Page:All Over Oregon and Washington.djvu/179

Rh It is a fact, more or less well established by experience, that the sunflower is anti-miasmatic. It is asserted, on very good authority, that if a hedge of this plant be interposed between the dwelling and the prevailing direction of the wind, or if the dwelling be surrounded by them, that intermittent fevers will not attack the occupants. As the seeds are useful for some purposes, it could be no loss to any one residing in fever-breeding localities to try the effect of cultivating them.

South Salem, a pleasant suburban neighborhood, separated from the city proper only by Mill Creek, is rapidly becoming an important addition to it. Many of the pleasantest homes are located in this neighborhood, which, from being rather more elevated than Salem, is in demand for the beauty of its building sites, and the extent of its river views.

Driving anywhere about Salem is delightful. The roads are naturally good, except in the rainy season. In summer the town-people enjoy excursions to the mountains, for trout-fishing, strawberrying, and the like amusements. It is by no means uncommon for parties to camp out for one or two weeks, either in the mountains or over on the sea-coast. The summer climate being generally rainless, there is no risk in this nomadic sort of life; and people find themselves the better for this intimacy with Nature. Another summer custom is the holding of "basket-meetings," for a week or more, by several of the churches, who have grounds set apart, and the necessary buildings thereon, for these annual gatherings.

The Salem people have two of these camp-grounds, adjoining each other, over the river in Polk County, on the banks of the Rickreal, near its junction with