Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1904-10-13

btutltluSn-
respectfully submit the following
report for the biennial year ending
September SOth. 1904, in regard to the
Horticultural industry of the Third
horticultural District.
The Third district embraces Coos,
Curry. Douglas, Josephine, Jackson,
Lake and klamath counties, all south
ern counties of the state, beginning at
the Pacific and running thence east
along the North California line to the
west boundary line of the State of
Idaho.
All of these counties are mountain.
ous with large and small valleys,
with rolling foot hills, with various
soils such as alluvial along the rivers
and creek bottoms, red loan and
ashley granite ON the foot hills.
The alluvial soils along the rivers
and creek bottoms are of inexhausti-
BILE richness. as the winter rains bring
down from the higher levels, plant
food that is constantly renewing these
soils, and as a rule they are sub-irri
gated, and any kind of a crop planted
in these soils yields bountifully.
These were the first soils settled on
aud improved by the pioneers of
Oregon. Subsequent settlers took
up homesteads on the foot hills, and
where possible built bitches and con.
Quoted the waters of the streams to
their farms and by that means made
these foot hills very productive. With
water it was found that the foothill
lands were as productive as the allu'
vial soils. That these foot-hill soils
contained rich plant food when the
same could be watered.
OF the seven counties in the Third
District, only three at ths present are
engaged in horticultural pursuits ia
a commercial sense, to-wit: Douglas,
Josephine and jackson.
Coos and Curry, both coast counties,
are largely engaged II the dairy bust
ness. Lake and klamath counties in
southeastern Oregon, owing to the
vast ranges of bunch grass on the
mountains and the wonderful yield
of alfalfa in the valleys, is princi
pally devoted to stock raising. The
want of railroad facilities has retard
ed their horticultural development
The soils and climatic conditions
of these counties are favorable to hor
ticultural development and it will b'
but short time when the grea
profits from apple growing will en-
gage the attention of these foui
countries, as railroads are now beinI
built into these counties.
To describe by counties the valu,
and extent of lands adapted to horti
. cural pursuits in the Third District,
find is impossible. The area of sucl
lands are so vast that an estimate o
the acreage and value would be mer
guess work and be of little practica
value. 1t is not unreasonable for m
to say that at the present, not 10 pc
cent of the lands Of the seven countie
OF the Third District adapted to bor
ticultural pursuits are planted. an,
devoted to the industry.
To approximate the value Of horti
cultural land, there are bearing appl
orchards in. Rogue river valley, tina
for the past three years have pai
their owners 5000 AN acre. 1t mus
b. understood not all bearing appl
orchards in the Rogue River vale
during that time have paid thei
owners that sum per acre, as there ar
orchards that have only paid $50 t
$500 per acre. These men who deriy
ed the less amount per acre from thei
orchards-so far as soil and age q
orchard were concerned-had equa
: opportunity with the men who mad
$500 per acre, but many little details
such as thinning out their fruit at IN
proper time, the neglect to spray f.
the moth, etc, lessened their profits
The greater profits or less Is purely
question of personality, love of th
busin sss. and to do things and no
drift
That the Third District has greatl
improved in horticultural pursuit
during the past two years for CON
parative purposes, | submit the gros
value Of fruits sold in 1901 and 1902
Apples, 300. coo boxes
Pears, 100, 600 boxes.
Prunes, 5000, 900 pounds, cured.
Apples dried 200, 600 pounds.
Peaches $780, 900.
Small fruits, berries, etc, 5000
crates.
Gross value for the two years
s7O3. OOO.
For 1903 and 1904 the following
a careful estimate for those years:
1908.
Apples 300. 900 boxes
Pears l20. 600 boxes.
Pranes, 1000, 900 pounds, cured.
: Peaches, 10, 600 boxes 10 lbs each J..
Small Fruits. 80, 900 crates
n Gross Value, sGlO. 900.
b 1904
:. Apples, 100, 600 boxes.
q Pears, 100. 900 boxes
70 Prunes, 3, 900, 900 lbs.
Ie Peaches, $50 900 boxes eco ID
= each.
.e Small Fruits, -. 900 crates.
Is Gross value, $3.50, 900.