East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1909-04-12
(By Lyman II. Cohen in the Portland
Journal.)

and washington will produce be-
tween 10000, 900 and 7O,OO0OOO BUSH
els of wheat during the present year
providing nothing extraordinary In
the way of damage occurs.
From information received by The
Journal from correspondents scatter
ed throughout every section Of the in
land empire and the Willamette valley
as well as from advances received
by millers and exporters who have
kindly given free access to their re-
ports. It can be definitely estimated
that the three states of the north Pa
clfic coast have 10 per cent more
wheat acreage for the 1909 crop than
during 1908. Some interests place
the Increase at 10 per cent while
others say 10 per cent over a year
ago.
II can be definitely stated likewise
that the Pacific northwest has bet
ter growing wheat crop at this time
than ever before in its history for this
time of year. Weather conditions
during the winter were almost ideal
for the crop. Practically no wheat
was frozen out in the interior. con-
dltlon seldom noted for all sections.
Then again the crop was given
most excellent start and continued to
grow during most Of the winter.
The opening Of the spring season
found the fall wheat to be well stooled
with most excellent color shown
everywhere.
More Blustem Is Sown.
Perhaps the heaviest increase In the
wheat acreage OF the three states this
season is noted in one particular grade
-bluestem. The enormous premium
paid for this variety during the past
season has stimulated the growing OF
the variety TO a great extent. Had
Il not been for the great scarcity OF
bluestem seed It is quite likely that a
much greater increase in the planting
would have been shown. While the
sowing of bluestem was increased to
a great extent there was good SOW
ing for that old time standard-Walla
Walla club-and even Red Russian
planting is greater than year ago.
Some sections OF the Pacific north
west are now adapted to the grow
ing OF bluestem because of the rather
high winds. Bluestem skaters con-
slderably more than other grades and
even with the big premiums gener-
ally paid, is not as profitable a crop
l.. n1t haPQIlgn
latter will grow anywhere In this Sec
ton Of the country.
Most of the increase OF Oregon
Washington and Idaho's wheat
acreage this year was of fall or VIM
ter planting. For several seasons the
spring wheat has not done well as the
winter variety because of the defici-
ency in rainfall and this has forced
many to change their time of SOW
ing. Nevertheless the spring plant
ing. II anything Is n fraction greater
than a year ago owing to the planting
of new ground condition due at
this particular time to the very high
price The fact that number OF
contracts were recently written at in
terror Oregon Washington points for
the coming crop at 81 a bushel, the
highest price contracts have ever
been written for in the Pacific north
west has stimulated the acreage OF
spring wheat to a considerable ex-
tent.
No vcrmin Reported In Fields.
one remarkable condition noted
generally throughout the Pacific
northwest at this time is the great
absence of vermin of any variety in
the fields. Bugs Of some character
generally make their appearance In
some section ere this and the absence
thus far of the grain destroyers
seems to argue well for the coming
growth.
To Portland the promise of a rec
ord breaking crop in the Pacific
northwest while the rest of the coun-
try is said to show shortened pros
poets, means much more than ordi-
nary for this year Portland Is going |
to handle most of the wheat grown
III the three states this being the in
ItHllun VI lIlt anu VI ~ - |
Hill because when he built the North |
Bank line directly into this city and |
erected along Portand's waterfront |
concrete grain warehouse holding
more grain when filled than any other
warehouse on the Pacific coast. |
Several other warehouses to hold the
increasing grain receipts here are to
be built. chief among them being that
for the Farmers union and the one |
for Campbell, Sanford & Henley Co.
VIII Increase Flour Output Too.
Then again millers are noting the |
writing on the wall and are looking |
to Portland as a locating center. The
recent deal of the Columbia Milling |
company of this city in which control
is said to have passed to Morritz
Thomson of Seattle, indicates that the |
big operator from Puget sound In
tends to make this city his headquar-
ters. A new mill is said to be plann-
ed and this with the one operated by |
the Portland FIGURING Mills company
the largest on the Pacific coast, will |
give this city quite respectable
showing in flour output.