Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1904-04-14
coon APPLES SELL WELL
A. II. Carson Gives Good Advice
In His Report.

semi-annual report on the trult IN
iustry OF the Third district to April,
1901;
The largo apple crop of this dis
trirt for last year, hss gone to market
with satisfactory results to the grow
ers.
The high prices that prevailed at
the beginning of the shipping season
were maintained for fancy stock, with
stronG demand for more than the
growers could supply.
In January, when low grade stock
began going to market, prices fell to
an extent, and growers did not realize
as much as they anticipated from
the high prices that 3js and 4-tier
stock had been selling for.
have observed that early in the
season New York and Chicago buyers
are always ON hand ready to buy at
good prices .all the clean 31S aud
l-tier apples to be had in the market.
They do not seek lower grades at any
price,
This emphasizes the fact that our
apple growers are neglecting an op-
portunity to see that their orchards
do not overbear, but thin the fruit at
the proper season, and grow nothing
under 4-tier apples. Nothing under
Liter stock can stand the expense Of
packing ard transportation charges
to distant markets, The question
may be asked, can we grow the apple
in the Rogue river valley, taking our
seasons as they occur, so as to have
the greater part of the crop 4-tier and
under at gathering time? Yes, it can
be done, by being prepared to irrigate
our apple orchards, and thorough
cultivation.
Last season dwell Bros. OF Central
Point, as an experim entail venture,
put in a gasoline pumping plant that
cost for digging well, engine and
gasoline S720. Their engine was six
horse power, and had capacity to
have pumped water enough to have
irrigated six or seven acres. As it
resulted. their we'll only afforded
water enough to irrigated lC0 Yellow
Newtown apple trees through the
season. The 100 Yellow Newtowns
are situated on a dry gravelly ridge
and had always failed for want of
moisture, to mature the apples and
make them large enough to market,
Last year with irrigation, dwell
Bros. sold from these 100 trees. $l100
worth of apples-S3SO more than their
original pumping plant cost. During
the past winter, dwell Bros. have
been tilling and understanding their
16O-acre orchard, and will put in
power enough to pump and irrigate
the whole orchard.
A. ID. Helms OF Ashland has 10
acre apple orchard eight miles south
Of Ashland 10 years old.
The orchard is on red hill loan,
resting on bedrock. Mr.. Helms has a
ditch on his place from a small gulch.
As an experiment last year. he began
June 10th tn irrigate his orchard, and
continued to irrigate until September
10th. At apple gathering time he
gathered and sold 5000 boxes Of to
4-tier apples from this orchard, which
he sold at the packing house for 81. 80
per box. These were all fancy apples.
There were no culls worth mention
ing in the whole crop.
Without irrigation, Mr.. Helms tells
me he would not have had 800 boxes
of liter stock and the remainder Of
the crop would have been too small to
have been Of any marketable value.
In this section we have our winter
rains and more or less drought during
summer months. From the results
had by dwell Bros and Mr.. Helms,
tits evident that it is not for the want
of plant food in our soil that apples
on many Of our soil do not mature and
and grow large enough to sell in the
market as fancy stock, but from lack
Of moisture.
All of the nourishment which the
apple gets from the soil during iti
growing period is taken in solution,
and unless there is an abundance oi
soil moisture to dissolve the plant
foods, it is evident the whole croI
cannot mature. Hence, irrigation
supplies the necessary moisture, anC
large, fully developed apples al
gathering time is the reward Of th'
progressive, thoughtful apple grower
There is no trouble to sell Il
Eastern buyers, such apples as Olwel
Bros and Mr.. Helms grew by irfiga
tion last season. They were in {
class by themselves The seller hat
no talking to do to make the sale
The apples talked for themselves
They could stand transportation AM
commission charges and leave a largl
profit for the grower.
The progressive men learn as the!
go along and we have many pro
gressiye apple growers in Rogue rive
valley who will take advantage Of
dwell Bros and Mr. Helms irri
cation experiment last season an,
put IN irrigation this season. When
gravity system can be had, 1t is th
cheapest aud best Where IL is no
practical, pumps, with gasoline 0
electric power is practical and viii
pay the grower handsomely on none.
invested.
Eisman Bros. six miles west 0
Grants Pass, will put in a gasolin
pumping plant this season and pun
..-.t.r Fro., Unwua rfvar ~ frrfoat