-06-11
WALLA WALLA WHEAT CROP
Prospects In the valley Indicate n
Bountiful Harvest. Hot Winds Now
Being the Only Danger.

Special Dispatch 20 the Pcst-Iuie.ligencer-
WALLA WALLA, June l0.-Tae week
just closing mas been a very good enc Tor
the crops in the valley Of the Walla NallA,
aad general satisfaction Is expressed at the
condition OF grain and fruit from one end
OF the valley to The other. For 80 early
In the season prospects were seldom. II
ever. as bright as they are today. Thou
sands Of acres OF beautiful growing gain
cover the thousands Of Hills and fer SCORES
OF miles in any direction can be seen ne
most promising outlook for bOunuful crops
which one could wish for. One Of nature
most favored spots az all times IS the
wheat belt Of Southeastern Washington,
but seldom has the prospect been as bright
as at this time
To the south OF this city the season Is
much earlier than at airy other point. and
wheat ia now turning color considerably.
The crop is strong and me heads are he
ing filled out Nell with every Indication
grain will be ready FOR the binder, but
little more time Will be needed before
headers can be started.
In the vicinity OF this city the season IS
not 80 far advanced but conditions are
equally bright and encouraging. The most
OF the land Is Sown 20 fan grain and IL is
Just now passing from the dough state. and
the heads are forming ,ull and large. The
straw is unusually heavy end grown high
er than is usually expected Many Aelts
can he found which are high as a mans
head, standing very thick on the ground
Not In many years has the straw gotten
such Il growth a. n this time. The raois
been made without damage TO the berry
in case of warm and dry weather later on.
There II 50 much vitality In the straw that
an ordinary not season win not dry cut
the stalks AMI prevent the berry from
forming and developing properly. This rs
the condition all over the valley, with
few minor exceptions
Rust. new pest has appeared in some
ploces and for q time fears wera enter
tanned that it would do r,uch damage. In
the vicinity or Matsburg the rus. has
shown mp the most, while up the Tcpcnet
further. near Dayton. some fields have
been affected largely. but the damage has
not been detected vet. In the loW birds
near Waitsburg great fields are turning
red and the leaves are showing every in
dication OF heing dead except that hey
do not fall of the straw Fields begin 20
look ripe aud ready for the header when
on Investigation the straw 10 found - h.
strong and Vigorous "a could he desired.
The damage from rust IL entirely in the
loss ~ the leaves 40 far, but In case OF
hot winds hts may help 70 dry nut the
lana ana destroy the vitality ~ the grain
before the berry is fully developed That
Is the only real damage anticipated now
Harvest will be several DAYS earlier this
season than generally occurs and every
one Is preparing for the emergency.
For several years the disposition among
the farmers has been to hold wheat for
higher prices and as result there are
hundreds Of thousands Of bushels he'll In
the warehouses Of the valley But few
houses are or will be empty when the new
crop Is ready for delivery. and many -
tHfn VIII ne naF INtL ms tact IS r1ue-
ing some uneasiness and new hOuses are
being planned 70 hold part OF the new
crop. OF late several good sized sales have
occurred and many thousands Of buahe
are being shipped out to make room for mo
coming crop In case the price on the
opening market he near % cents II Is gem
orally thought that most OF the crop VIII
he sold and bur few men viii hold FOR
higher prices. This fact will likely bring
about a cCngestesl condition rciativ. to
cars and n blockade may result Many
farmers say they will sell right from the
thrcsher II prices seem fair
The vegetable crop has been very large
and profitable in this section. dozens ~
cars having ben shipped 10 Montana and
Eastern Washington points. Considerable
or this class or produce has Also found It's
way over the mountains 20 Seattle and
Tacoma. The strawberry crop which l.
now about harvested. has not proved. large
on account ot the excessive rains and cold
weather THIS peculiar climatic condition
On rnilrh 20 reduce the quantity and quail
Is ~ the crop. In apples pruues cherries
pears ana neAohes the prospects are most
Hatt"ring. The trees are l1aded even now
when "a" fruit ts small and ineignta unit
Ia weight aud prospects for a great Weld
Wer. never bette MaNv Of the orchards
are large and well cared <ar 500 tho cron
.1ls YEAR VII amount TO \ good sum 10
the o"nfFS So far the prices flr small
fruits ana VEGETABLES have ranged ride
higher tnan ordinarily Stranr. a. ~ may
seem this ci;v has iot a canne-v 10 hanAls
the surplus fruits AMI youFf4 blo.