Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1907-11-28
THIS VALLEY WILL BE THE APPLE
ORCHARD OF THE WHOLE WORLD

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The whole of western Oregon
from the foothills of the Cascade
Irange to the shores of the Pacific
Including both slopes of the coast
range will in side OF two decades be-
come one vast apple producing re-
glon. The soil, the climate, the
weather conditions and the natural
ADVANTAGES OF water and rail trans
Iportation, with electric lines criss-
crossing every little valley. will
make It possible to maintain a pop
ulation here in the greatest comfort
aud prosperity that the world has
ever seen. The soil will not wear
out. IL becomes richer and more
productive with any kind OF proper
use in fruit growing and dairying,
as time passes. The two industries
naturally go together They sus-
tain a high state OF civilization with
churches, colleges and industries
that are allied TO fruit growing. All
western oregon will go into apples,
prunes, walnuts and small fruits,
in the life OF people now able to
read and comprehend this newspa-
per article.
What an Eastern Man Says.
VIM. Hall OF La Grande has been
spending some time In Salem looh-
ing up the fruit industry. He is a
farmer and fruit grower in the
Grand Ronde Valley and was In
charge of the Union County exhibit
at the Lewis and Clark fair He
made a close inspection of the Wal
lace orchard and several others, and
his conclusions are that the VIII
annette Valley Is the great coming
fruit country. Whereas he is O
loyal friend OF Union County, he
eonfesses that there are many reo-
sons why better fruit can be raised
here than in that garden spot Of
eastern Oregon. In the first place
he says, our climate is much less
and that the work In an
orchard can not only be extended
over longer season, but Il Is easier
done in every way. He Is of the
.opinion that the cold of their win
Iters Is no advantage In the matter OF
minimizing the insect pests as they
are obliged TO spray apples six times
In a season there, as compared with
three or four times here. Further
more the cold winter extends so late
into the spring that the season be-
comes too short to fully mature
fruits of all kinds. For instance,
as a result of this he admits that we
grow Bartlett pears twice the size
that they are capable of producing.
In the matter of other fruits the
difference is correspondingly great,
and it is Mr.. Halls opinion that
while the Grand Ronde Valley can
raise its own fruits, It will be very
difieult for that section to compete
with this valley with its great ma
tural advantages.
Mr., Hall is also familiar with the
Hood River situation, and says that
the fruit growers of that section are
entitled to the greatest praise for
their success. He is not prepared |
to say that the Hood River lands
and climate are superior to those of |
this valley but really thinks that !
their chief fame is due to their
skill, Intelligence, organization aud |
sterling enterprise. He considers !
that II would be folly for anyone TO
start into the apple business there
now for two reasons. viz, first 1t Is ,
almost impossible to get any land |
except the steepest sidehills, and |
secondly, all land about there is too
high in price. He is convinced from
what he has seen that just as good
apples can be grown in the Villa
mette Valley, and that without irri-
cation. This is proven by the fact
hat many Willamette Valley apples
are sold to the enterprising Hood
River buyers and undoubtedly sold
alter as Hood River apples. But
he two strongest points that Mr..
Hall makes for this valley are the
act that there are plenty OF good /
pple lands to be bought here at low "