1871. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



187 



fashioned sugar loaf somewhat enlarged. I 

 looked at the moimtaius and then at the rock, 

 and rephed, "aboHt three hundred feet." 

 Imagine my surprise on learning it was three 

 times that height. 



At The Dalles we procured horses, and 

 strapj)ing^ on our blankets, fry-pan, bacon and 

 hard-tack behind our saddles, we entered the 

 ferry boat and were soon across the river in 

 ^Vashington Territory . 



The moyiing was hue, tlie scenery charming. 

 A mile carried us beyond civilization, and ten 

 miles brought us to the foot of Klikatat 

 mountains, a bald ridge, so far as timber is 

 conct'rned, but covered with bunch grass tha,t 

 affords a fine summer range for stock, as there 

 are plenty of springs and creeks of pure wa- 

 ter. The ascent was very steep and we were 

 some two hours in getting over. Ten miles 

 more of ride over a fine rolling county, also 

 covered with bunch-grass, and we struck Klik- 

 atat creek. Here we unsaddled and picketed 

 out our horses to graze, while we su{)plied our 

 inner man with "bacon straight'" and hard- 

 tack (bacon in this country means smoked fat 

 porlc) and then lay dov.-n on our blankets for 

 an hour's rest, with "none to molest or make 

 afraid." Saddling up we crossed the creek, 

 and just at dark rode up to the Block House. 



This is a log bouse or fort built during the 

 Indian troubles of 1855-6, but at present oc- 

 cupied by an Irishman, and used as a stock 

 ranche. ^\'e were welcomed with genuine 

 Irish hospitality, and considerable deference 

 was shown us by our host and several other 

 men who were stopping there for the night. 

 AVe were in doubt a little as to the cause of 

 this, but found out afterwards that they had 

 set us down as a couple of Methodist preacliers . 



Seated around the fire-place that evening, 

 we listcTied to many a wild tale of savage war- 

 fare and legtmds connected with the early set- 

 tlement of tiie country. They call this coun- 

 try settled ; but this was the first house we had 

 come to after leaving the Columbia, and are 

 told it is forty miles to the next house. A 

 Yankee would think there was room for 3ifew 

 more settlers. 



In my next letter I will take you over the 

 mountains, and as there was a battle fought 

 here in 185.3, I will give a few incidents of 

 Indian warfare. G. s. P. 



Yakima, Washington Ter., Jan. IS, 1871. 



VERMONT BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



The followiiig,- outline of operations, so far as 

 relates to agriculture, has been adopted by this 

 Board. 



1. To supplement other organizations for similar 

 objects, in the State, so far as we may do so and 

 preserve our individuality, but to sujiplant nothing. 



2. To co-operate with countj' and town societies 

 and through tliem secure some uniform and sys- 

 tematic plan of work throughout the State. 



3. To suggest to dairymen, farmers, and stock 

 breeders certain. definite experimental problems. 



4. To procure anabases of all fertilizers (natural 

 or artiticial) for sale throughout the State, and 

 publish them in full with their relative and com- 

 mercial values ; and to secure protection against 

 frauds by legislative or other action. 



■5. In accordance with the provisions of the bill, 

 to hold at least one annual meeting, at some cen- 

 tral point iu the State, for the purpose of discussion 

 and the reading of papers. 



6. Under tue auspices of the local societies, and 

 CO operatnig with tiieni, to hold meetings of the 

 board from time to time, iu the various counties, 

 ofjhe same general character as tiie State meetings. 



/. To publish from time to time the mure val- 

 uaiile papers presented, together with statistics 

 collected, and di.^tribute the same among the peo- 

 ple separately or hi the annual report. 



5. That the name of the ofticers of all county 

 and town Agricultural and Horticultural societies, 

 and farmers' or dairymen's clubs, throughout the 

 State, be obniined Ijy the Secretary, thi-ough whom 

 the papers from time to time printed may be dis- 

 tributed. 



The Board was to meet at St. Johnsbury in March, 

 for reading papers, discussions, &c. 



HON. JOSEPH -W. COLBURN. 



The death of this gentleman, which occuiTcd 

 at his residence in Springfield, Vt., February 

 17, has been briefly announced. He was 

 a representative of a class of farmers that we 

 are unwilling to believe is leaving the soil of 

 New England, — a class that, commencing life 

 as laborers, buy farms of their own, and while 

 cultivating the soil find time to cultivafe their, 

 own minds, and at the same time acquire pe- 

 cuniary independence. "Living in a cptiet 

 and unostentatious way," says an intimate 

 friend of Judge Colburn, "there was nothing 

 extraordinary to mark his life." But does not 

 this "quiet life" afford an example and a les- 

 son of encouragement to young men which an 

 "extraordinary" life, however brilliaiit, could 

 never afford.^ 



"His early life," sa)s the Ihitland Herald, 

 "was a severe and laborious one, and he often 

 wished for the neglected and wasted opportu- 

 nities of more favored youths about hhn. 

 With no resource but his industry, energy and 

 economy, he reached the goal he early placed 

 before himself — pecimiary independence and 

 an honorable name." 



Joseph W. Colburn was bom in Claremont, 

 N. H., on the 14th of April, 1800. His parents had 

 been reduced to extreme poverty by misfortunes, 

 before his birth. At the age of ten years he was 

 thrown upon his own resources for a livelihood, 

 and after he was fifteen years of age appropriated 

 all his earnings, excepting those needed for his own 

 board and scanty clothhig, to aid his distressed pa- 

 rents. At tiie age of twenty-two his father died, 

 after which for seventeen years he suppurted, with 

 the assistance of a younger brother, an aged and 

 infirm mother, when she too was gathered with 

 the dead. 



