The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1910-03-10
MASON STlRS THINGS
UP AT CORVALLIS

Recently A. L. Mason journeyed
down to Corvallis to address the
farmers and others assembled for the
Agricultural College short courses.
Several extracts from the account OF
bis speech In Corvallis paper are re-
printed here.
"a. !. Mason, the Hood River apple
man who talked at the o. A. G.
Armory last night, Was greeted by
a large audience that gave every
evidence Of sincere appreciation OF
bis able address. His expressions
we're not wholly orthodox, but he
spoke from experience and with
authority. When he offered oppor.
tunity tor questions, many we're
dred at him and considerable discus
sion resulted. Mason held his own
and the discussion brought out much
Information.
| "Mr. Masun's address was divided
into three phases-''lmprovement of
Rural Conditions" an illustrated
talk and "Hood River Hot Air." as
he termed It, Under the first, Mr..
Mason urged the building and main
tenance OF highways. and the preser-
Vation OF the right and power OF the
people to enact and to enforce laws.
he insisted that there is much that
Congress ought to do for the farmer,
more that the state ought to do for
him, and still more that he ought to
do for himself. A government good
roads bureau should be esta blished,
and the parcels post should become a
fact A health bureau was declared
to oe necessity.
"phe Legislatures were scored tor
doing so little for the good roads
movement. A j. Jobnson's good
Dads bill met his favor and be con-
sidered it a crime that the legislature
chopped up this measure and left
nothing worth while In its place.
"Mr. Mason declared that consoli
dation OF rural schools is right and
proper, that only by consolidation
can the country student get the kind
| Of education be should have.
"Hhe first road farmer should
build is a good one from his barn to
his gate, and then to his market.
"lhe Hot Air portion of Mr..
| Mason's address proved to be cold
facts and figures based on personal
experience. The grating system YVES
remarkably we'll illustrated in lantern
81 ides aud the talk was convincing.
The open tree system was especially
emphasized. The speaker confessed
that hs was a self. made book farmer,
but that he is eminently successful
was dem onstrated In the appearance
Of his beautiful orchard as shown
In the slides. Mason was full of
humor and happy incidents and he
touched up the willamette valley
rather humorously several times.
"Do not experiment with too many
varieties. The Yellow lNewtowns are
the best for Hood River, and doubt
less best for the Willamette. DO not
plant more than two varieties in one
orchard. In his opinion the Will
lsmette has Enot enough sunshine and
tou much water for Spitzen bergs. And
then came the questions. The crowd
enjoyed the lectures and doubtless
will profit by the many excellent sug-
gestions.
Mr.. Mason stirred loyal citizen
of the Willamette valley to come
forward with eolumn and halt the
| following week in answer to the COM
parsons bst y cen the Hood River and
WilslmeCte valleys. The main point
made by the Willamette man was
that Willamette valley apples had q
reputation before Hood River was
| heard Of.