The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1902-08-09
ASHLAND
PEACH
SEASON
Royal Fruit the Fullest CrOe
In Years
An Industry That Could Bp
Made Great About Salem
lAshland Record.l

Ashland is now in the midst of the
activities of the annual fruit harvest.
Last week the peach season opened
with the ripening of the Alexanders,
the earliest variety grown here, and
the Ashland Fruit Association began
shipping, sending out an average of
500 boxes daily. Besides there have
been considerable shipments by grow
ers who are not members of the asso-
citation
The Alexander is not a peach of es-
pecia merit, as il is not suitable for
canning or drying, but is Of good flavor
and gratihes the first longing of the
peach-hungry public in the early days
of July. This year the variety was a
little late in ripening, but generally
the market has been supplied with this
peach by July 4th The acreage Is
short, and Portland and the William
ette valley points consume this crop.
The next peach to come into mar
ket is the early Hale. This is fine
peach. but the product in the Ashland
district is not sufficient for car lot
shipments, although thousands of box
es will go out by express.
Next comes the Early Crawfords.
This is the popular variety. II is the
favorite, especially for canning aud
drying. II is a yellow, freestone
peach, rich in meat and of delicious
favor. There is a full crop of Early
Crawfords and II may be said they
constitute the main crop The bulk of
them will be disposed of in car lots,
yet the express company, at the same
time, is given a vast amount Of the
carrying Of these peaches to market.
Car lot shipments practically begin in
ashland with the ripening of the Craw.
fords. Shipments will be made to the
Missouri river valley, TO st. Paul, TO
Winnipeg and to other points in Cana
da. Sometimes shipments have been
made to Chicago, and points still
further East
Taking up the succession of the va
rietler of peaches, the Muir follows the
Early Crawford. There is a full crop
of this peach. and some 10 60 Is cars
will be moved and possibly twice that
amount altogether shipped out and To-
cally consumed. The Muir is a fine
Gamer and good drier. Il is easily
mistaken for and sometimes sold as
tie Crawford BY many II is thought
to be. quite as good a peach, and may
finally displace the Crawford as the
Ashland peach par excellence. There
is little waste about II; It has a small
pit, is solid. meaty and unexcelled in
flavor by any variety. The merits Of
this peach are not so well known but
Il is rapidly coming to the front.
Following the Muirs. the different
varieties of clings are next 10 ripen,
and along with them the freestone va
iieties: Globe. Wonderful, Beers
mock and the Alberta. The Ashland
clingstone peach attains, perhaps, the
greatest size In the exceptional in
stances OF any peach in the world. Its
downy skin is painted in the richest
coloring. Perhaps there is no fruit
more beautiful. But the superficial
beauty which II has snatched from the
sunlight is not misleading. Under
meath its shiny, soft, woody envelope.
there is a thick. rich, juicy meat In.
ferior to that of no other peach; but
this variety has only special limited,
though important uses. which every
good housewife will understand. The
Alberta. a freestOne, is likewise one
Of the most beautiful peaches grown.
Il sells well on account Of It's size and
color.
The Salway is the latest peach and
with Il the Ashland peach season
closes The season comprises the
period from July / 10 November L
The orchards are so stocked with the
varieties named and others not men
toned, that there are peaches in this
market continuously between the
dates given.
The Salway is fine peach. grows
large. is firm and a good shipper II
is very popular with many growers
because II Is In the market at time
TO catch a good price for them.
The hot weather last week made th'
growers a little apprehensive that th'
peaches would be ripened too rapidly
TO be placed on the market economic
ally and at good prices but the open
ing cool DAYS Of this week seems q