The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1912-05-31
A SHOW ORCHARD.

the pleasure of visiting and inspect
ing for an hour the Ellis-Forde Or
chard Tracts, situated some ten miles
south of Oroville, on the west side of
the Okanogan river. Here is the larg-
est private, or individual, irrigation
project so far undertaken in this cOun-
ty. and it is safe to say nowhere else
can be seen better evidence of the fe-
cundity of the valley soil, or what can
be accomplished in the way of tree
growing under experienced and intel
ligent management. Here are two or
three hundred acres in one body set
out to trees. The land spreads from
the river westward to the higher
ground. with gentle slope to the east,
an admirable situation for carrying
water to every row of trees, and pre-
senting no impediment to an equitable
distribution of life giving moisture
An enormous gasoline pump, installed
upon a solid concrete foundation. lifts
water to the highest point upon the
land, and Is of sufficient capacity to
discharge an ample supply for all the
land planted to trees, or may be set
out to trees within the holdings of the
company. There is high land ditch
that circles the outer and upper edge
of the orchard tract, from which
ramification of laterals reach every
tree on the place, and there are lots
of them, some 10000 having been set
out this spring.
But it is not the lay of the land, nor
the pump, nor the pump house, nor
the bitches that attracts and holds
the eye of the visitor, it is the trees
hnn iC 1,n hnt
give value to the land. the source of
their prime condition that appeals to
the senses, and creates wonder as
they attract attention. Their condition
demonstrates that it contains the nee
essary elements and chemical cOnstit-
uents that make for rapid growth, Wig
OrOuS development, and finally the
finished product, the best fruit that
old orchard, old yet young, for the
trees have had only three years of
growth, and a much larger section OF
young orchard. and the young orchard
is already chasing the older trees for
supremacy. Take the three year old
trees, and a considerable acreage of
thrifty trees cannot be found any
where, unless it may be the neighbors
on the same tract, which will be year.
lings when they finish the present
season. The manager of the orchard,
Dan England, believes in the pruning
knife. The way he hacked off the
shoots and limbs one and two years
ago seemed like an act of wOntOn
cruelty, but he knew what he was dos
ing. He was building up the trunk to
give it strength and fibre to carry the
wealth of fruit the limbs are to bear
in the years to come. And what solid.
sturdy bOleS they are. One who has
not seen them would hardly believe
the effect cutting back has had on the
trunks. The bodies of the three-year-
Olds are like unto the trunks of Or
diuary trees that have reached the age
OF five, and the two year olds have
trunks as sturdy as the regular three
year-olds. Pruning has built up
wood where wood is needed, and
moreover has added symmetry to the
spreading branches that were left to
develop. Some of the three-year-
will bear apples this season. There
will be crop sufficient next year to
pay expenses, and henceforward
sure and heavy income can be de-
pended upon from this orchard.
The great surprise, however. is the
way the little sticks planted this
spring are shooting out leaves and
branches. Every switch is waving
wand of green. In going over the i'm
mense tract not single apple tree it
would seem, has failed to show life.
and vigorous life. Why, the rows, set
out with mathematical precision, can
be plainly followed with the eye for
long, long stretches, and by fall this
part of the land will present the ap-
pcarance Of grove, most beautiful to
look upon These rows af trees
stretch north and south a mile in
length. indicating that as whole
this tract is somewhat Of an orchard.
After being set out this spring these
trees were watered once. Nature then
stepped in and supplied an abundance
of rain, and the soil has done the rest
If you want to see big orchard, in
prime condition. properly cared for
and which will grow steadily in value
from year to year, drive down to the
Ellis-Forde Orchard Tracts and take
a look. 1t will fully repay the time
and trouble, give you an idea of what
energetic men have accomplished for
the county in the way of reclamation
of erstwhile worthless land and make
you better satisfied with the grand and
glorious country in which your lines
are cast. 1t will drive away pessim-
ism. burnish up hope, enroll you in
the ranks of the Independent Order of
Boomers, and make you feel like freez-
ing on to few acres of fruit land as
quick as possible. Such sightseeing
trip is better than tonic or a stimu-
liant. and you are not treating your
self fair unless you get next to what
the country you are living in is COM
ing to-