The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-04-22

No. 6.
Editor NTH Pacific Coast.


Dear Sir: Under the head of selcc-
such brief description as | could of
leading varieties of orchard fruits,
with such general remarks rs thought
would be in some degree interesting
to readers. | must now hasten to Il
ject by treating as briefly rs | can of
the readers notice.
APRICOTs.
The apricot seems to occupy an in
tcrmediate place between the peach
and the plum, having the outside of
the former and the seed of the latter.
1t is most delicious fruit-eXcellent
canned, dried or fresh. Apricots are
raised in great abundance III Calfor-
mia. Their habits are much the same
as the peach. They are known to do
we'll on the Columbia river, and no
doubt, like peaches, with similar and
proper management, can be raised
successfully in most parts of our Ter
ritory. OF the various varieties, the
Moorpark is probably the best. The
Breda, the Peach and the Brussels are
leading varieties.
OUNCES.
The ounce, though not generally
cultivated extensively, is an old and
well known fruit. ''lt is found wild
in Southern Europe, Northern Africa,
and in various parts of Asia" Like
other fruits, it has been improved 10y
cultivation. 1t is hardy, and can be
raised successfully in nearly all parts
of our country, and woald be found to
well repay, in connection with other
fruits, more attention and much more
general cultivation than it now re-
ceives. The impression exist, that a
single tree, stuck in an ont of the way
place, is all sufficient. Ii is true they
will yield some returns under the most
unfavorable circumstances. But it is
doubtful If any tree would better re-
pay Il more generous cultivation. The
ounce is highly popular for ilavoring
other fruits. 1t makes the finest of
jellies, and for that purpose alone
might be proftably cultivated, and
much more generally, than tits. There
are several varieties OF quinces, but
the apple or apple-si'apcd is the only
one generally cultivated.
ask the reader to pardon word of
depression. The interests of WASH
ington Territory graVcly demand Il
more diversified industry. We do not
want fewer, but many more lumber
men, stockmen, grain growers and
mechanics, and with them Il host of
fruit growers. A proper development
of this important industry would ere
ate many happy rural homes, add I'M
mensely TO our population and wealth,
and furnish an agreeable and profit
able occupation for many hands un
used to and incompetent to perform
the more laborious work of ordinary
farming.
France and Germany comprise the
most highly improved, and practi
cally, the finest vine and grape grow
ing country in Europe, or the world;
and California is without Il rival in
the United States, and is said to be
the only place where wine is cheaper
than milk. In August, 1869, II gallon
of ordinary wine brought 30 cents at
Los Angeles, while II gallon of milk
cost 81 cents" Good milk is better
than wine, and hope will always be
cheaper, in Washington Territory.
Grapes succeed in very wide range,
geographically speaking. The grape
producing districts of the Rhine eN-
tended to about 5it degrees north
latitude. This is more than . degrees
north of the mouth of the Columbia
and y degrees further north than the
northern boundary of Washington
Territory. Failure more often implies
II lack of intelligent means than of
suitable natural conditions. Grapes
will yie.d some returns with the most
ordinary management. But as with
other things, industry and skill are
requisite to insure profitable results.
l believe there is much of our Terri
tory where grapes can be raised very
protitably, and even in those portions
not SO well adapted to their production
naturally, there are many favorable
locations no doubt where they may be
grown with gratifying success. The
that any attempt in an article. like
this, to indicate the most desirable,
would be u failure. There are about
2OO kinds cultivated in California.
There, and indeed here, so far as they
have been tried, the foreign and ma
tive varieties succeed equally well.
Among the varieties most popular
with us may be mentioned the Royal
Muscadine, Black July, Hartford Pro-
life, Concord, Isabella, Catawaba and
Delaware.
STRAWBERRIES.
A fruif SO delicious. and easily raised