Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1912-07-05
GRANTS PASS CITIZENS
DEVELOP FRUIT FARM.

The casual traveller along the high
ways OF the valley OF the Rogue
misses many OF the features of agri-
cultural and horticultural develop
ment that will some day make Of
this an empire in itself. He takes
small note OF the many by-ways that
lead on from the main thoroughfare,
or of the Industrial activity to which
they may lead.
A mile or so above Murphy on the
south bank OF the Applegate such a
by-way leads OF into the wood, and
for few hundred yards winds It's
course beneath the oaks and the
laurels But at the end OF q brief
journey as measured by rods. a sur
prise awaits the visitors, for his flrst
glimpse OF the Frost Free Fruit
Farm is sure to occasion exclamation
at the beauty of its setting.
Nesting back In this vale and sur
rounded by the low-lying hills that
form a frame OF greenery for the pic
ture, Frost Free Farm has been de-
veloped by It's Grants Pass owners
Messrs. A. n, Parsons and p. T. Bir.
chard. Hidden as II is from the pub
lie view, unless the public deliberate
ly undertakes to hunt II out, and un-
heralded, since Il is was not Develop
ed for speculative sale, few know the
extent OF the development work done
in three years by these enterprising
men.
Frost Free Fruit Farm was chris
tened such because OF the obvious
ness of the name, being back from
the river on what is termed the sec
ond bench, where damage from
frosts early in the fall or late in the
spring is unknown. II comprises $50
acres, largely OF creek bottom or the
gentle slopes oil the equally fertile
red soil, and Is fast being transform
ed from the original wilderness into
commercial fruit ranch. One hun
dred acres have already been placed
in a high state OF cultivation, and
thrifty young trees, under the intel
llgent care OF II. II Harter the Iowa
farmer who is in charge, are attest
ing the perfection OF our valley soil
and climate for fruit culture. Eighty
acres are now set to commercial or
chard Of which pears occupy sixty.
Five varieties Of this fruit which
reaches It's highest state OF perfec-
tlon In this region, are grown they
being the Bartlett, DeAnjou, Comice,
Winter Nells and Bose. Ten acres
are planted to Newtown and Spltzen-
berg apples, and ten acres OF the
slopes 10 peaches, Of the Elberta and
early and late Crawford varieties. In
addition there are two acres OF fam
lily orchard, this being twenty or
more years old, the sureness OF the
abundance and perfection OF It's crop
first calling attention TO the suItabil-
ity Of the little valley as the location
Of the commercial orchard
While awaiting the coming into
bearing OF this young orchard, Farm
er Harter, with true Iowa thrift, Is
making the land pay It's way, and the
inter-tree crops OF hay and vegetables
are making satisfactory growth, with
every promise OF profitable return.
Twenty acres OF the farm come under
the South Side Applegate ditch. and
twelve acres are watered from Gray's
creek. which flows across the prop
erty, and all the water OF which be-
longs to the farm These irrigated
tracts are planted to vegetables and
small fruits, although much OF the
farm Is sub-irrigated and surface lr-
rigation is not required These In
ter-tree crops consist OF thirty acres
Of corn, thirty acres OF wheat and
yetch. and rye, squash, potatoes, kale
aud alfalfa The grain raised Is fed
out on the place. a herd Of well-bred
swine being kept, from which Atty
head will be sent TO market this sea
son. There are also dairy cows poul-
try and all the other little features OF
rural life In Southern Oregon that
add profit and pleasure to the work |
On Frost Free Fruit Farm.