Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1908-05-22
Are Now a Panorama of
Horticultural Beauty.
STRAWBERRY NOW QUEEN
Orchardists of Rogue River Val.
10y Now Reveling in Anticipa.
ton of Abundant Crop.

The newspaper "frat' of Grants
Pass is not, essentially, a coterie of
millionaires, enjoying prominent
representation on either .Lombs or
Walls treets, or summer home at
Saratoga. Neither is the wish father
to the thought. but when someone
lights the pipe and talks about di-
vers things colossal, this protege of
New England journalism who have
needed the admonition of the sainted
Greeley-"Go west, young mas, :"
etc.-some of us are from the state Of
"show me-"
AS before indicated there is a meter
on the bank account. but, aroused by
the stories of the orchards, vineyards
and strawberry patches of the county,
they were bound to test of the pud-
ding and so, chart cred couple of
automobiles at Olding's garage last
Sunday afternoon and, accompanied
by W. r. Sherman. the Toksy man,
started for the Applegate.
At 81. e. Getbing's some four miles
south Of Grants Pass, we found splen-
did strawberry patch and orchard on
purely granite land. which in the
earlier history Of Josephine county
the wiseacres said was nil. Despite
this "knock" Mr.. Gsthing realized
$3.50 off one quarter of an.acre of straw
berries last season and his faith is
such that he has planted four acres
moreon the same kind of soil, though
he does not employ either irrigation
or fertilizer. Mr.. Gething is one of
the most thorough fruit farmers in
the county; he believes in frequent
cultivation and the elimination of
weeds, in fact he says that there is
not room for weeds and strawberries
or other fruit Oh the same plot of
ground. he conserves the moisture
by frequent and shallow cultivation,
after the Bampbell. method.
Mr.. Gething also has grape vine
which affords a comfortable shade at
his kitchen door during the summer
months, which produces half a ton
of grspss each season. He is con-
vinced from experience and store Of
observation that granite land is the
equal of any other for the culture of
fruits, the only requirement being in
tense cultivation. His prunes, pears
and apples are unsurpassed in the
valley for healthy growth and pro.
ducticn. and this On what is called
granite land"
From here the diciples of the press
proceeded to Murphy and on up the
Appleagte passing the large Carson
vineyard, which 10 looking fine this
season. When the party reached the
S. H. Cook ranch there WAS royal
welcome. That Mr.. Cook 10 thoroughly
acclimated to Southern Oregon is at
tested by the fact that he has been
imbibipg the sunshine, invigorsting
ozone and clear water from the
mountain peaks of the Pacific coast
for the past 40 years. There IL
grape vine in Mr.. Cooks front yard
which is foot or more in diameter
at the trunk and has been trained
over trellis for more than 100 feet
The product OF this one.vine is from
a ton TO ton and half per season.
And this is not all for Mr.. Cocks
front yard SUPP orts a cherry tree lOO
inch's IN circu miereuce and 90 feet
high which. produces more than ton
OF fruit each season. This grare vine
and cherry tree are perhaps tie largest
aud most prolific bearers IN the Rogue
River valley. There are other cherry
trees in Mr. Cooks yard; shru bbery,
and flowers, which not only defy the
torrid rays of Old Sol but should eI'
cite the muse of the poet.
The soil here 10 both granite and
black loam, the product of which hai
dsfed the tests of the skeptic who wal
frightened by the first suggestion o
granite. Mr.. Cooks home is q verit
able haven Of rest for he and bis esti
msbls wife in their declining years
and spot, which might easily inspire