334 NISQUALLY AND COLUMBIA RIVER. 



acre; buckwheat, in some seasons, gives a good crop, but it is by no 

 means certain, owing to the early frosts; oats do not thrive well; 

 peas, beans, and potatoes yield abundantly ; little or no hay is made, 

 the cattle being able to feed all the year round on the natural hay, 

 which they find very nutritious, and fatten upon it. The grass grows 

 up rapidly in the beginning of summer; and the subsequent heat and 

 drought convert it into hay, in which all the juices are preserved. 

 Besides this, they have on the prairies along the river, two luxu- 

 riant growths of grass ; the first in the spring, and the second soon 

 after the overflowing of the river subsides, which is generally in July 

 and August. The last crop lasts the remainder of the season. Neither 

 do they require shelter, although they are penned in at night. The 

 pens are movable; and the use of them is not only for security against 

 the wolves, but to manure the ground. 



The farm at Vancouver is about nine miles square. On this they 

 have two dairies, and milk upwards of one hundred cows. There are 

 also two other dairies, situated on Wapauto Island on the Willamette, 

 where they have one hundred and fifty cows, whose milk is employed, 

 under the direction of imported dairymen, in making butter and cheese 

 for the Russian settlements. 



They have likewise a grist and saw mill, both well constructed, 

 about six miles above Vancouver, on the Columbia river. 



One afternoon we rode with Mr. Douglass to visit the dairy-farm, 

 which lies to the west of Vancover, on the Callepuya. This was one 

 of the most beautiful rides I had yet taken, through fine prairies, 

 adorned with large oaks, ash, and pines. The large herds of cattle 

 feeding and reposing under the trees, gave an air of civilization- to the 

 scene, that is the only thing wanting in the other parts of the territory. 

 The water was quite high; and many of the little knolls were sur- 

 rounded by it, which had the appearance of small islets breaking the 

 wide expanse of overflowing water. 



This dairy is removed every year, which is found advantageous to 

 the ground, and affords the cattle better pasturage. The stock on the 

 Vancouver farm is about three thousand head of cattle, two thousand 

 five hundred sheep, and about three hundred brood mares. 



At the dairy, we were regaled with most excellent milk ; and found 

 the whole establishment well managed by a Canadian and his wife. 

 They churn in barrel-machines, of which there are several. All the 

 cattle look extremely well, and are rapidly increasing in numbers. 

 The cows give milk at the age of eighteen months. Those of the Cali- 

 fornia breed give a very small quantity of milk ; but when crossed 

 with those from the United States and England, do very well. I 



