The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1902-10-17

fruit. We do not want apples to grow
close enough together TO touch each
other. By thinning we have as many
bushels Of apples with the advantage
of greater size and uniformity. We
employ women for both thinning and
gathering the apples. They have a
more delicate touch than men aud do
not bruise the fruit nor injnre the fruit
spur, upon which next seasons crop
depends The Wagner is a fine apple
and prolific bearer OF these Alex
anders we sold all we had at a fancy
price last year to a man who shipped
them TO Dawson and other Alaskan
points. The transportation charges
were $500 per box laid down at their
destination. He sold them for SIS per
box and cleared up good profit.
From that "a acres of Ben Davis trees
we picked ,4l4 bushels of apples two
years ago. The trees were four and five
years old then. Last year we picked
$50 boxes. This year we expect to
get $500 boxes. We receive from 81 to
81. .25 per box. The box costs about IL
cents. Before we came here thinning
was not practiced, but when we COM
menced it and others saw how much
superior the fruit was, they also
thinned the fruit and the practice has
become almost universal in this vi
cinity.n
The Arkansas Blacks, when the lime
spray was rubbed away, showed a high
glossy red. The White Winter Pear
mains, and the Jonathans were loaded
heavily. The Akin Red, while finer,
solid, good-sized apple and splendid
shipper and keeper, does not have, To
my notion, the delicate aroma and ex-
quisite flavor of the Jonathan. One OF
the best apples / tasted In the orchard
was the Alexander, 1t has a flavor
aud. a bouquet which is hard o.equal.
"The secret of success is care from
the very first said Mr. Porter. "We
dig hole three feet across and quite
deep. We put the mellow surface soil
around the young trees roots, sitting ii
IN by hand. We lean the tree a little
toward the prevailing northwest wind.
There is group of 500 trees | set out
and have not lost a single tree. Bring
your kodak and ! will show you pict.
ure worth taking. This Is Winter
Nellis pear tree six years old.n
The tree was simply loaded with
large, well-formed, highly-colored
pears On the lower limb in a space Of
"a inches we counted 20 pears.
Irode on up the valley, stopping here
and there to take pictures and to talk
to the farmers.
Three years ago | paid 5000 for this
little place. 1t contains "a acres. My
neighbor is very anxious to buy it. He
offers me 1900 but / will not sell, y
said one man to me. 1t is the same
everywhere.
Crossing the river again at fuckers
mill, | returned to town by the west
valley. 1t is like one vast garden. Lit.
tie bitches are everywhere. Scenes Of
acres of strawberries line the roadside
They range from 5-acre to 40-acre tracts
] asked one man who was working
by the roadside how much he would
take for his place. "Not for sale," he
answered. "Not for $400 per acre"
inquired. "We make from $500 to $40C
per acre each year. You can't buy
hardly any one out hereabout. We are
.contented. We make good living
from 5 or 10 acres, and do not have to
work hard all year either If Isold
out / would not leave. / would mere.
ly have TO buy another place and this
one suits me well enough. No it is not
fol. .sale.n' d.
A beautiful valley, inspiring scenery
healthful and fnvigorating air, peace
full, well-kept farms, contented and
prosperous people; surely this should
be called Happy Valley.