130 



Oregon farmer are eucoiuaging. The price of wheat has advanced, and the means of 

 moving heavy i^roducts to market have improved. "Wheat was selling in January at 

 §1 a bushel. The export trade of Oregon, consisting mainly of agricultural productions, 

 is steadily growing. During the sixteen months ending October 31, 1870, there were 

 exjiorted to foreign countries, chiefly to British Columbia, flour, grain, provisions, 

 salmon, lumber, &c., amounting in value to .$371,355. A large trade also exists with 

 the Territories north and east of Oregon. The shipments to California largely exceed 

 all other shipments combined. Her people take bread.stufis, oats, butter, eggs, and 

 other provisions, wool, lumber, coal, and fruit, and, together with Washington, Idaho, 

 Montana, and Nevada Territories, and British Columbia, all the live stock Oregon can 

 spare, and more than she ought to spare. For Oregon horses California is the princijial 

 market. 



The indications iu January were that all kinds of stock were passing through the 

 winter in good condition, exce^it in the Umpqua and Kogue River Valleys, Avhere there 

 was a scarcity of grass last summer and autumn, in consequence of prolonged drought. 

 Whiter wheat presented a favorable appearance. Owing to the open winter, jn-eiJara- 

 tions for spring planting were further advanced than usual. 



Of several varieties of wheat received from tlie Department and tested upon his own 

 farm, bur correspondent expresses a preference for the white variety, known as Oregon 

 white winter wheat. The crop of winter wheat which received the first jiremium 

 awarded by the Oregon State Agricultural Society at its fair for 1S7U was of this va- 

 riety. It was raised by Mr. T. W. Davenport, of Marion County, and yielded 912 

 bushels, weighing G3 pounds to the measured bushel, fiom 20 acres — more than 45^1 

 bushels to the acre. Premiums for spring wheat were awarded to Calvin Neal, who 

 raised 31 bushels of Eussian or ninety-days wheat to the acre ; and to James Finlayson, 

 who raised 33 bushels of White Chili to the acre. 



Two extraordinary crops of oats are reported. Joseph Hamilton raised on ten acres 

 of bottom laud, without manure, 820 bushels of winter oats. The land had been under 

 cultivation for twenty-two years. J. H. Eobbins raised on two and a half acres of 

 red hill land 250 bushels of Eussiau oats. 



The following weather record for 1870 was kept by Mr. T. Pearce, of Eola, in lati- 

 tude 44*^ 51', and longitude 123^ 5' : 



Months. 



January . . 

 February . 



March 



April 



May 



June „ 



July...... 



August . . . 

 September 

 October . . . 

 November 

 December . 



