The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1896-01-17
HOME OF THE PRUNE.
The Magnificent Resources of Clarke
County Well Stated.

The Magnificent Resources Of Clarke
County Well Stated.
The first prune orchard in Washington
was planted in Clarke county, and the
growth Of the industry since then has been
marvellous. The following paper by L. B.
Clough, of that county, was read at the
convention:
Of all the varied and rapidly growing
infant industries of the great state Of
Washington, none, to my mind, give more
promise than does that Of fruit culture,
particularly on the western slope, where,
the climatic influences, superior soil
and the absence of extremes in weather,
all tend to make the raising of different
varieties of fruit such as prunes and APP
pies, together with countless smaller varie-
ties, of easy growth in great abundance.
With the advantages which nature has
bestowed on the fortunate sons Of Wash
ington, the fault rests entirely with the
people If they do not make this section ono
of the greatest fruit growing sections in
the world, and also make our fruit pro-
duction one of the most valued industries
of the state.
1t is not my purpose in this paper to
specify the different varieties of fruit that
can be produced in this country, and with
OUR climate. 1t Is the object of this paper
to consider only one, and that the prune.
will confine my remarks in treatingl this
subject, with reference to locality, more
particularly to Clarke county, not, how
ever with the idea of attempting to dis
parage the fruitfulness Of any other county
or locality in the state, for am fully con-
WINGED that each county has, and can sub
stantiate, it's own special advantages as
far as appertains to fruit growing. I have
no doubt that pruneS can be grown as Sue
cessfully in other counties as in Clarke,
but as I am a resident of Clarke county,
what experience I have had is in that
school, and my knowledge necessarily con-
Germs that county in reference to prune
culture I therefore feel that If compe-
tent to speak at all on the subject, I can
speak with some degree of accuracy.
At the commencement of this century
the Hudson Bay Company set out the first
fruit trees in this North Pacific region, and
from that small beginning the industry
gradually grew apace with the develop
ment and civilization until the year 1877, at
which time the industry of growing prunes
for other markets than home consumption
was seriously considered by Mr.. A. w.
Hidden, of Clarke county, who thereupon
planted the first prune orchard in the state,
thus making Clarke county the banner
pioneer county fon fruit growing.
The first orchard consisted of but 400
trees, but it was a beginning of an indus
try that soon developed, until now there
are 1000 acres in Clarke county alone de-
voted to prune growing. Of this area ap-
proximately 1000 acres were in bearing In
1895, from which about eighty car loads
of dried prunes, aggregating in all 100000
pounds, were harvested, the bulk or winch
were placed on Eastern markets.
The marketing of this quantity Wnen
completed would be the means Of bringing
to Clarke county the net sum OF $75,OOO, or
an average of about SIS per acre for every
ere Of land in bearing orchard; the proper
ton per acre, as matter OF course, varies