Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1910-07-06
GROWN FROM SMALL ACREAGE
TO A LARGE BUSINESS-THE
ORCHAROISTS PLOW DEEP.

stead is a cluster of the celebrated
Italian or Oregon prune, which is
grown largely in the central Will
lamette valley and the largest area of
prune orchards is in Marion and Polk
counties. L. M. Gilbert, author of the
following article, is a prune grower
of considerable experience and has
been quite successful in this branch
of the orchard Industry:
The fruit now commercially known
as the Oregon" prune was formerly
called the Italian. Mr.. Seth Luelling
in 1S4S planted near Milwaukee, Or,
the first commercial orchard of this
variety. The fruit was greatly ad-
mired for its fine flavor, good ship
ping qualities, and as dried product.
Within a few years it had become
quite generally distributed over west
ern Oregon, providing its adaptability
to our climate conditions.
About thirty years after the plant
ing of Mr.. Luelling's orchard, a great
wave of prune tree planting swept
over the northwest. Not only western
Oregon and Washington, but portions
of the eastern parts of these states
and Idaho as we'll participated in the
movement. A heavy crop of Italian
prunes in 1898 put the prune grow
ers in possession of a supply for
which there was not adequate de-
mand. No advertising had been done
by the producer; the quality of the
fruit was not known t othe trade;
the name, Italian prune, suggested
little to overcome the general aver
sion for prunes which had followed
the Importation of Turkish prunes a
prunes were brought in hogsheads.
They were small-merely skin and
bone-but vigorous, If one may give
credence. to the statement that some
of them were able to crawl about.
Our prunes were shipped in bags co
large eastern dealers, who packed
the fruit under their own brands or
resold in bags to the retail trade.
The unattractive appearance of the
fruit when offered to consumers
fostered no demand. Men who were
saw before the close of this years
business that new lines must be fol-
lowed if they would win. Local eff
forts were made to advertise Gore
gon" prunes. 1t was a hard strug-
gle, owing to lack of concerted ac-
tion. Finally the small package
the eight and ten pound boxes-faced
and packed with fancy fruit, found
to be popular and has done more than
all other agencies combined to bring
the Oregon" prune 20 market.
The largest body of prune or
.chards in the Northwest is found
in the red hills south of Salem; about
800 acres have been set to trees.
These orchards were planted in lots
of ten acres and sold very largely to
non-residents, a few of whom came
on to this great prune land of prom
Use to work out their fortunes. They
built dryers when the crops demand
ed, and since paying for these and
other improvements, have been buy
ing adjoining lots. Owing to the
varied business opportunities to be
seen throughout the country at large
nonresident owners of orchards have
been able to invest to better advan-
tage nearer home. These lots have
changed hands at prices ranging from
500 to 5000 per acre-less than
'one-half the value they will repre-
sent when our "Oregon" prune has
been fully advertised, and the prune
growers in general are exclusively as
sociated in unions, with one central
selling agency to do the business.
Producers of fruits are gradually be-
coming aware of the fact that one
half the business of the producer is
to know the market and how to reach
the best.
Orchardists VIII oploW deep and
early and cultivate the soil while it Is
yet pliable before dry weather sets
in get the best returns. There is no
greater mistake than to delay cultiva-
tlon until the ground has become dry.
1t is impossible to bring back the
moisture required. A number Of
growers are sowing vetch--about
one bushel per acre among theiri
trees. The best time to seed to vetch
is Immediately following the close of
the seasons cultivation in August.
The crop grows all winter, storing up
plant food to be made available 20
the trees the following season, when
it is ployed under as a soiling crop.
The necessity of supplying some
means of fertilization to orchard
soil must have early recognition IL
our valley trees are to continue TO
thrive as in the past
There has been quite revival of
Of prune tree planting in this district