CHAPTER XXXIII.
ABOUT FARMING, AND OTHER BUSINESS.
The soils of Oregon and Washington have been already frequently mentioned as being a rich, sandy loam in the central valleys; a still richer alluvial, loamy soil in the small valleys of the mountain and coast regions, and a greater proportion of clay on the hills; while the soil of the great rolling prairies is fine and mellow, with considerable alkali in it. We have no intention of expatiating further upon their respective merits; but have thrown together clippings from the papers published in various parts of the country, from which the reader may be able to form an estimate for himself of their productiveness in general:
"Mr. Jake Greazier, of North Yamhill, sowed twenty-one acres of land in wheat, the yield of which was nine hundred and sixty bushels; an average of forty-five and two-thirds bushels to the acre. The yield of his oats was sixty bushels to the acre. We do not claim for all of Oregon as large an average yield as the above; but we do claim this, that when the land is properly farmed the yield will be near the amount above named. To be properly farmed, all wheat should be sown in the fall. In California they are adopting nearly altogether summer fallowing, and find that they are more than repaid in so doing."—Portland Oregonian.
"We 'call' you, Mr. Oregonian. In this county, Mr. Christian Mayer has harvested fifty acres of wheat, which yields sixty-four bushels to the acre; Stephen Brinkerhoff, thirty acres, averaging sixty bushels, and Orley Hull, eighty acres, with an average of forty-six bushels. We, of course, can not vouch for these statements, as we did not see the grain measured, but we take the word of the gentlemen and their neighbors. They are all