Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-04

in which without being overdone there il
big money from sunrise to sunset, and
among them are fruit raising, wheat rails
ing, sheep raising, hop raising and banking.
Pacific Coast Fruit Culture.
Peaches, apples, plums, apricots, pears,
cherries. ounces, almonds grapes and
| prunes grow to great perfection almost any.
where on the plateaus, in which this country
abounds. But in fruit raising, us in most
other lines of effort, the biggest profits are
made by those who devote their energies to
specialties, and the money-making special
ties on the coast and hundreds of miles in
land at present lie in the direction of prune
cultivation. Prime lands can be purchased
in Washington and Oregon (the latter State
seems best adapted to their perfect cultiva-
tion) at from $50 to 5000 per acre, according
to the character of the land and distance
from cities and railroads. / visited the
Portland Exposition while in that
| city, and / must say that
I was more than surprised at the fruit eS-
hibits of Oregon. L thought had seen
some perfect fruit specimens in portions of
Jersey, Maryland and Delaware, but roth
ing had ever seen in these States, and l
was somewhat of a painstaking observer in
this connection, approached the Oregon
fruit in richness of color. size and flavor.
The Oregon and California apples, 1 think,
were an exception, for, while large, they
lacked in some varieties the sweetness
and flavor of Eastern fruit. But the peaches.
pears and prunes were superbly luscious
and fine looking Land best adapted for
fruit is found mostly around Portland, in
the Rogue River Valley, which is called the
Italy of Oregon, for 90 miles either side of
Medford, near Oregon City, and around
Salem, almost everywhere in the Willamette
Valley; in the vicinity of Vancouver,
Clarke county, and in most parts of Benton
county.
How Fruit Lands Arc Sold.
Some Of this land is sold on the Eastern
installment plan of monthly payments.
Here is plan of one of the Oregon fruit
companies:
You pay us $3.50 for an acre, planted with
any fruit trees you may name-terms, $50
cash and $l0 a month until paid-no interest.
no taxes, no other charges for two years.
We pay all costs of planting and caring for
it. With 100 trees to the acre, this means 10
cents month for two years for u fruit tree,
or 50 so for a matured. bearing fruit tree. 1t
will be worth and will pay interest on $3.50
at the end Of the two years.
Another company offers fruit land on
these slightly different terms:
The -. Oregon Land Company is en-
trees, having now growing 5000 fruit trees
of their own planting These trees are
planted for parties for the sake Of q first
class investment and in other cases for pro-
fessional people who have not the time to
look after the work themselves and yet are
desirous of having their money invested in
something that will bring them good in
come ana also RAPIDLY increase in value
The company takes pleasure in showing
these orchards to people desiring q safe and
very profitable investment. and will con-
tinue to set out and cultivate in trees at $50
per acre, which includes the land, (f1rst-
class fruit land) the trees, setting out, culti-
walton, pruning and resetting, for three
years. terms made to suit the purchaser.
As space will not permit giving all the
various forms of fruit landselling I append
here few specimens which go more or less
into details and explain the modus operan-
di so clearly as to leave little to be added:
DEAR S1R-In reply to your favor just re-
ceived | beg TO say that g land" COM
plises about 400 acres, and is situated about
= miles (as the crow f1ies) south of - city;
20 miles by river and % by rail. The South
ern Pacific Railroad runs within half mile
and the Willamette river, also close at
hand, SO that cheap transportation can
always be had both to this city and farther
up the fertile Willamette Valley. We have
trees (placed 20 feet apart, which allows
over 100 trees per acre), and propose to set
an equal amount this fall. We have sur
veyed and plated the tract into five acre
(s200) per acre. or one thousand Isl 000) per
lot. Terms one hundred dollars (sl0O) cash,
ION delivery of bond) and 800 every four
three years time in which to pay for his lot
while there will be no interest or taxes for
him to nay. This price not only pays for the
land but also the care Of 1t for three years;
the clause covering this part of the contract
reads as follows, viz: "And the said first
party agrees TO set said tract OF land ut the
earliest suitable season to prune trees. 20
the same for term of three years, from five |
to eight times annually according to the
need of wet or dry seasons; and prune (trim)
all trees once each year in practical way,
so as to produce symmetrical trees, and will |
reset all trees that for any cause
may not live" This insures an orchard
where every tree will be living, and o ma
jorfty of them will begin airing at the end
Of three years. The following is an estimate
Of the annual yield per acre, compiled from
given by some of the principal
prune growers in the vicinity:
Fourth year....s5 80 Sol Eighth year.
sixth year. SooI Tenth year.......... 900
Seventh year 500
as fair estimate, when trees are well cared |
for and located on the right kind of soil,
such as we are now planting. By the side of |
these figures our own estimate seems very |
acre prune orchard, when in full bearing,
will yield net income Of IS. 600 YEARLY" The |
quality of Oregon prnnes is such as to al |
ways command the highest price in the |
market. and, being sold in a dry state, the |
grower is not so dependent upon the "mfd- |
dlemen" as is the case with the majority of |
fruit, which is sold in green state.
There has not been failure Of this crop
since its introduction into this valley, some |
Is years ago. The location of "Prune Land"
IS one of natural beauty, and will be desira.
even who are doing business in this city. |
We are also selling unimproved lnnd (which |
IS part of this traot) for $50 per acre. to those |
who wish to make their own orchards and
1t the same time take advantage of the
ocation; we are selling this in five acre lots
or $500 per lot. Terms s25 cash, and S25
,very three months. Will be pleased to hear
urther from you in this matter. Here fol-
ows a list of prominent banks, bankers,
,ditors, as indorsers of the plan and
of the facts, etc.1
remain, yours truly.
Lots OF Non-Resident Purchasers,
Some of these companies will enter into
contract with the purchaser, agreeing to
purchase the fruit for term of years at
uch price as will guarantee % per cent
,roft per annum on the investment
Whether they can do this, probably can
lot say of my personal knowledge, but vast
Quantities of this land is sold yearly to
and if there was any fraud
bout it it would probably come to the sur
ace.
Another company offers land in this way:
3 acres at $50 per acre................... $500
Tearing. ........................... 100
rees ana plan ting. g....................... 200 |
encing ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 200
Total-- -.-.....................& 81, 600
Those ten acres will keep family by
corn, potatoes, ETC., until the
ourth year, when the fruit will yield