Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 2.djvu/210

194 Sprengel), which we first saw at Grasshopper Creek, but which disappeared as we progressed and then spread before us again, forming the general carpet of grass to the exclusion of almost every other kind. This Missouri wheat is a famous grass for fodder, but having the same creeping root as the common quick-grass, it is so far unfit for cultivation, as it could certainly not be extirpated again. It has a bluish shade, varying its native green slightly; begins to grow when the snow melts in the spring, and is remarked for growing slower than almost anj r other species of grass, until the season of snow returning again. This growth prevails for leagues along the broad valley of the Platte.

Major Harris, the same "Black Harris," who has been mentioned among our mountain sketches, and a famous old traveler, is now at Independence, preparing for a great expedition to Oregon next spring. He is connected with Major Adams, who gives some excellent advice to emigrants wishing to join them. Major Adams says that notwithstanding "large bodies move slow," he can easily move his expedition even to the shores of the Pacific, in four months. The distances are nearly as subjoined:

Every man should be provided at least with a good rifle, six pounds of powder and twelve pounds of lead. The best size bore for a rifle is forty to the pound. This size will easily kill buffalo, but a smaller calibre will be better suited for the game west of the mountains. Each person should have at least one hundred and forty pounds bacon, one hundred and fifty pounds flour, ten pounds salt, twenty pounds coffee, twenty pounds sugar. It would do well for several persons to constitute a mess, each mess to be provided with a small tent and cooking utensils. Mules are much better to endure this trip than horses, though a horse is very useful in running buffalo. A horse, to be of use in hunting, might be kept for that express purpose.

The proceedings of the senate on Thursday, twenty-eighth ultimo, were of very inconsiderable interest. Some memorials were presented. Mr. Atcheson's Oregon bill was read and referred, and a short executive session was held.