Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1906-10-19

once to eradicate it. BY this close
vigilance the pests have been almost
exterminated from the Valley and not
having the favorable conditions for
breeding in the orchards they have
almost disappeared from the forests
and no longer swarm as they do
here in this Valley from the trees of
the woods TO those in the orchard
The Hood River orchardsts do not
get trees from outside nurseries as
they fear diseases and pests may be
imported and they have found that
the home grown trees being acclimated
hiring the best results. That Rogue
River Valley fairly twarms with
pests is due to the importation of
thousands of trees each year that are
grown in sections where little or no
attempt is made to suppress the dis
eases that threaten to destroy the
fruit industry of the United States.
That there is big profit in Hood
River fruit land is proven by the fact
that $4,000 cash was refused this
Summer for the Beulah Land orchard
owned by o. l.. Vanderbilt. Sales
though have been made for other or
chards at corresponding prices.
Hood River soil is quite similar TO
much of Rogue River Valley lard,
but only apples aud straw berries can
be grown successfully by reason of the
colder climate. The fruit crop is
estimated to bring in this year fully
5000, 900 and when the present young
orchards are in full bearing by five
years hence, there will be 81, 900, 900
to pass through the Hood River banks
to the credit of the farmers of that
little valley that is but nine miles by
20 miles in extent. But by intelli-
gent, intensified methods it is made
to yield wealth not equaled by any
other equal sized district in Oregon
and its loyal residents expect that the
time is not distant when their fruit
will annually bring them s., 900, 900.
Hood River town, which has a
population Of about 1000, has pros
porous, up.to-date appearan ce, quite
in contrast to the average town that is
dependent almost wholly on an ag-
ricultural district for its support,
showing that the fruit industry is
solid basis to a towns prosperity.
The stores are large and carry fine
stocks aud the residences are as a
rule such as eau be found in city.
The high school will compare with
the best in the state and the country
districts have graded schools, there
being several two and four room
buildings in the Valley.
1t was ~ years ago that the Hood
River fruit raisers held their first
fruit fair and they have made an ex-
hibit every two years since. So sue
CtSsl VI nave DcoH lutse idlIr anu 81
popular with the general public that
it is proposed to hold fair each Fall
hereafter. The business men of the
town heartily cooperate with the
farmers in the work of preparing and
carrying on these fairs and put up the
greater part of the guarantee fund
each year to meet the expenses. A
small admission fee is charged that
usually pays all the expenses. The
first fair was held in hall but it
outgrew that and in recent years
tent has been used, owned by the AS
sociation. AS the fair grew the
tent was enlarged and this year it was
75x200 feet and every foot of space
avsilable was occupied by exhibits
that embaced every kind of fruit,
farm and garden products. There
was also a highly creditable display
of fancywork and hand painted China
ware two Of the piece0 having taken
premiums at the st. Louis Worlds
Fair. Some fine poultry were on ex-
hibition and several coops containing
different varieties of pheassnts at
tracted much attention. Several
swarms Of bees under glass were
another attraction. The display of
fCant,npaJ on pana EOur