Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1909-01-29

will crown their efforts. Nature has
produced here the soil, the climate
and the surroundings-and has left
man to do the rest.
There is no better way of proving
how well we are doing our part OF
this great work than by looking over
the returns. The three elements
which enter into this item of re-
turns are, first, yield; second, price,
and third, expense. Enterprising
fruit growers, by reading, comparing
notes and by learning by experience,
will be able to increase the yield or
price or both and reduce the expense
so that the matter of profit is soon
an assured fact.
But after all, the great reason why
the fruit of this section is constantly
going higher is the fact that this
item of expense or loss is 80 great
in most of the older fruit growing
states that It leaves no chance of
profit, consequently neglect and dis
couragement follow. A prospective
fruit grower would look a long time
before finding place where this lit
tie bitter pill OF expense can be made
SO small and the returns so large as
right here in the Rogue River Valley
The State Board of Horticulture, in
its report last year said: There is
no other section of the United States
where apples and pears are grown,
where the shipping qualities Of the
fruit compares with those Of the
Rogue River Valley"
Fruit sent to the Worlds Fair at
st. Louis from Rogue River Valley
arrived in better condition than from
any other part of the state. This
mountain-locked valley, for 100 miles
in length, including foothills, is so
perfectly sheltered that there are no
severe rain storms to blight the bios
SONS or high winds to blow off the
fruit Sunshine is what gives flavor
as well as clear color to the fruit, and
here we have 1t in abundance.
With the assurance which we now
have Of plenty Of water for irriga-
ting purposes, the last drawback to-
ward extensive fruit growing opera
tions has been removed, and already
there are indications Of such an
awakened interest in fruit growing as
this country has never seen before.
On all sides we hear the assertion
made as to the number of trees or
vines which are to be planted this
coming season. Several large con-
tracts are already under way and the
plan so successfully tried In other
sections of dividing up large tracts In
10 acre lots on easy terms Is being
launched here with every prospect Of
abundant success.
Since my appointment as fruit in
spector for Josephine county ! have
been In close touch with the major.
ity of fruit growers of this region
and II Is not putting II too strong to
say that where there were 100 or
chards left without care and cultiva
tion year ago there will scarcely be
found one this year. or course there
Is more than one reason for this
1t is not alone that they are to bt
compelled to spray or dig out but or
the other hand they have the induce
ment of good prices obtained through
good shipping concern.
And right here let me say wore
Of praise for our Rogue River Frui
Exchange. For the short time or
ganized It has done a really remark
able business in collecting, shipping
and selling at good prices our whole
crop of apples, which were actual!
, being picked before the organlzatio,
was perfected. The saving to thu
, growers on boxes, paper and spra!
! material has been considerable, asld,
J from the benefits OF being assured o
: good markets and shipping facilities
, The magnificent display OF boxe'
! apples sometime ago at the Operi
= House was the suggestion OF one o
= our number, who thought II woul'
I pay to give the impression OF GOO
r backing to the government official, J
= p. o'Gara, who had been sent here L
r help us keep out pear blight and 9th
er diseases. The suggestion was I'm
r mediately acted upon and our tw
r most expert packers worked withou
r dinner until the hour OF meeting
{ with what results we all know.
n A semi-circle OF 40 boxes OF bea,
r tifully packed and polished apples
all shades OF coloring, from the whit
= and yellow of Glori Mundi and New
e town, to the deep red OF the Winesa
% and Spitzenberg. Every style OF paC