Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1911-07-07


great size and have splendid flavor
and shipping quality Black and rec
. raspberries are grown extensively
and yet the supply has never beer
equal TO the demand. The prices paid
for this delicious fruit net sausfac-
tory returns to the producer The
steady increase in the demand for this
berry has more than warranted the
annual increase of acreage devoted
TO its culture. The same conditions
exist regarding blackberTies, goose
berries and currants, all of which dc
well and yield satisfactory returns
The Burbank Phenomenal Berry and
the LOganberry are two other varie-
ties which are also extensively grown.
The latter in particular has proven
its worth and bids fair to become one
of the leading products throughout
the valley and a m0ney-maker to the
growers. Strawberries may be said
to be at their best here This is the
statement made by growers and deal
ers. This is the variety of small fruit
grown here longer and to better ad-
vantage than any other. The berries
find a market all over the Pacific
Coast at good prices. Aside from
thousands of crates shipped annually,
hundreds of tons are sold to the can
neries at satisfactory figures.
Walnut Growing.
English walnut culture has begun
to assume proportions of some mag
nitude in the valley. Trees set out
some years since as an experiment
have shown that soil and climate are
favorable to the production of the
nuts. The Franquette, a French va
riety of superior size and quality,
which blooms late, and thus escapes
possible danger of frost, is favored.
Grated trees are planted and begin
to bear at four to six years. There
are now many groves of young trees
planted and orders placed for thou
sands of other trees with nurserymen.
The United States has imported over
S20O0O,000 worth of the walnuts in
one year Their commercial growth
in the Willamette Valley will add an
other valuable product to the already
famous region and also add largely to
the income of the growers. Trees at
seven Wars of age yield 100 pounds
of nuts and these meet with ready
sale at 10 to 20 cents per pound.
picked ten bushels of English
walnuts from one tree apd sold them
for $540 per bushel-Frank Diem,
Route 8, Salem,
| harvested about nine tons of En-
glish walnuts last year from 1900
trees. nine years old Some trees
yielded over 100 pounds each
Thomas Prince.
The Hop Industry.
With Oregon as the greatest hop
producing state in the United States,
with Salem as the center of the in
dustry, marketing and controlling 80
per cent of the crop, it will be seen
that hop growing is a matter Of great
importance to the land owners in the
valley. The quality raised in the val
ley near aSlem has no superior in
the country, and many buyers regard
it as the best. The fact that the
product commands from two to three
cents more per pound than any other
American hops is testimonial to
their value Soil to properly produce
hops must be of immense fertility.
The fact that the country around Sa-
lem produces such vast crops Of hops
demonstrates the value Of the land for
all agricultural purposes. An acre of
hop land in the vicinity will produce
from 1900 to 5000 pounds, according
to location The average price OF
hops during a period of twenty-five
years has been from Is to 20 cents
a pound During that period the price
has scared to over one dollar, and at
times has held for years between 20
and 80 cents per pound The grower
who makes it his business to use care
in the cultivation, picking and drying
of his hops will seldom if ever fail
to realize a good price, even when
there is an over-production. On an
over-stocked market only choice hops
can find favor For this reason the
hops Of the willamette Valley seldom
fall below a point of good profit The
industry gives employment to thou
sands of people, and puts into circu-
lation a large amount of money. From
10000 to 10000 pickers are annually
required to pick the hops raised on
the farms near Salem Salem, as the
central supply and shipping point, is,
therefore, largely benefited In one
year Salem marketed over 25,O0O,0 900
pounds of hops The sab of these
even at an average price of IA cents
per pound means the distribution of
a large sum of money where the prod
uct is grown.
Dairying.
Government and other experts have