Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1911-04-14
ORCHARD|STS OF
ROGUE river in
line TO excel
BY c. H. Clements.


tion for growing pears, apples and
peaches no longer occupies an infer
ior position relative to other sections
Of the country. A few years ago the
fruitgrower did not receive an order
beyond the Rocky Mountains; but
this limited field for marketing has,
by the best methods of horticulture,
been expanded to all the markets Of
the world, In fact, the best prices for
pears have been obtained from Eng
lish purchasers. The foreign con-
sumers are we'll pleased with what
they receive and from year to year
are in touch with the progress Of
the coming years output.
In 1909, by general calculation
based upon aggregate figures taken
from all the owners of the valley,
the fruit crop was measured up to
the sum of 81 1000, 900, and that year
was considered light one.
The best information for that year
rated apples at 80 per cent, pears
70 per cent, while the peaches var
ed in different localities. Good au-
thority attributes the long and short
crops Of fruit to the different meth
ods employed by horticulturists and
by the further employment Of mex
perienced men. Inspection demon
strates, in passing over large areas
that some owners go to extremes by
thinning too much while on the 9TH
or hand may be found a strong de-
sire by some to force great quanti-
ties Of fruit of an inferior quality
by neglecting to thin and prune suf-
ficiently which would keep the ave-
rage tree in yearly bearing condition.
The apple crop in 1909 was 500 cars;
pears 800 cars, and peaches 100
cars. Following these figures and
percentage given the 1910 crop pro-
duced 500 cars Of apples; 400 cars
of pears, with like increase in the
peach crop.
Demonstrating the remarkable pro-
ductivness of well cared for trees, as
shown in the accompanying illustra-
tions, 33 boxes OF first-grade Spitzen-
berg apples were picked from one
tree on the old Reymers ranch, now
subdivided, Anderson & McGinn own
ing the 11-acre orchard In which
this particular tree was found, in
the same orchard another tree pro-
duced 3S boxes. The fruit from
these trees was purchased by w. B.
Sherman, Of this city, and placed on
exhibition at the district fair in 1910
in a one-tree exhibit, along with 40
boxes Of Winter Nellis pears and 10
boxes Of pound pears, also from one
tree each. Through Mr.. Sherman's
courtesy we are enabled to give pho.
tographic reproduction Of this ex.
hibit and Of the Spitzenberg tree
from which the apples were picked
A feature OF this particular orchard
is the fact that both Mr.. Anderson
and Mr.. McGinn are Eastern bust
ness men-not orchardists, but un,
der the direction of the county fruit
inspector, ]. F. Burke, are working
skillfully and with great success in
putting this grand orchard In the
highest state OF productiveness.
Next Season Promises Well
1t requires no abstract calculation
safely to calculate what will be pro
duced in 1911 which will be the en-
ormous sum Of $2,000.000. This biz
collection of s2,OOO,OoO is enough t
establish so banking institutions
with capital fully paid up. Assets
OF this character are startling to thu
investigator as well as giving to thu
community confidence as to its sci
supporting power. This immense rev
enue has become prime factor II
the development OF the state Of Ore
gon and local community pride.
The output for 1911 never looke'
better. The orchards have beef
carefully sprayed, heavy pruning |
well under way and the winter snal
has been just right, that is, enougl
cold has been felt in January AM
February to keep the sap below tn
soil line until the danger OF winte
frost has been eliminated The com
ing year will have, besides the oil
orchards to reckon with. many nev
orchards just ready with their firs
crop. what this will amount to ha
not been taken into consideration
and may not properly be until fall
Standing In the open door OF sprin
and the busy season, the valley pre-
sents to the stranger thrifty as
ant