Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1882-10-07
FRUIT CELF&RE.


exception, superior to any other, and
surpasses in flavor AID abundance,
that raised in the Eastern States.
The apples Of Puget Sound cannot
be eQualled anywhere on the coast,
California not excepted. Fruit
growing so far here is in its infancy,
but as the time advances it will
grow with prodigious strides and
soon rank first in the agricultural
industry on the islands of this
country. Following will be found
an interesting communication from
an intelligent correspondent upon
the subject:
EDITORS ENTERPRISE Having in
a former article expressed the con-
viction That the islands Of the lower
Sound will become great summer
resort, | propose now, with your
permission, to give some of the
reasons for believing that they are
to become noted as a fruit-growing
section. Although anticipated in
some things by your Orcas Island
correspondent, | may add some facts
that will be interesting, and would
say here, that what Vidi says about
the fruit of Orcas will apply to all
the islands as well. 1t is true too
as he says that many people claim
that the frnit grown upon the is
lands possesses a peculiar ex-
cellence and has a flavor all it's
own. In saying this | would not
detract from the we'll earned re-
putation, all portions of Western
Washington have acquired for the
excellence of it's fruit. Whatever
there may be, that is peculiar In the
flavor OF our fruit, is no doubt
owing to the volcanic properties in
the soil. and the geographical posi-
ton of the island, influencing con-
ditions of climate favorable to the
perfect development. Be this as it
may, | know from personal eE-
pefience, that the fruit Of the is
lands is very crisp, juicy and de-
lious. This being sufficient for my
purpose, l will mention some other
reasons that ! think will lead to
fruit raising. The first, and prob>
ably Of the most Importance, is the
advantages they possess for ships
ment, and transportation OF fruit,
not only to our own but to all
foreign markets. Surrounded as
they are by water, and approach,
nble at all points by craft suitab BILE
for the purpose, fruit can be shipped
from the lands fronting on the
water direct from the orchard or
garden. And that too, by one of
the best possible modes, water car
riage. Even those living inland,
wDRld have but short distance by
land carriage. An other reason is
that in consequence of the broken
character Of large portion of the
islands, they are or will be better
adapted to that class of production
than for any other. 1t is true we
have many farms, in fact large
neighborhoods where all the land
is suitable for cultivation, and
where general farming can be
probably engaged in, and it equal
~ true that the larger portion
would only afford small tracts, but
plenty large enough for good
orchard. The preservative quail
ties OF our climate, too, viii. be an
other incentive for people to engage
in this business. In this probably
Puget Sound is not excelled by
any other locality in the world.
All kinds of fruit usually grown 10
u northern climate, except peaches,
do remarkably we'll on the islands.
Berries, especially, attain a perfecs
tiQn unknown elsewhere. These
and all early fruits will have a con.
stantly increasing home marke, !,
but ! fear the tendancy will le to
over stock the market. Not so
with the winter apples. The long
keepers that come out crisp and
fresh late in the spring. No fear
Of overriding this kind Of fruit, for
we shall have an unlimited demand
TOR it. 1t may seem strange to
Snlnr On first n ourht h,,t fharo ic