The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1904-08-11
APPLES RETURN
$1,000 AN ACRE

ne SIOry OF one tnOuSaEu uOllaTs al
acre from apples seems hardly possible
until visit is made to the orchards 0
Sears d Porter on the East Side. Her
Mr.. Sears will tell you the tale ant
point out the trees, 81 of them, from
which last fall were gathered 585 boxe
OF 3! and 4.tier yellow Newtowns, Il
say nothing of the AZ and bitter fruit
As these apples sold for $2l0 box
figure out yourself the returns from
that one acre.
A walk through the orchard leads on'
TO believe that the very same trees will
duplicate the record again this year
Although it is yet two months unit
picking time the apples are now largi
enough for Bitter fruit. What the mex
two months will do in filling out th'
fruit remains only to be seen. The
trees on which these apples were growr
are now in their eighth year. The Gla
cier had heard a great deal about the
famous East Side orchards, and las
Friday hitched up horse and buggy fol
look at some of the fruit trees. One
day will not suffice to see more thar
half dozen or so Of the banner orch
ards.
First, at the head OF the grade goine
over the hill is the farm of V. V. Hick
OK, purchased last year from Benton
Rand. Mr.. Hickox paid 81, 300 for the
40 acres, but says he wouldn't take
$1,000 for the place. He has been offered
$500.
Mrs. Foss owns fine ranch on the
Ia al. Ja &c hn ,.naA npinn 1nnth
Her boys are farming the same, with
prospects OF good apple crop this year
The boys have sprayed thoroughly, ant
have kept the trees in good shape
Most of the trees are of the standard
Spitzenbergs and Yellow Newtowns
This farm also has 30 acres planted te
wheat hay.
Adjoining the Foss ranch, Earl Prath'
er has leased l5 acres OF the Seaman
Cox place. Mr.. Prather hasa berry
and apple ranch, and by hard work has
a place that in few years will be turn
ing off snug sum of money. This
year he expects to harvest 500 boxes OF
apples. The fruit will be first class.
Mr.. Prathcr finds it profitable to keep
a dozen or 50 hens, as eggs have been
25 cents all spring and summer, and on
farm of this sort there is plenty OF
food for the hens. Water from the
Bone irrgating ditch is now within
reach of all these farms, and patches Of
green garden truck are everywhere to
be seen.
J. l.. Carter, who bought the IS acres
from Martin Rand, has a very fine
farm This is Mr. Carter's third year
here and he has the orchard in splen-
did cnnd ton. Prospects are good for
atrp of fine apples Mr. Carter esti-
mates his crop at 1000 boxes. On this
place there is obtainabe one of the best
bird 's-eye views of the valley to be had
anywhere. Mr.. Carter took the editor
out to lhe promontory overlooking the
stream of Hood River, and with a pair
of field glasses a splendid view of the
whole of the west side of the valley was
to be had, as well as the snow-capped
peaks OF Hood and Adams. Mrs Car
ter distributed generous supply of
peaches to the newspaper men, which
they voted delicious.
J. w. Johnson is starting a young
orchard which presents thrifty APP
pearance. Mr.. John on has four or five
acres in clover hay that will turn off a
good crop.
NJ z. Neff and Mrs. Oiler adjoining
the MAJ shall property have an orchard
of mixed varieties which promises a
good ield. Mr. Neff expects to clear
more land and set to winter apples this
fall.
G. X. Marshall, who purchased the
Steinhilber place last January, is max
ing success of the fruit business.
Before coming west, Mr.. Marshall was
building electric railroads in New York
state, but he has gone after the fruit
business in the same practical manner,
and has his orchard in perfect condition.
The greater part Of his old orchard con-
sists of mixed varieties, and just now
he is shipping lot of summer apples.
These trees are ii sight to behold, with
dozen and two dozen props Under
them to keep the fruit from breaking
down the limbs. Mr.. Marshall was just
starting out to get a load of more props
as the visitO reached the orchard.
The orchard presents the appearance
of a hop field with the innumerable
poles propping up The trees. Mr.. Mar
shall estimates his crop this year at
5000 boxes. He is setting out more
land as fast as it can be cleared, having
already rs acres in orchard. Mr.. Mar
shall had the day before gathered Al
boxes of striped Astrachans from four
trees, and casual observer could not
notice their luss from the heavily laden
trees.
J. u. Jarvis, whose land adjoins that
of Sears & Porter, has three acres in
bearing orchard from which he expects
to gather 200 boxes Of apples. Mr..
Jarvis hasn't been in the apple business
80 long as his neighbors, Messrs. Sears
& Porter, but a glance at his trees goes
to show that the older orchardists excel
him only in quantity and extent of
orchards. Three years ago Mr.. Jarvis
was conducting wheat ranch in the
Dakotas.
James Lacey also has good story on
the produetiveness of his orchard lands.
Last year from one acre he gathered $50
boxes of apples, OF which $50 were 4-tier
apples, and a greater part ofthe remain
der marketable fruit. Mr.. Lacey home
steaded his farm y years ago. de has
on his fruit ranch. This wear he esti-
mates his prOn at | ONO bDXeg. mostly