Jasper County Democrat, Volume 10, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 August 1907 — ORCHARD LAND. [ARTICLE]

ORCHARD LAND.

The prospective fruit grower will appreciate a few remarks In regard to the price of fruit land In Oregon, the prices of the various fruits and the adaptability of our state to growing the different kinds. We think at the present time there Is hardly 5 p«c cent of the suitable land In Oregon In use for raising fruit. The tabulation of the fruit districts and the fruits that do well in them will throw light on this subject, but the world must know that more fruit land is lying idle In this state, particularly in the Willamette valley. Moat all of our foothills could be successfully put in cultivation, and upon a suitable subsoil the apple, pear, peach and grapes will grow to perfection. The Hood and Rogue river valleys have become famous, and the Willamette valley will be second to none when her people wake up and Improve the splendid opportunities which He before them. In Large Tracts. The land here in large tracts which is producing goat pasture and selling at the present time from S2O to SSO per acre should be put into suitable fruit and be worth from five to twelve hundred‘dollars per acre. There is nothing worth while in this world which does not cost an effort. There are difficulties incidental to all progress, and the fruit grower must be determined to meet and overcome them. The success of a man is usually determined by himself, and If the right spirited tiller takes charge of our soil it will undoubtedly do its part in return. Bome Profits and Yields. We may here give to some advantage the profits and yields of some of our leading horticulturists of the state. In southern Oregon there are thirtylive Acres of Spitsenberg apple trees fifteen years of age which bore from thirty-five to thirty-seven boxes of three and one-half tier apples per tree. The net receipts of this crop was some better than SB,OOO. On another farm in the same vicinity an acre and onehalf produced 1,200 boxes of apples which sold for $2 per box, making a profit of $1,520. A carload oTsouthern Oregon pears sold last winter In the east as high as $3,000. The Hood River Apple Growers’ union sold its apples this year a little better than $3 per box. It must be well understood that the fruit is first class, and made ■o by proper management. Oregon Experiment Station.