The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1893-12-15
BENTON'S FRUIT INDUSTRY.
All Interesting Account by Burt
Johnson in the Or
egonian.

Time was when the farmer of Oregon
could be adequately remunerated for his
labor by raising wheat, but with the pre-.
vailing low price of that article it has come
to be little more than bare living which
he receives in return for his toll The
wheat crop is coming in direct competition
with that raised on cheaper soils and on
land not adapted to diversified farming.
For this reason, as much as anything else,
| the Oregon agrlculturist is turning his at
| tention to the cultivation of other crops, at
| least this is true of farmers in this locality.
Stock, hops and fruit are each year receiv-
ing more attention in Benton county.
Within the last four years no less than
| l, 200 acres of land have been planted in
orchards. Of these new orchards, about
900 acres are in prunes, 100 in peaches, IS
in apples, so in pears, and the remainder in
small fruits. Of the prunes, the Italian
seems to be the favorite, and the acreage
of this variety is largely in excess of all
others. Next to this comes the Petite.
Three large prune companies have been
organized. Of these the Corvallis & Ben
ton County Prune Company, with l56
acres was the first. The soil is the COM
mon dark loan found on the prairies
throughout the willamette valley. The
trees are set 20 feet apart each way, max
ing total of IL, 500 trees, which are now
three years old About 400 or about two
and one-half per cent have been lost and
have been replaced. This is said to be an
excellent showing. This year the trees bore
but a few bushels, hardly enough to be
called a crop. Next year, however, sutfi
cient crop is anticipated to justify the
building of dryer. During the past few
days an experienced horticulturist has been
engaged in instructing the employees in the
art of pruning.
To this organization is largely due the
credit for the interest which has been
aroused in the culture ofprunes in and about
Benton county. About year subsequent
to the organization of this company the
Bellefontaine Fruit Association was
| formed, which now has a total acreage OF
200, $50 of which is in prunes, the remain
der being apples and pears. This orchard
is located about l6 miles south of Corvallis
and the land is the common red soil OF the
foothills. Lying near this are 100 acres ol
prunes, owned by the Excelsior Fruit Com
, pany, planted last winter, and on similar
land. The land of both orchards Is wei
drained and thus far the growth ofthe trees
seem to indicate that the location will be
, well adapted to fruitgrow ing owing, ne
, doubt, to the superior drainage. To the
!, credit of each of these companies it NAV bt
said that the trees are in excellent condition
the resl.lt OF good cultivation and scientific
, pruning.
These orchards. in turn, have stimulated
individuals to plant out smaller tracts O.
land, and within few years the old worn
cut orchards of the donation claim will
have given place to new orchards, planted
to the latest varieties of fruit and cared fol
according to the most modern ideas. But
| few of these latter orchards have vet come
to full bearing, and it is not fully knowr
what results can be attained. That it will
compare favorably with other counties wa.
t proved this year by the experience of Hugl
Finley, who owns au orchard of SO acres
located some 10 miles south of Corvallis
His trees are planted Is feet apart, or l6(
} to the acre. One hundred of these trees ar,
I 8 years old and this season averaged u
bushels of green fruit per tree. One thou
sand six hundred trees 6 years old, one hall
italian and one-haf Petites, averaged thre.
bushels per tree, and netted him $3.50 PEI
acre.
Apples are not receiving the attention
, they deserve, and in this field there are grea
, possibilities.
II The hop is receiving more consideration
this year than heretofore. In all there ar.
now about 100 acres in cultv alton in tn,
county, yielding from 1900 to $500 pounds
per acre, and 1t is safe to say this acreage
will be doubled during the next twelve
? months.