Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1908-12-18
OUR MERLIN DEPARTMENT
OF Interest to the Public.

In the list OF opportunities that
are open to the present generation
Merlin, and the adjacent district oc-
cupies an important position. Stu
ated at the northern end of the
Rogue River Valley, nestled In
among the foothills and surrounded
by large area Of fertile orchard
land, the town is getting ready to
lunge into the list of things that are
moving.
Being In the Rogue River Valley
nothing need be said of its climate
its fruit-ripening propensities are
recognized in the markets of the
world-and the knowing ones re-
alize the value of foothills as a pro-
lection from frosts and a conserva-
tor of the moisture of the winter
rains and the heat of the summer
sun. The soil varies from the rich
est river bottom sediment, through
the black sticky and the preferred
red soil, to the white granite. The
latter is just coming to be recog-
nized as choice for grapes, It being a
familiar thing during the past sea-
son to hear some fruit raiser say:
"If you want to see what white gran
ite will do, just come up and look at
my vineyard" II. l.. Keyte, who is
probably taking more interest in
Tokay grapes than any other Of the
| old-timers, had that for the burden
of his song for several months.
Noah Simpkins. an old-timer, be-
lieves In red land with a north
slope. and arrogantly defies the
world to show anything in the line
of apples, peaches, pears or grapes
that are even equal to what he pro-
duces. mot as good, but better"
is the way he puts It. r. A. Shat
tuck, A. C. Ford and r. j. Everton,
the men who have made Merlin
famous for its peaches, will tell you
that the river bottom Is the only
place to produce that luscious fruit.
II. Il. Gale, who recently came down
from Portland and purchased a
large tract on the river, which com
prlses all kinds of soils and slopes,
Is preparing to take the advice of
all of them, planting his orchards
and vineyards in a symmetrical man
ner without regard to existing con-
ditions, feeling 1t is not so much as
to where you set them as 1t is to set
them, and take care of them after
wards. To make a list of those who
are making success under varying
conditions would require more space
than is permissible In an article Of
this nature, but an observing one
can see that where a man adapts
himself to his surroundings there is
but little doubt OF its success.
The Merlin district comprises
something over $4,000 acres of
land adapted to fruit and alfalfa.
1t has never been doomed and prices
are still within the bounds of reason,
unimproved land usually selling for
about SIS per acre, while several
partially improved places can be had
for tritle more. OF course, this
does not apply to the well-improved
tracts. We have a record of an offer
OF $500 per acre for one tract be-
ing made by man who has rented
II for three years and who therefore
ought to be in position to know
its value The offer was refused,
and his attention was called to the
fact that 1t will pay 10 per cent in
terest ON $4,000 per acre When We
take into consideration that It was
for peach orchard 25 years old, we
What one Just coming into
bearing would be worth-yet SINH
lar land can be bought for S25 per
acre unimproved The reader will
ash why this man does not buy the
cheaper land and improve II. He
ausN cred this question by saying,
II am going to- but II | could get
that could make It pay for itself
in the four years necessary to
bring the new land into bearing and
put from $4,000 to $4,000 in the
p, besides" He estimates that
this orchard will be good for so
years yet-as long as he will want
TO raise peaches.
Mr. and Mrs, X. G. Garroutte of
Montague Cal, former residents of
this place, are visiting with friends
here