Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1910-01-04

dented shortness of the apple crop
throughout the Northwest.
Many planting syndicates
have been organized, most of whose
acreage of these companies runs from
900 to 5000 acres, and will be devoted
largely to apples.
Relentless War ON Pests.
The fact of greatest interest and
promise, however, is the evidence of
the closing year that the people of the
state are becoming aroused to prop
er appreciation of our horticultural
possibilities. Measures designed to re-
novate old orchards and eliminate
pests are looked upon with less hos
tility, and, in the more progressive
communities, are welcomed.
In some countries, fruit inspector
and from one to three deputies are
maintained by the County Court One
county (Jackson), in addition to the
inspector and deputies, contributes
800 a month to expenses of a Gov
tApSi Cn5a6Co III C@AtOA
ing certain orchard diseases.
1t required a large measure of faith
five years ago, to predict such hope
full conditions. However, it is just such
appreciation of native resources-just
such a1ertness, energy and co-opera-
tion in combating pests, that have
built up the California fruit industry
to such magnitude, and added so many
millions to the pockets of her people.
AS regards the culture of most fruits
grown in quantities by us, and es-
pecially of the apple, no state in the
Union offers combination of conti-
tions more conducive to success. Soil
and climate are all that we could
reasonably ask.
Hop Raising.
oregon ranks first among the hop
growing states of the Union, produc-
ing this year 81 per cent of the total
crop of the United States. 1t has main
tined the lead for years, and is in
position to do so indefinitely, having
every advantage in the way of soil and
climate for producing a perfect hop
at the minimum of cost. In the opin-
ion of the best informed hopmen,
Oregon is destined to become the chief
hop-p producing section of the world.
The European countries are steadily
reducing their acreage, and drawing
more and more on the United States.
The ease with which hops can be
oromn in tbiS oorOtru Y1orfio1,Iorlu in
Oregon, the low cost of production and
the safe harvesting season afforded all
combine to give the state an advan-
tage in this, and enable it to COM
pete successfully with other hop
growing districts.
Timber.
Oregon contains one-sixth of the
standing timber of the United States.
Oregon possesses more standing tim
Der than any other state in the Union.
The estimated stumpage of Oregon is
approximately ,000,000,00O feet,
distributed over the different counties.
Wool.
Oregon wool, like oregon fruit, is a
recognized standard throughout AM
erica, for from the Oregon product is
obtained the fiber for the best classes
of wooden textiles.
The years output has brought to
the producers $4,000, 900, the years
clip aggregating 2O,45O,00O pounds.
Mines.
While Oregon is not known chiefly
as a mining state, minerals, from the
time of the pioneer, have been an i'm
portant source of wealth, and will re-
main so indefinitely In the early days
much of Oregon's gold was sent to
San Francisco, and helped add to CAL
ifornia's prestige as a gold state, the
credit for it's production being lost to
Oregon. In recent years, however, min
ing has been followed on more per-
manent basis, and each year the earth
is made to add millions to the states
riches. Although the growing import
ance of agriculture, manufacturing
and commerce keeps mining in the
background, it is an industry that
cannot well be overlooked.
In gold alone the annual output is
more than 100000, while other min
erals add large amounts to that fig
ure. Copper probably ranks next to
gold in point of value, while rich de-
posits of coal are being worked in sew
eral parts of the state.
Poultry.
No state in the Union offers to the
poultry farmer greater advantages
than oregon, and the Willamette VAL
ley is the most favored spot for this
industry Here the climate is unsurpass-
ed for the easy and profitable growing
of poultry. feed is comparatively
cheap. and is fresh the year round,
and the market could not be better.
The demand is greater than the sup
ply, and will probably continue so
for the next 20 years at least.
English Walnuts.
Approximately 5000 acres were
planted to English walnuts in Western
Oregon I'm 1909 and walnut growing,
already demonstrated to be a profit
able industry in Oregon, is developing
into important proportions.
Salmon.
The salmon pack on the Columbia
River during the season OF 1909, from
early reports received. show that
about an average amount Of all grades
Of salmon was secured. and that, not
the fact that the last
Legislature shortened the open season
30 days in the Spring and also provid-
I'd a weekly closed period OF "a hours.
making I'm all a. days less fishing in
1909 than prevailed during the past
years.
Weather.
Weather conditions in the state OF