The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-12-02

THE many friends of George
~ Gibbs, formerly of Orcas, will
be glad to know that he has at
last received from the government
the recognition that. he has long de-
served as the pioneer in growing Hol-
land bulbs in this state. The division
OF plant industry of the Agricultural
department lately sent him 1000
fine imported Holland bulbs to be
grown for two years under contract
for experimental purposes. Mr.. Gibbs
is an enthusiast in horticulture and it
is doubtful if any man in the north
west is better posted than he on the
soil and china tic conditions of San
Juan and Whatcom counties In their
relation to fruit and flower culture.
From personal letter to the edi-
tor, dated at Clearbrook, Whatcom
county, November 25, it appears that
it was he who introduced the Wagon
er (or Wagner) apples into this coun-
ty. He says: II see by the Bel
lingham Reveille that someone at
Friday Harbor is shipping Wagner
apples and l would inquire the name
and address of that party. Twill tell
you why. | was the first man who
introduced and planted the Wagner
apple and got VonGohren, of East
Sound, to get gratis from the east
and op-graft 200 young apple trees
for me. About the time they we're
heeled in ready to plant certain
fisherman and boatm called at my
place at Orcas and showed him the
trees and talked very favorably about
their good qualities etc. When the
season was ripe, sixty Of these same
trees came up missing and strongly
suspected this man to be the one who
took them. [ afterwards learned that
s'boatman" had come to Friday
Harbor and sold just sixty trees.
These were and are today my trees.
A year or two later I asked Joseph
Sweerey if he knew of anyone who
had Wagener apples for sale. But
the trees had not commenced to bear
only few boxes at that time. |
talked with County Attorney Thacker
about prosecuting, but he advised me
if the value was not more than ten or
fifteen dollars to drop it and I did so.
I intend to write the man who how
has the trees and state the history of
the case and see if he is willing to do
nate few boxes of apples to the real
owner of these trees every year.
Il got the description OF the Wag-
ener apple from the Year Book OF the
Department Of Agriculture and they
are today the very best dessert ap-
pie of their season in Washington,
and 500 acres planted to that apple
would be q good investment.
The Anjou pear is q great success
in western Washington and should be
largely planted.
1--WE finished planting the $4,000
government bulbs November 9. The
Candidum lily is one Of our great lead
ers and great success. suppose
by this time Myers and / were about
right in digging up our 1000 Italian
prune trees, ten years ago. / hear
that Mr.. Langel, Of East Sound, IS
pulling his up. =.
ssWhat record Whatcom county
GOT at Portland on fruits
The strictly commercial orchards
Of western Washington have yet 70
be planted. :
rThere are few bearing WaRener Tor
Waener) apple trees in this locality ex-
cent ID the orchard 1f 4. G. Larson. He
bourht them nine yeas ago ffom the Pa-
c;tic Nursery, Tangent, Oregon. he nas
fnrnished ! rood many grafts from his
trees and quite large number @ Waeon-
81 treea have been sold thronghOns the
= sEs5 ss..--..x -. =. txx1 6rP9aof County