Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1908-05-22

Va 'noeo holnes Wnlcn typlnes the
civilization and culture of the Rogue
river valley and beckons the lover of
art and beauty to come and dwell
among us.
On our way home Mr.. Sherman
suggested brief tour for the follow
Ing afternoon which wonld take the
press gang northwest Of town and
accordingly at 80 Monday afternoon
Olding's Maxwell carried Us to the
plant of the California Pine Box &
Lumber Co., where the foreman of
the factory and Capt Robie, the
manager showed the coteris a plot of
japanese clover. something entirely
new and which promises to become an
important forage plant in this section
because OF its great nutrition and its
value as fertilizer of the soil. This
plan promises to become an import.
ant factor in the dairy industry in
Southern Oregon.
The party next went to the fruit
farm of @. Ferdine, Just beyond the
race track where we found the LADY
OF the farm and a young man picking
stra wberries for the market. This was
another bona fidle granite land farm
and when Mr.. Ferdine began setting
out grapes and Strawberries there a
couple of years ago, he failed to heed
the admonition of these VINO said ''its
only waste of time and money"
Well, today, there are over 95 per cent
OF the grape vines growing, right in
the granite soil and without the aid of
irrigation.
The next place visited was luxuri.
ant little garden owned by Il. Hulburt,
over in the granite hills some four or
five miles west of town, a veritable
oasis, where few men might have
thought to have cultivate, the soil
with any hope of remuneration.
However, Mr.. Hubert, in his earlier
life, became addicted to the news
paper habit and during the spell
learned that perseverance, and init en-
sity Of purpose are the essential in
gradients of excellence in any line.
The application of this same indus
try has transformed portion of Mr..
Hulbert's farm, formerly a forest upon
a granite hill, into prolific garden.
HIS strawberries, Logan berries, black
berries, Phenomenals. Queen Ann
cherries, grapes and other fruits were
vivid picture of the fruits of indus.
try aud a fertile soil. Mr.. Hubert
was most courteous in giving out in.
formation relative to both the soil and
culture of fruits. He Is man of
more than average horticultural know.
ledge, aud in fact his experiments
have in fact attracted the attention of
the agricultural department at Wash
ington. His concord grapes last sea-
son are said to have been the best
grown IN the valley.
The next stop landed us in Sc
cluded spot about two miles west of
town and in gulch just east of
heavy fill on the Southern Pacific
railroad, at garden home owned by
NJ. A. Mitchell.
The Mitchell place il truly Won
der, and beyond the descriptive faucy
of either the poet or novelist. Nestled
between two hills, where nature has
spread a verdant canopy over happy
home. is fertile little fruit firm
of berries, apples, pears and peaches,
of some 90 acres The greater por-
ton of this little farm is on the side
of granite hill, the incline of
which is greater than the roof Of the
average house. And again, this
pretty garden home is devoid of
either hoot or horn. All of the til
lsge is done by hand and the industry
expeneded has frightened every weed
from the place. Here are grown in
profusion not only pears, apples
peaches and grapes, but straw berries,
Logan berries, eooseberries and grapes,
besides all sorts Of vegetables. The
stIa~ berry patch is on side hill so
steep that an sDgors goat would
wink tue other eye aud 90 around
rather thau climb it.
After seeiug Nr. Mitchell's fruit
farm thelmost ,keptical will be com
PEELED to admit that there are at least
a half million acres of land in Jose
phine county susceptible to cultivs-
tom. and which viii produce fruit of
whatever variety the horticulturist
may choose to plant. In time past
most people, those who have lived
here for years as well as the new
comers, have looked upon granite soil
with derision and have said that 1t
was n. e., but the newspaper bunch
after a fair and impartial investigation
Of its tillsge and the various products
which 1t has raised are abundsntly
satisfied that it is equally as good as