Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1905-07-14
INTERESTING FACTS
ON GRAPE GROWING
A. II. Carson. Biggest Vineyardist
in Oregon. Gives Information
of Value to Fruit Growers.

First district, which embraces the
Southern Oregon counties, of the
Oregon State Board of Horticulture,
was in Grants Pass Wednesday from
his Redlands fruit farm on Applegate.
Mr.. Carson, in addition to growing
largely of other fruits, is the largest
grape grower in Oregon, he having 81
acres to grapes. Mr.. Carson grows
several varieties. but most of his
vineyard is to Tokays, Emperors and
Black Ferrerras. The Emperor is
similar in size and bright color TO
the Flaming Tokay, but it is better
keeper and is good shipper. The
Ferrerra is q black grape similar
in appearance TO the Concord, but is
better favored than that grape, and is
a fine table grape and it has the
further good quality of being good
shipper.
Mr.. Carson has found grape grow
ing quite as profitable rs any other
line of farm product and he Will con-
tinue planting until he has 100 acres
TO grapes. He will plant 90 acres to
grapes this winter and has the 10, ,00O
cuttings rooted and growing in fine
shape with which to do the planting.
Mr.. Carson is firm in the belief that
Southern Oregon will become one Of
the great grape districts of the United
States, for the soil and climate are
exceptionally adapted for producing a
grape Of fine texture and flavor The
failure that so many have made in
th. grape business in Rogue River
Valley is due to number Of causes
that Mr.. Carson states are easily
overcome. The first is to grow the
grape that the market demands, which
is thus the best seller. Plant on suit
able soil, red clay hill land being the
best for grapes, and elevation
put the vineyard above the frost line
of the low, wet bottom lands. Cul.
tivate the vines thoroughly, and the
dryer the ground the more cultivation,
but only on the suface. But in the
picking and packing Is where so many
growers fail, for grapes that are jam
med into a box and not sorted. graded
and neatly packed will not sell. Mr.
Carson takes special care that not a
defective or under-sized grape gets
| into box and the greatest precau-
tion is taken to pack the grapes so
they will have uniform and attrac-
tive appearance. The boxes are all
labled with his name and that Of his
fruit farm and a person getting box
of his grapes Of dealer, II pleased
with them, knows what TO call for
when more is wanted. Last fall, al
in previous years, Mr. Carson wsi
unable to fill all the orders that CAME
to him for grapes, and at prices that
were very satisfactory. He thinks
that other growers would have nc
difficulty in finding profitable mar
ket if they would give more care tC
the growing and the picking and
packing OF their grapes.
As TO the grape crop prospects Mr.
Carson stated that his vineyard ooult
not be more promising than it now is
and he has every prospect OF recort
breaking yield this year and OF th'
best quality. His apples, pears anC
other fruit Mr.. Carson state
promise good yield. In the dis
charge Of his duties as a member o
the State Board, Commissioner Carsor
has visited many OF the orchards o
Southern Oregon and he finds thu
J fruit prospects about up 10 tn
average In some Of the orchard
J that bore very heavily last year th'
, crop this year is light, while som'
, orchards on low bottom land will
, have small yield owing TO lat
! frosts. Owing to tbs large acreag
, Of new orchards that are coming int
) bearing, Commissioner Carson think
! that there will be a considerable In
crease In the shipment Of fruit tbi
. fall from Rogue River Valley. Tn
, outlook for the market Is eDcouragiD
3 and fruitgrowers are likely to max
as much money this year as ar
farmers who will nave other product
to sell. Mr.. Carson anticipates ths
there will be large acreage plante
TO fruit trees this winter and the rat
= Of increase TO orchards will be 6p
a what II has been for the last tw
D years.
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