Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1905-03-21
BENTON COUNTY.
AS Written Up by the Pacific
Homestead Man-Facts of
Great Interest.

IF there is any section of that
garden spot of the Northwest,
the Willamette Valley, that de-
serves special mention it is Ben
ton county.
Situated as it is with its "a, 900
acres in the very heart of the
valley, embracing every desir-
able feature of soil and climatic
conditions, its mild equitable eli
mate, free from extremes, being
especially note worthy. The hui
midity in the winter warps the
country within its folds, warding|
off its injurious frosts, while the
breath of the tropics waited along
the coast by the Japan current en-
ables the residents of this favor
ed section to enjoy the fragrance
of ever-blooming roses and to la
Dor in open air the whole winter
> through. The prevailing winds
here come. from the south and
southwest and there are practical
ly no hard winds. There is no
oppressive summer heat, no sun
stroke, 10 sweltering, restless
nights; for no matter how warm
may be the day, the evening
brings with it the pleasant, in
vigorating breezes of the sea.
While the East is wrapped in the
relentless embrace of the biz
zard, or gasping for air during
the long summer nights, Benton
county sees its citizens working
in the fields, planting for the
coming harvest, or gathering the
golden grain, sure OF a cool, re
freshing nights rest after the
days work is over.
Not only this, but it is favored
with every variety of soil to be
: found in. the Northwest, from the
deep sandy loan of the river bot.
toms, the black and lighter color
] ed alluvial soils of the valleys,
to the red soils of the uplands.
These soils produce every variety
of cereal known-wheat, barley,
rye, speltz, vetch, clover, fax,
and oats, yielding from 20 to Ioe
bushels to the acre, according Il
the soil.
While the uplands do not yielt
SO bountifully of cereals. they ar,
excellent lands for pastures 70
all kinds of stock, aboundin,
with many springs, abundan
with grass, and with oak and asl
timber. These uplands are tn
natural home of goats and sheep
in fact, some of the finest flock
of Angoras in the United State
are to be found on these uplan
pastures.
; Not only does Benton count
produce over 1000, 600 bushel
= of grains and thousands of ton
of hay, but the fame of the coun
ty as hop-growing section is be
coming worldwide, a yield (
1900 pounds per acre being con
mon, and, taking into conside,
alton the fact that the averag
price Of hops for the last fy
years has been from 10 to 4
cents per pound, it can readily I
seen that the labor of the hol
grower is not without reward.
Potatoes grow to perfectio
here, yielding from 800 to s.
bushels per acre, and the price
late has been very good. II
labor of cultiyating has been r
duced to a minimum, as there a
no potato bugs for the growers
contend with.
Beans, peas cabbage and 9
other vegetables do exceeding
well, and beets, mangles, carrot
- tarnips, parsnips much grown
stock, yield from 20 to o.to
per acre.
Everywhere in the county c;
be found trees and vines bendi,
beneath weight Of luscious fri
of every description, and, thou,
the fruit industry in Benton cou
ty is as yet not fully deve1ope
the apples, prunes, etc., owing
their general excellence, find rea
sale in the markets of EuroT
the eastern part Of the Unit
States, China, Japan and Mexit
Dairying, while yet in its
fancy in this county, is sure
become a great industry in |
near future. for owing to the c,