Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1907-07-26
ROADSIDE IMPRESSIONS
fills in Eastern Polk Are Becoming
One Vast Orchard Of Apples,
Peaches and Cherries.

hand acre upon acre Of broad, well
cultivated orchards, promising hop
yards, and the nodding seas of ripen-
ing grain.
Scarcely farm is found which does
not have few acres planted in fruit,
and from all indications the industry
Of fruit farming is destined to sup
plant the growing OF grains in this
district. Hopyards of course will con-
tinue along the rich strips Of bottom
land, but a decade perhaps will see
cherries, apples and pears reigning
supreme along the curved flanks OF
the Eola hills.
John Walling OF Lincoln, Gilbert &
Patterson, G. H. Crawford and others
prefer the culture Of hops to that Of
fruit, and a glance at their well-culti-
waited yards shows how carefully they
have followed the line Of their choice.
Mr.. Walling has 40 acres of fine hops
planted in the rich land lying Just
within the elbow OF the Willamette
river at Lincoln. Gilbert & Patterson
have also 40 acres, and Mr.. Crawford
has 90 acres. Other and smalleryards
are in evidence at various places, all
we'll kept and for the greater part
trellised 10 an up-to-date manner.
The hardy vigorous growth Of these
hops promises we'll for the harvest in
September.
The wheat fields do not extend far
from the road this season, and many
places back on the hills are vacant
where always before were large fields
Of grain. The farmers, however, are
congratulating themselves that they
are no deeper in wheat, for labor is so
hard to obtain this year that grave
doubts are entertained as to the possi.
bility of getting sufficient number
Of threshing crews to care for the
grain they have.
Most of the farmers give their atten-
ton to cherries and other small fruits,
merely raising enough apples and
pears for their own use, but the Wal
lace farm is a notable exception to
this rule. This is the largest orchard
In eastern Polk county and consists
almost entirely Of apples and pears.
1t is managed by Q. A. Parks, of
Salem. Last year their apple crop
was sold for $2.75 box, and they are
hoping to do even better with this
years fruit. The pears promise an
excellent yield, and are, in fact, the
only really good crop Of that fruit in
eastern Polk. Other growers Of pears
expect to have better fortune next year
by more assiduous cultivation and
care Of their trees.
Jackson Purvine deals almost ex-
clusively in the Phenomenal berry,
which, it is claimed by the growers of
that locality, is destined to crowd the
Loganberry off the market, by reason
OF it's greater adaptability to CONNER
cial uses.
d. r. Ruble has great success in the
management OF an 1l-acre farm, on
which he produces various small
fruits and reaps yearly fair profit
from their sale.
J. r. Shepard, although raising
other fruits, has had the most success
his cherries. The specimens Of Bings
and Lamberts which he took to the
Salem Cherry Fair won for him one
cup and three diplomas. Mr.. Shepard
will enlarge the size Of his cherry
orchard and will undoubtedly have
even greater success than heretofore.
Noticeable as type of the wonder
full productiveness Of the soil In these
hills, is the crop of cherries picked
this year by D. G.. Henry. From a
small orchard OF 100 trees, he gathered
something over 1900 pounds. At the
rates paid for cherries by the Salem
cannery, this crop must have netted
him between $500 and $500.
Among those who have lately sci
out cherries are W. J. Crawford and
G. A. Mckinley. Mr.. Crawford
cleared such a gOodly sum from the
sale oft fruit produced by so trees
that he has lately set out 1000 more ol
the Bing and Lambert varieties.
Mr.. Mckinley has an orchard of750
small trees, which will be bearing In
side Of two years. The favorite cherry
among the people ofthis locality seem
to be. not the famous Royal Anne, bul
the Bing and the Lambert, both ol
which are undoubtedly prize winners
A. A. Roy has not engaged In farm
ing to any great extent but has beeI
very successful in raising poultry
His chickens number between 300 anC
500. all sturdy and reliable Plymouth
Rocks. A coop Of spring chicken
about 10 weeks old was sent from thi
farm to the Portland market a shor
time ago, and upon being weighed tn
birds we're found to average tw'
pounds each.
The farms mentioned in this brie
article are only a few Of the man.
prosperous homes to be found 10 th'
hills and valleys OF eastern Polk
county. The reporters time beini
Limited, he was able TO visit only
few homes situated on the maiE
thoroughfares. The entire range 0
hills lying along the western bank Q
the Willamette river Is d'tied wit
/ 0 richards and gardens, FURNISHING
employment and support for