Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1905-07-14

peach orchard finding peaches Tn
profitable dug up bis trees Since the
organization Of the union and better
prices to be had this same land has
been planted to peaches and is now
yielding the owner larger profit
than it did when in grain or hay.
The apple quotations Of last fall
show that the growers Of Hood River
and Medford were paid from 81. 80 to
a.. 20 box for their Spitzenburg and
Newtown apples, while the growers
of Josephine county were able to
realize but from so cents to $1. 90 per
box. A peach grower Of this section
got returns from commission house
of but II cents box after the T. eight
had been paid on shipment Of 300
boxes of fine Crawfords The re-
naming 1000 boxes of his crop he
then allowed his hogs to eat. An
apple grower sent last fall shipment
of l5O boxes each Of apples to two
dealers IN Portland. The apples
we're Of the same kind and Of the same
picking and packing, yet one com
mission man remitted 81 cents Dox
less than the other dealer did to the
grower. The Courier could give
other instances Of fruit growers Sc
curing but bare cost for their fruit
from commission men. Rogue River
climate and soil Is the same in Jose.
phino county as 1t is In jackson
county and produces as fine apples
about Grants Pass as 1t does about
Medford, but the market conditions
are not the same to growers Of the
two districts and that accounts for the
Grants Pass growers barely making
expenses while the Medford growers
were reaping a big profit
The reduction OF freight charges
through car load shipments and the
ourtailment, or elimination OF the
middlemen's profits, are not all the
advantages that the union brings to
the grower. Every member is taught
how to grade and pack bis fruit SO
that VI will make the best showing
possible and stand shipment without
bruising. The varieties of fruit to
plant. the adaptation of certain soils
for certain fruits, the method Of plant.
ing. cultivating, pruning, spray ing
and Of picking are made leading
features Of the meetings that are held
by the unions and growers arc thus
enabled to learn many points that will
materially aid them in making q
success Of their undertaking.
1t has been demonstrated that Jose.
phine county can produce apples,
pears, peaches and grapes that are not
exeocelled by the fruit from any other
section OF the Pacific Coast. In land
adapted to fruit growing there are
hundreds Of thousands of acres OF
land now in brush and timber Of the
same class on which has been grown
the fruit that has made Rogue River
Valley famous for the excellence oi
its apples, grapes, peaches and pears
It is no improbable statement to make
TO assert that the fruit industry il
Josephine county will have brought
in more wealth to the county within
the next 80 years than any other in
dustry not excepting the gold mines
The soil aud climate preclude Jose
phine county ever becoming great
grain, hay, dairy or stock section
and with the timber gone. the pros
perity of this county will rest on it,
fruit, mines and fac tories. Thus i
is that 1t Is u matter Of great import
ance to farmers and the business men
of this county to encourage aud he'll
In the building up Of an industry
that has the certainty of becoming
one OF the great factors In bringing 4
greater development and prosperity Il
the rural districts with the conse
quont increase of trade and population
| to the towns