The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1895-01-04
The Fruit Industry

The intending fruit grower will be
glad of reliable Information concern
ing that industry, so we will briefly
consider the subject, giving reliable
information.
The writer of this is interested per-
sonally In this branch of horticulture,
and has had all to learn by expert
ence and no reliable information to
commence with. Seventeen years
ago, he, commenced planting fruit
trees, and now has fifty acres of Or
chard, consisting of one-half of
prunes, several hundred cherry trees,
1000 peach trees, 1000 pear trees, and
1000 plum trees. He states these
facts to let the reader see that his
experience is not limited.
There are well understood varie-
ties of fruit that are marketable and
desirable. Prllne growing will be a
leading feature of orchard work, and
time has shown Us that the Italian is
he most desirable prline to grow,
and the Petite d'Angen or French
prune, is the most prolific bearer.
The writer grows five varieties, but
if to plant again would confine him
self to these two kinds. Strange to
say, these two varieties are the most
hardy trees and the most regular
bearers, while other kinds are very
tender trees and the fruit is not so
valuable or SO prolific.
California grows almost exclusively
the French prime, which is small,
rather sweet, and lacking In flavor.
1t bears largely, and 5000 pounds of
cured prunes have been made off a
single acre. These sold for cents
per pound, OR $42O an acre. The
Italian prune is dark fruit, rather
large size, cures easily and we'll, is
of a delicate and tart flavor, and
though not so prolific as the Petite
d'Angen, yields well and sells for
one-third more money. The popular
ity of these fruits, the hardness of
their trees, and the reliability of their
production, render them far prefera-
Bile to any other varieties in general
use.
Thers are standard varieties of
pears, peaches, cherries, etc., so well
understood that the beginner neeu
have no fears. He can plant
with certainty and gather with equal
certainty, and fruit-growing seems
likely to become reliable business
1t is not well. to be over sanguine,
but good orchard, of the best varie-
ties of fruit, well handled and well
disposed of. should repay the owner
who "stays with it, two hundred dol
lars an acre every prosperous year.
1t seems to be a formidable under
taking to wage war against so many
pests and obstacles, but courage will
win and lively effort must succeed.
There is no occupation more agree
able, more pleasant to follow, more
healthful, and, when we'll done, more
lucrative, than that of the orchardist
in Oregon.
Let us look at the matter from the
standpoint of experience, and recite
what happened in an orchard near
Salem during one season. The pre-
vlous winter was very stormy
and knew unusual vicissitudes.
No work was done until spring
opened, and then fifty or more
acres and ten thousand trees needed
attention. Pruning was done, every
tree examined for the borer and,
where it was found, it was dug from
every peach and plum tree was care
fully painted with a mixture obnox-
ious to the miller that lays the egg.
This was a slow process applied to
seven thousand trees. Then every
tree, at later time, was carefully
dug about to kill the weeds and clean
the soil. Three times the pear trees
were sprayed to keep off the Goblin
moth. All this time the teams were
running plows, cultivators and har-
rows and six times during the spring
and early summer has this orchard
been some way cultivated. This oc-
cupied six to eight men three months,
and you may think was expensive.
We must not forget to recite how,
for weeks, at an expense of over 500,
men went carefully from tree to tree
plucking off the surplus fruit and
only leaving on each tree as much
as it could comfortably carry and
hold it's own.
All this was done at a cost of not
less than $3.50, before the fruit sea-
son opened. Go now through that
orchard, and you will see clean earth
and trees with large beautiful fruit.