Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1907-07-23
ROADSIDE IMPRESSIONS
fills in Eastern Polk Are Becoming
One Vast Orchard Of Apples,
Peaches and Cherries.

OusI as tIe western portion OF Polk
county mustbe known as our dairying
country, so must the eastern portion
around Eola, Zena and Lincoln be
famed as the present center of our
fruit industry.
One viewing this country, while
passing casually along the road, can
not fail to note two things in
particular-the rich red soil, which, in
oregon, is the sure sign of good fruit
land, and the large, well-kept
orchards, which show that the people
are taking the best advantage of the
possibilities OF this soil. Surface
appearances show that the people Of
this locality are prospering, but few
minutes conversation with them stag
gers one at the magnitude of their
prosperity.
On the farm Of B, /. Ferguson, at
Eola, conditions may be found which,
although they are no remarkable
exception to the rule, astonish one by
the promises they give for the future.
Mr.. Ferguson has 9 acre orchard Of
cherry trees, about p acres being
young trees not yet we'll in bearing,
and the remainder containing old
trees. The trees are planted 1O9 to the
acre, so the entire number
bearing fruit this year amounted to
something over lGO. From this COM
paratively small number of trees, Mr..
Ferguson gathered 27,939 pounds of
cherries. Sold to the Salem cannery
at from 4c to SC a pound, the crop
brought him the handsome sum of
$l363.6O. Mr.. Ferguson is able to
thoroughly substantiate this state
ment, since he has In his possession
the vouchers from the cannery, show
ing the amount of cherries delivered
and the sum received for them.
Nor are the cherries the only
resource on this prosperous farm. Mr.
and Mrs. Ferguson expect, before the
year closes, to clear $4,000 more from
the sale of other fruits and the profits
from honey and poultry. They have
26 stands of bees, all double capped
with supers, each super capable Of
holding "a pounds of honey. Their
White Wyandottes and Rhode Island
Reds, from which they realize a
handsome profit yearly, are all
thoroughbreds and have among their
number several prize-winning cock
erels and pullets.
Among those who are engaging on
a large scale in the raising of cherries
and other fruit are Judge I. n Max
we'll, who has an orchard Of 600 Royal
Anne trees; o. G. Savage, who has
planted 300 Royal Annes, and Arthur
Traglio, famous throughout the
county as a raiser Of small fruits and
as a market gardener.
Thomas Holman, of Salem, has
pruned and improved the old peach
orchard which lies along the river
just below Eola, and which now be-
longs to him, and is making from it
handsome yearly profit, Mr.. Holman
owns 6O-acre hop yard near the river.
Another man who, although not a
fruit grower, deserves mention as one
who has done much to build up the
Eola country, is Henry Brophy,
business manager of the Eola Hop q
Livestock Company. Mr., Brophy is
an up-to-date, progressive man, and
has for several years successfully
conducted the 6O-acre hop yard at
Eola, as we'll as two stock farms, one
at Eola and one at Lincoln. Among
his blooded Hereford cattle and his
registered Angora goats, many
animals are found which have repeat
edly taken prizes at the State Fair
and elsewhere.
Seeing the enormous amount Of
territory on the Eola hills which is as
vet implanted aud unproductive, and
seeing likewise the great profits
reaped from the comparatively small
portion in use at present, one must
hesitate even TO attempt an estimate
of the possibilities of this immeasur-
ably rich portion of Polk county.
Continued Next Issue.)