The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-04-20
APPLES SHOW MORE
PROFIT THAN WHEAT
j. L. Dumas, Who Has Made Fortune
in Fruit Raising, One of Principal
Speakers at Weekly Luncheon
of Commercial Club.


More than 80 Of the representative
business men Of the city were in at
tendance today noon at the weekly
luncheon Of the Commercial club in
the Dacres hotel. and the event was
the most successful of any yet chron-
iced. President ]. NJ. Crawford pre-
sided, and first introduced J. L.
Dumas, president of the Washington
State Horticultural association, who
gave a comprehensive talk upon the
apple industry of the Walla Walla
valley. Mr.. Dumas, who has made a
small fortune out of his apple orchard
near Dayton, said that he had re-
peatedly studied the situation as to
the probability of an production,
and that this year was so fully con-
WINGED there would not be surplus
Of fruit that he has planted more
acreage in apple trees.
According to figures given by the
speaker, the United States last year
produced some 66,00O,000 boxes of
apples, about one box to a person
living in this country
"There are thousands and thou
sands Of people, said he, who never
see an apple, and while that is the
case there is no danger of an over
production. In planting orchards there
are many things to be taken into
consideration, such as the selection
of an orchard site, where frosts are
not apt to ruin the blossoms; the
varieties best adapted to climatic
conditions, and those varieties that
will keep best and reach their des-
tinations in best condition"
Mr.. Dumas said an acre of apple
orchard was worth 20 times more than
an acre of wheat, and gave figures
that seemed to bear him out in his
remarks. That it might not be pos
sible to raise a big crop every year
he said was true, but the wise fruit
grower would guarantee to grow good
crops three out of five seasons. In
speaking of the frosts which the val
ley has experienced the past week,
Mr.. Dumas dwelt lightly upon those
unusual" occurrences, saying that in
Ia country where froStS were unknown
excellent, well-fiavored apples were
also OnknOWU. he CduliOIcO Iull
growers against taking up with the
new varieties Of apples that now and
then appear and are reputed to be
something wholly unique; the fruit
man should stay by those varieties
known to be adapted to the section
in which they are to be grown.
He welcomed the trend of progress
that is bringing farmers Institutes,
chautauqua courses and demOnstra-
ton trains to the betterment of pro-
ducts Of the West. and said it would
not be long until the farmer would
have a deeper respect for the theories
of the professor and for the industries
as we'll.
Athena Delegate.
S. F. Wilson, Of Athena. who is In
Walla Walla today with a number of
residents Of the little Umatilla coun-
ty town. made a few remarks in which
he welcomed the progress being made
by the Garden City, and announced
with some degree Of pride that Athena
had also become affected with the
publicity bug. and was about to ex-
pend $4,000 in an experiment on 200
acres to determine whether land ad-
joining the TOWNSHIP would grow any
thing but wheat.
Athena has suffered because of the
too general belief that nothing but
wheat crops could be grown on the
soil there, and we are preparing to
make an experiment which will enable
us to determine whether fruit or some
thing else can best be raised said
he. 1--WE will be only too glad to
co. operate with your city in the big
steps of progress, not only for the in
terests Of Walla Walla, but for Athena
as we'll, for we realize that whenever
Walla Walla or the Pacific Northwest
takes a step ahead, Athena cannot but
be benefited thereby
r. A. Grove Speaks.
Don't be afraid to go down into
your pockets for money with which
to improve your town." said DR.. r.
A Grove, grand master of the Masonic
order of the state, who was present
Every dollar spent in improving
your city is a real investment and
you cannot lose by it. 1t pays to
spend your money to improve your
town."
DR.. Grove paid a high compliment
20 Walla Walla, the excellent build
ngs, schools, colleges, streets and
scenery, but called attention to the
fact that the city should make every
attempt possible to support those
institutions which are healthy and
meritorious, and thus increase the
growth.
Publicity Report.
w. G. Souther, publicly agent Of
the Commercial club. gave a brief
outline of the work done during the
past week, saying that more than
5000 invitations "a programs for the