The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1909-07-01
HORTICULTURAL DEPARTMENT

Edited by F.. Walden

|
sentative of one of the leading daily
papers of Seattle to sit for his picture.
Some facts concerning his distin-
guished career as a horticulturist and
as a Judge of fruits were gathered by
this press representative. The next
morning there appeared a picture in
TINS particular paper that looked no
more like our genial friend than the
picture of a turkey buzzard would
look like that of a graceful swan, and
these words III. e. VanDeman,
Judge of Fruit at Exposition The
picture looked as if the man who sat
| for it might have an attack of the
collie and was about to die. His eyes
were rolled up like those of a dying
| calf. 1t seems that one of those mis-
takes that may happen in the office
of the best papers had been made in
this case and another mans picture
was substituted for VanDeman's. We
who know the genial VanDeman en-
ioyed a good laugh over the blunder
and no one seemed to enjoy it more
| than himself
Very naturally the one thing that
has attracted my attention most OF all
| is the fruit display. I doubt If any
fair ever opened with as fine display
of fruit. In anticipation of the fair
much fruit, especially apples, has been
kept in cold storage. The apple show
made by Washington, Oregon, Idaho
and Utah is very fine indeed. 1t is no
reflection on the other states to say
| that Washington, in the extent OF its
apple show, leads all others. This
was to be expected, for Washington is
near the base of it's supplies. All the
counties, with perhaps two exceptions,
have booths in the Agriculture build
| ing. King, Yakima, Spokane and Che
halls counties, in Washington, have
also county buildings, where are to be
| found exhibitions showing the re-
| sources of these counties. The man
who walks up and down the aisles OF
| the Agriculture building will be de-
| lighted with the display of fruits in
the various county booths. For some
reason it has been arranged that this
building should be given up to the
counties of Washington.
| A finer apple display for this time
of the year l have never seen. Com
parsons would be odious, so | shall
make no attempt to say which one OF
the counties has the best display. The
stranger will be convinced that the
State of Washington produces as fine
apples as can be found on this round
| world. Besides apples, there are no
other local fresh fruits except straw
berries at this early date (June 15).
For enormously large strawberries |
nave never seen the equal. When 1t
comes to raising this best of all fruits,
Puget Sound is strictly in 1T. The
berry fields east of Lake Washington
and those of Vashon Island vie with
each other in showing big strawber-
ries. But it must not be thought that
other sections are left behind in this
show of enormous strawberries.
Equally fine berries are shown from
Sumner and Puyallup, Vancouver,
from Snohomish county-in short from
the whole Sound country. But when
we visit the counties from the other
side of the Cascade Range we find just
as fine berries.
In the Oregon building we find a
magnificent display OF apples. HOW
could it be otherwise, with Hood River
and Medford, as we'll as the displays
from eastern Oregon to be found IN
that building? When | was viewing
the fine display of apples from Hood
River some man who seemed to be in
charge of the Oregon building, said to
me- eve can raise just as fine apples
in any part of Oregon" He evidently
took me to be tenderfoot just from
the East. l shook my head and walked
away Such statements will do many
tenderfoot from the East much harm