The Ordway new era., 1911-06-23
ROSE CARNIVAL
Portland's Big Festival De-
scribed by Mrs. Roberts,
while I'D. c." tells of
Crop Conditions

So many things have happened, both
at home and abroad, since my last let.
ter that scarcely know where to be.
gin. Ordway has risen to the dignity
OF county.seat. temporarily at least,
and when return shall scarcely know
"meself;" and the second thought that
comes to me Is that it has actually
quit raining in Oregon and the dust
is now flying after months dryness,
probably as bad as at Ordway, with
your year OF unprecedented drouth.
Only here there IL no wind to keep it
flying, but the ubiquitous auto leaves
its Shiny trail In air and you almost
curse the day OF Invention. mo more
rain until October"-what a country!
But no sign Of drouth Is visible now.
Farmers are busy with cultivation and
the man with ten acres expects to plod
his weary way now for months with
his hands tied to his soil stirring i'm.
plement. Wonder II our Ord way peo-
pie could not take a lesson here-plow,
plow, plow and the needed moisture
comes from below, where 1t has been
storing for the last six months. No
do not think that the soil holds mois-
ture any better than at Ordway, but
their methods OF culture are different.
! A poor farmer In Ohio used to tell
| me he had plowed his corn three times
and was ready to "lay 1t by" A neigh
boring hop farmer, whose vines are
i nnu, II Va foot hiuh in fnrmod mn q, fo,p,
days ago that lie had cultivated his
field eight times already-twice each
week-and should continue it so long
as the vines would permit.
Oregon is like all the western coast
no frost in winter to liberate plant
food and pulverIze the soil. 80 this
must be done by hand. This state
now has on its ''glad rags"-strawber-
ries and cherries and the CLASSY leaves
everywhere. Certainly beautiful
sight; probably will repay for the six
months Of drcary, cold rain that pre-
ceded.
Last week was the great "Rose Fes-
tival" ut Portland and as "Hubby"
was good boy and stayed at home
with the chickens while his ''sweet-
heart" went on lark, she has kindly
consented to tell you OF the great
sights, so will draw the veil while
she talks.
Reaching Portland In January. the
most conspicuous objects greeting the
eye Of the traveller from the east(?)-
Colorad0-are the thrifty rose bushes.
The quantity Of these. in business as
we'll as in residence sections, prove
that 1t Is aptly named the Rose City.
The belated buds. whose ardor had
been chilled by Christmas weather,
showed the viRor Of the plants and
gave promise OF sweet bye and bye.
The hope OF seeing the fultilment OF
this promise cheered our hearts
through many days when skies were
dull and, as the Scotch say, "the
weather Is wee bit moist" The op-
portunity came In the Rose Festival.
June $40.
For the entire week the city devotes
itself 70 showing its wealth of roses.
Different parades are held every day.
Two evenings have electrical displays
In connection with the sixteen
floats, on which, time, tact and
money are lavishly expended, ten
thousand lights being used.
To describe IL IL dinicult task, but
you may close your eyes and think Of
roses, roses, and more roses. You
can't exagRerate the scene. Streets
and public buildings were decorated.
, Pink and green are the carnival colors.
Incoming trains we're met and the
passengers given roses. Everybody
wore them, policemen, postmen. dray.
men, clerks. newsboys, men, women
and children. Windows had a fresh
display every morning. Roses Of all
sorts and colors adorn the yards, but
the one most seen IL the Caroline de
Testout, q pink rose resembling the
La France. One can't help wishing
: 1t had, instead of French name, been
called Harriet Beecher Stowe, Julia
Ward Howe, or some good American
name. Fortunately we have pure
white rose named the Frances vii.
! lard.
The feature Of tho parade was five
motor cars appropriately decorated,
carrying young people, who showered
the admiring crowds with CHI hoice roses.
] The equestrian parade, which was one
i hour In passing, was especially Hne.
|, Oregon has beautiful horses, and there
!. was such variety in the decorations