Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1905-11-17
FRIDAY. NOVEMBER II, 1905.
PROFITS IN BERRY CULTURE.

Farmers in Josephine county have
a soil and climate unequaled IN ihe
west for the production of small
fruits. Experience in other valleys
notably the Hood river valley in Ore
gon and the Puyallup valley in
Neutrality-suspicious. that no crop IL
more certain or profitable tran the
various kinds Of raspberries, black
berries and strawberries. With
proper care and attention, after the
second year, raspberries and black
berries will yield from 200 to 400
crates to the acre, worth from 81 to
sl,75 per crate. The cost of cultiva-
tion is small, while the cost Of pick.
ing and Grating does not exceed 36
cents per crate.
In soil fertility the Rogue river,
Applegate, Illinois and other valleys
Of Josephine county are fully equal to
the Hood river or Puyallup. while
the climatic conditions here are i'm
measurably superior With rich
sandy loan and with but few degrees
of frost even IN the coldest weather
there is no reason why our farmers
should not reap the benefit of the
splendid opportunity that is theirs
The growing of these fruits has
been tried here and in every
instance where reasonable care has
been bestowed upon them the results
have been most satisfactory. In siz,
and flavor they equal or surpass he
best berries grown in other sections OF
the West. But their cultivation has
been limited. IL IL rare thing to
find a farmer in these valleys with
more than small patch. or some
vines growing along his garden fence.
His main aim iu berry culture seems
to be 10 supply sufficient for home
use, with possibly few to sell in the
lo,al markets; and to these vines he
usually gives but indifferent atten.
tion.
That Is not berry culture in the
sense we mean it. The field is here
and the market for the fruit comprises
the United States to and beyond the
Mississippi river. The point we make
will best be understood by reference
to other valleys where the cultivation
OF berries is n regular business.
In the Puyallup valley local
fruitgrowers association has bee n
formed with membership of ever
400. Each member cultyates from
one to 30 acres of berries. A manager
employed by the association, receives
and grades the Grated berries md
ships 10 the Eastern market in re-.
frigerated carload lots. These berries
90 to the Rocky mountain states, TO
the Dakotas, Minnesota, Iowa, Mani.
toba aud as far East AZ Chicago. arriy.
ing There in fine marketable condition.
Last season the Puyallup valley
growers shipped 500 crates of red
Iaspberries and 500, 90 crates OF black.
berrie' to the eastern market, besides
10000 crates of strawberries, ourrants
and other small fruits. The raspher.
ries netted the grower 81. Is and the
blackberries Sl6O per crate, clear of
all expense. In addition to theiI
shipments, these growers also sup.
Piled the local markets Of Seattle and
Tacoma, and the Alaska trade. In
the Hood river valley similar
grow ers' association exists aud shin.
ments are made in carload lots to all
parts of the country, giving net re-
turns to the grower of from 5000 to
800 per acre.
What ha' been done in those valleys
can be no in the valleys of Jose.
phine county, and with better yield
aud greater profit because u kindly
nature gives the farmer here more
favorable conditions II the farmer
Will make berry culture business
set out several acres of canes aud cal.
tivate them with the same care he
does his other crops-he can reap a
rich aud certain reward He will