The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1879-11-21
APPLES FOR EXPORT.


sively to wheat growing. Much has
been said and written upon the ad-
vantages of variety of crops, and
every intelligent farmer understands
the advantages of the same. But
there is one crop that our Oregon
farmers have become far too careless
with-and that is fruit, especially ap-
pies. In travelling through our state,
visitors are astonished at the dilapi-
dated condition of the orchards.
Trees are moss.grown, unpruned and
uncultivated, and present very rag
ged and uninviting appearance. As
a natural consequence the fruit is of
inferior quality and quantity limited.
There are, however, few of the
farmers of Benton who are waking
up to the Importance of fruit culture,
and their orchards begin to resume
their original taste and thrift. An
important incentive in this direction
is the advantages of ready market
offered in the countieis of Benton,
Linn and Lane, by the formation of
the Corvallis Fruit Company, by
Messrs. Wallis Nash and James
Readman, of this city. These gen
tlemen have purchased the rights of
these three counties for the Plummer
Fruit Driers, and expect, next season,
to ship hundreds of tons of dried
fruit to the London market. They
have ample means, and the energy as
well, to push this enterprise to the
fullest success. Mr.. Geo Sill, an ac-
tive canvasser, is travelling agent of
the company, and will visit every
portion of these counties in tie in
terest of the Plummer Driers. This
is only the beginning of develop
ment Of series of industries, by our
English friends, which, in a few
years, will astonish our Oregon far
mers. Capital, energy, and sound
judgment, will insure "good times :"
in Oregon.
The San francisco Chronicle of the
9Th inst, has the following sensible
article on apple growing, applying
eq1ally to Oregon, since the sore
gon red apples already have a. fine
reputation abroad:
As every good farm should have its or
chard, and as apple treee are the staple in
every good orchard in Central and Northern
California, it will interest most of the Chron-
icle's agricultural readers to know that a
new market is opening for our apples away
off in the southern hemisphere. Better still
is the news that the California apple reaches
even the distant market of Auckland, New
Zealand, in finer condition than that of
the same fruit imported there from the
neighboring island of Tasmania. We make
these statements on the authority of the
Auckland Argus, October llth. Speaking
of the low grade of apples sent thither from
Hobart Town, the Argus congratulates the
New Zealanders upon the fact that Tasmania
has at last found a formidable rival in Cali
brought from San Francisco 600 cases of ap-
pies packed to perfection. We quote for
the encouragement both of the packers and
erchartists here:
Each case is neatly got-up box. machine
planned, and eveay apple in thin tissue paper
and not a mark or flaw to be seen on the
fruit. With regard to the quality of the
fruit, eight houses we visited yesterday each
stated that the last Shipment of California
apples was far superior to any ever received
from Hobart Town. The wholesale price of
California apples is from 81 to A pence,
which is very little more than that paid for
Hobart Town apples, and we shall not be
surprised to see the Hobart Town shippers
completely beaten out of this market.
1t is probable that the New Zealanders
may be able by and by to raise their own
apples, but if the orchardists of this State
and Oregon take proper pains in selection
and shipping they will always have mar
ket in the South Sea Islands for a large part
of their fruit at paying prices, for the rea-
son that this is better country for the ap-
pie than that. England has always been
regarded as a tolerably good climate for the
growth of the apple, yet it is the American
fruit-notably the Rhode Island greening-
which always commands the highest price in
the London market; and we have already
developed varieties in this State superior to
the Rhode Island greening. Among these
may be most prominently ranked the Ales-
sandria, a very large, well-forrned, red
streaked apple, of the finest flavor. About
fifteen years ago an italian gardener and
horticulturist of Santa Clara revisited his
native town, Alessandria, Italy, where this
particular apple is extensively cultivated.
It struck him that the climate of California
was adapted to its perfect development, and
on this thought he imported a number of
young trees. From this beginning the Ales-
sandria apple has spread over several of the
bay counties, and this seasonmany cases of
them were sold in the San@Francisco mar
ket at the highest prices. Like many varie-
ties of imported grapes and pears and cher
ries, the Alessandria applee is found to do
better here than in the country of its natiy-
ity.
The STEAMSHIP DUNcAN.-The Coos Bay
News of the Sth, says: The Duncan still
lies on the beach where she was stranded,
notwithstanding the fact that the interior
papers have removed her to Coos Bay, Cres-
cent City and other ports along the coast.