Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-05-21

chard, as our place IS calleo'
v,vv,Iv consists OF twenty-five acres.
Ik3sttek43E eight acres full bearing, four
WkkIkD acres 1-year-old trees, three
acres meadow. the balance uncieared, and
cost, including all equipment, $4,000. IL Is
located on the main road leading TO ano
about eight miles from Cloud Cap Inn, the
famous summer resort on Mt Hood. be-
tween which and Hood River a daily auto
service is maintained throughout the sum
mer months. The entire valley Is from
six 10 ten miles wide and twenty-five miles
long. the eastern and western limits being
bounded by rather high foothills, which
gradually draw together as they near Mt.
Hood. where they meet. We are in the
very shadow of these eastern hills and
separated from them by the river, which
here rushes madly along on its precipt-
tous flight to the Columbia river. The
altitude is 2OOo feet.
This letter is to be merely a plain state
ment Of facts and conditions as ] found
them in orchard work. otherwise ] would
dilate upon the beauties OF nature as seen
here AID yet no words can give you any
adequate idea OF the wondrous giories OF
this mountain country. Not once, nor twice,
but scores Of times one Of us has called to
the other to see, It might be a SUNRISE or
sunset, or some cloud effect about Mt.
Hoods head.
In the cold, gray dawn old Hood looms
up cold stern and silent Presently, from
over the eastern hills, a single shaft OF
light shoots across the sky and rests upon
the very topmOst peak, kissing u into
pink of delicate hue. Quickly the colors
change and deepen into richer crimsons
and reds, as crag after crag is lighted up.
Lower, even lower, down the mountain side
steals the light until with one rush the
sun swings over the eastern hills and the
entire mountain is bathed in the full giories
Of another day. To watch this awakening
into life again, to see the colors on tho
mountain side change, blending into deeper
tints, gives one an exaltauon OF feeling
impossible to describe.
And the clouds! How they DRIFT and eddy
about, now hiding the entire mountain,
now settling down until through them the
mountain with its everlasting SHOWS,
shoves its head loftily out OF the gloom
into heavens pure light And then again.
the clouds form cap or hood OF downy
wltiteness and lightness, leaving only the
base Of the mountain and the foothills dis
closed to view. Perhaps it is a sunset, with
the western sky all aflame with fiery col
mighty sentinel under the cold light Of
the moon. Night after night have l gone
to sleep. my eyes resting on dear old Hood.
which we have all come TO love 30 much.
my senses lulled into forEetrulness by the
never-ceasing roar of the river. All, II one
could only live on natures beauties ever
| changing as they are, ever new, what q
feast one would have here, So much for
our location.
The climate Is moderate--plenty OF sun
shine. but no excessive heat such as you
have in the east. The nights are delight
fully cool owing to our close proximity to
Mount Hood and no doubt to the fact that
the river carries the cold waters from the
glaciers through the valley. There is plenty
Of rainfall; Of course. but not 20 much az
in Portland or other points nearer the
coast In fact. a phrase often used In de-
scribing this region is: Where the rain
and sunshine meet" Too much rainfall
and too much heat develop the apple too
rapidly, preventing 1t from taking on those
excellent keeping qualities and the de-
licious flavor characteristic Of the Hood
River apple. In the lower valley, the wind
blows all the time and windbreaks are a
necessity in many cases, as the slant Of
free from this. Another advantage ovei
some other fruit districts Is that We a
not need to use orchard heaters at leas
the necessity has not been apparent thur
far. OF course, there are certain Locations
where there is no air drainage and thos,
frost pockets should be Stunned by tn,
prospective buyer.
The soil is OF four or five distinct kinds
but that best adapted for apples Is known
as red shot--a soil having a tinge OF rec
to It and composed OF little shot-like par.
ticles. This soil. as well rs the volcanic
ash, IL rich In all the elements necessary
for the production Of apples and has the
advantage Of being easily drained and cul
tlvated. Frequent cultivation throughout
the growing period conserves the mois
ture by hermetically sealing the little hole.
in the ground through which evaporation
takes place, OF course, there is clay her,
and good orchards are growing on sucR
SOIL but It needs more experience In hand.
ling II to keep the Jumps OF earth wei
pulveriEed
There are three forks to the river and
water is drawn from all three streams fol
irrigation purposes. The different ditchs.
are owned and controlled by the orchard
lists directly interested and water is solo
at 30 much per miners INCH for the season
this price varying somewhat owing 20 con
ditions, cost Of maintenance, etc. Las
year 1t was necessary 20 buy fifteen inche,
at 81 per inch TO irrigate my orchard. Tn.
water was turned on early IN July ant
allowed TO run two weeks or more durinl
the growing season. Some orchArdists d,
not irrigate at all. some only a trifls Their,
being a wide difference of opinion on thI
subject but. in any case, no irrigatinE 4
done after August Is, when the apple
begin TO take on color. Young orchard