Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1912-06-24
HEALTHFUL SIGNS.
(Medford Mail Tribune. }


Inferior farming is being practiced
more extensively in the Rogue river
valley today than ever before AS
yet only a small percentage of the
available area is thus utilized, but
with the extension of the irrigating
system great change will come
The effect is already marked. In
stead of having to send out money to
secure produce we are beginning to
send out produce to secure money,
besides consuming our own produc-
ton.
1t is healthful sign of the times
and the most promising prospects
that we face. A year ago at this
time, several carloads of eggs had
been shipped into the Rogue river
valley. This year Medford alone has
already shipped out two cars of eggs
and as much more in smaller ship
mentS.
Last year 43 cars of vegetables
and fruit were shipped into the val
ley, not to mention daily consign-
ments, by express. There was no en-
couragement for the farmer to raise
vegetables, for grocers would not
I pun NhdSC llIS plOuuClS. ulS ytdI
the Medford public market opens the
way for him to dispose of what he
| raises, and the cooperation of the
Southern Pacific has provided a spec
/ ial refrigerator car three times a
week for produce shipments to Port
! land to enable the grower to market
his surplus.
Last year "a cars of potatoes and
onions were shipped into the valley,
despite the fact that the finest onions
on the coast are raised here and our
potatoes equal to any grown. Those
who planted potatoes last year made
a fine profit, yet did not begin to
supply the demand. Double the acre
age has been planted this year, and
with irrigation, potatoes are always
a most profitable crop. The valley
instead of importing "a cars, ought
to be exporting a thousand cars Of
potatoes from it's idle land alone
A year ago 225 cars of hay were
imported and 62 cars exported, 1853
cars shortage of local demand. I'm
ports of oats and barley totaled As
cars, of flour and feed 432 cars. In
spite of a favorable year and in
creased acreage, the local production
of these staples will fall far short of
the local demand. Idle land can be
made to produce this shortage with
several hundred cars for export, but
irrigation is necessary to insure crops
in unfavorable years.
Nature has done too much for the
Rogue river valley. If the soil was
less fertile, we would scratch it hard
er and make it yield more. If the
climate was more arid, we would APP
preciate better the value of water and
double our output. If we didn't have
home market, we would be striving
to raise produce for both home and
foreign markets.
Fruit should not be the only re-
source Of the horticulturist. He
should aim to make otner crops, his
vegetables, berries, corn, hay and
produce, his cows, poultry and bees
pay all the expenses of the family and
maintenance of the orchard, so the
: fruit proceeds will be velvet" 1t is
done on some orchards now and can
, be done on every orchard with water
; When we are exporting surplus
! of every crop possible to raise, when
: our idle lands are utilized by produc-
ers instead of by spectators, when
these conditions shall have been real
r lied by the extension of the irriga-
| tion systems, the Rogue river valley
| will be the most prosperous section
in the entire natiCn and national pan
/ les can come and so without disturb
ing its prosperity.