Wallowa County chieftain. [volume] (Enterprise, Or.) 1909-1911, 1910-02-10
HAPPENINGS FROM AROUND oregon
APPLE PROFITS GREAT.
Former Mail Carrier Extols Life of
Up-to. Date Fruitraiser.

Up-to, Date Fruitraiser.
Portland-One of the most interest
ing addresses delivered before Portland
Apple Growers association was given
by /. A. Mason, prominent Hood
River orchardist. the subject was
1.-The Apple from Start to Finish" the
speaker giving the large audience pres
ent clear, concise story of apple pro-
duction from the practical standpoint.
Perhaps the most interesting part of
Mr.. Mason's address was that in which
he gave exact figures on the proceeds
from an Oregon apple orchard. In his
Hood River orchard he has just two
varieties, Newtown Pippin and Spitz-
enberg. In 1906 his receipts from the
Spitzenbergs were $685. an acre, and
from the Newtowns $3.50 an acre. This
was the only year, he said, in which
the Spitzenbergs brought larger returns
than the other variety. In 1907 the
average returns were $3.50 an acre; in
1905, 81, 200 an acre. and in 1909, $500
an acre. This year his trees are lS
yearS old.
"These figures are exact and not col
ored in any way" said Mr.. Mason.
cit will be seen that my orchard has
brought me in gross receipts OF S7OO
an acre as an average for five years.
AL expense of maintenance amounted
to about 5000 an acre, leaving net
profit OF $500 an acre.
This, OF course, is paying 10 per
cent or valuation of So, an acre.
1t looks big, but it is nothing more
than any young man who gets hold of
good piece OF Oregon apple land can DO.
1t car be done in the Willamette val
ley. II you will only select the right
land, plant the best varieties and give
them proper attention.
"You will notice that my orchard
brought in only $500 81 acre last year.
This, ! believe. was because the crop
was so heavy the year before. The ex-
trsordinary cold snap of last winter
also contributed to it. But ! want to
say right now that this year gives
every indication OF being one Of the
best that Hood River has ever expert
enced. l believe confidently that my
orchard will again bring in at least
$1,000 an acre.
"In raising apples it must be borne
in mind that it takes time before the
trees begin to pay. You will get q
small crop in five years, and q better
yield each subsequent year. But all
that time you have been paying out
with nothing coming in. 1t will take
the crops of the seventh and eighth
years to bring you out even. Then
you are in clover. It's all velvet after
that"
Mr.. Mason advocated planting not
more than three varieties in one orch
ard. and said two are better, if the
right two are selected. He also de-
clared that in Oregon he does not con-
slider the slope of the ground as max
ing a great deal of difference, just SC
the soil is of the right quality.
Say Eugene-Coos Bay Road Assured
Eugene-F. B. Kidder, one of the
promoters of the railroad from Eugene
to Coos Bay. via Siuslsw, has returned
W llllc city 4IOLL mLliGaPOiics "AcAt
he has been comforting with people
who are backing him. He will be fol-
lowed in q few days by j. 81. Thomas,
8 civil engineer. who has built several
lines in the Middle West, and John
Baird, another railroad man, who will
be associated with Mr.. kiGder in this
enterprise. All have left good posi-
tions in Minneapolis to take Up this new
work, and will make Eugene their
home with their families.
They say that as soon as the survey
and right Of way are secured g large
railroad corporation is ready and viii
ling to build the road. A fund to
complete this work is now being sub
scribed and the promoters say it can be
raised in few days.
These men have come here at the in
stance of the Lane County Asset COM
pany, body Of local business men,
who have worked hard or the PROPOSE
tion for the past year, and who now
believe that their work has begun &c
.Ao-r E-.,,.