Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1907-09-06
THINKS THIS IS THE
BEST MELON DISTRICT
Government Expert Finds that
Yield Here Surpassee that
of Other Localities.

Prof. W. A. Orton, who holds the
important position of pathologist with
the U. S. Department Of Agriculture,
came here from Washington, d. c.
for the purpose of making a care
full examination of the disease which
has been playing: havoc with the
melon patches. He makes a special
ty Of dealing with plant life and is
we'll fitted to cope with all the
troubles which como to growers along
these lines. After q thorough and
careful examination, he agrees with
Prof. Cordley, the able o. A. G..
entomologist, that there is no known
way of coping with this disease,
which is commonly called the
wilt" except to stop the growing Of
the melons ON the infected ground for
. season ranging from three to 10
years owing 20 the condition Of the
soil. He knows Of no spray that
will touch the pest nor has he heard
Of any manner in which the plague
may be stopped. So Iinsidious is the
pest. that the winds and birds and
even wagon wheels carry IL from
patch to patch. That it Is a matter
of vital importance to the growers Of
this region is apparent. when it is
known that the yield of the growers
near Grants Pass has decreased the
past year or so, from 80 to 80 cars
per season to not more than 10 and
unless some heroic action is taken ut
once to stay the dread disease.
Prof. Orton says that there is need
for energetic action on the part OF
each individual grower, in order to
suppress this pest and he finds that
the only sure method to be employed
is to stop all growing of melous on
ground now infected by the trouble
and then to rotate in crops. He re-
marked that the disease is becoming
quite prevalent in the Southern states
and that it originally was brought to
this country from Africa
Melon growers Of the Rogue River
Valley should arise to the Importance
of the occasion and see to it that the
laws governing such things are so
amended as to provide a penalty for
the care essnsss found on the part OF
any grower in this matter which is
of vital importance to one OF the
best paying crops in this region. 1t
is for them to say what shall be done
to exterminate this pest, which,
unless it is completely eradicated.
will eventually destroy all tue melons
grown hereabouts.
Prof. Orton took occasion to say
that he had visited all the famous
melon growing districts in Georgia
aud South Carolina, where they are
supposed to grow the best melons to
be found in the world. but he finds
thst the patches right nere' near
Grants Pass, are more productive
than those in that section aud that
the fruit here is really Of superior
quality. There the yield averages
about - car TO three acres, while here
there is easily car to two acres.
Here the soil 10 rich and productive.
but there they are compelled to sse
fertilization in order to produce the
proper quality OF melon desired.
A melon that is immune to the
fungus growth disease has been found
by the government experts. although
it is Of rather inferior quality.
Prof. Ortou says thst it is now being
experimented with and if It should
prove 20 be the success which is now
hoped for it, he will see to 1t that the
growers OF The district In and around
Grants Pass receive generous sup
ply Of the seed, just as soon as the
experts ar. convinced thst it will be
The proper thing to SOW such seeds,