25 



agriculture will aid mucli in the development of the mineral resources of tlie 

 Territory. 



OREGON. 



Our returns from this State are too far back in the season to speak of its 

 harvests, and our correspondence too limited to present such a view of the 

 peculiarities of the season as would convey even the remotest idea of what 

 its crops may now be. From Columbia county, in the northern portion of the 

 State, we have the following account of the winter and spring, which is interest- 

 ing as showing the vicissitudes of a climate so unlike our own : 



" We have had," says our correspondent, " a very open winter, snow lying on 

 the ground but four or five days. Heavy frosts in February and March, doing 

 much damage to our fruit crop. I have heard of very few fruit trees being 

 killed. Our fruit crop will come far short of last year. The peach crop 

 entirely killed. Very few grapes cultivated ; the vine grows well, but the 

 fruit does not ripen. We have had no rain since April 1, which is unusual in 

 Oregon, especially at this time of the season (June 1,) Ave generally have 

 abundance. Unless we have some rain soon, our crops will fall short at least 

 one-half. May 6 and 20, very heavy frosts, wilting the leaves and tender 

 shoots of the hazel, and killing the potato vines. Timothy grass does exceed- 

 ingly well, our average crop being from three to four tons per acre." 



In Jackson county, one of the most southern in the State, a continued drought 

 prevailed during the months of June and July. The corn and grass crops 

 were consec[ueutly not over a half crop. 



THE CEOPS OF 1664, 



The first of the following tables shows the amount of and injuries to the crops 

 of 1864, as returned to this Department by its correspondents, and stated in 

 tenths. 



The second exhibits the amount of the most important of these crops reduced 

 to bushels, &c., from the first of these tables. It shows, too, the crops for the 

 years 1^62 and 1863, that a comparison may be made between them. 



