Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1913-05-02
FAVORABLE
FOR BIG FRUIT CROP.

lEult sIONeIs point Vi NeWt anu
while there were light frosts on two
nights during the past week, they
resulted in practically no damage,
and the trees are now in full bloom
and give promise of bountiful
crop.
County Inspector Burke, who is
probably in closer touch with the
conditions in Josephine county than
any other man, is most reassuring
in his views on the local situation
He says that there has been little or
no injury from frost, and that while
many of the growers took the pre-
caution OF smudging on two occa-
sions, those orchards even on the
lowlands and that we're not smudged
show no appreciable damage. He
terms the frost dry freeze" which
is not serious in its results.
Mr.. Burke has visited a large
number of the orchards within the
past few weeks, and reports that
thus far there is promise of the set
ting of good big crop. with the ex-
ception of apples, which, on account
of the exceptionally large yield of
last year will probably not run over
half Of the normal crop. However,
this may prove an advantage rather
than otherwise, as the fruit will run
larger in size and bring better
prices.
In spite of the large peach yield of
last year, 1t is found that the peach
trees have set for one of the biggest
crops on record, and the growers and
shippers should make arrangements
accordingly.
There has been very little increase
in orchard acreage during the past
season, but there will be a consider
able increase in the aggregate yield
on account of a large number of
young orchards coming into bearing.
Mr.. Burke finds that the orchards
generally are in good condition
throughout the county, the February
spraying having been thoroughly
done.
First and above all things else, the
growers should concern themselves
this season with the matter of a pro-
fitable market Reports or ship
ments to eastern, southern and Eng
lish markets last year showed that
the Rogue river fruit was being re-
tailed at tlattering rate. The quail
ity was all right, but as usual there
was a big leak of profits somewhere
between the producer and the con-
sumer One of our larger growers
tried the experiment of following his
shipments to market and superin-
tending his own sales, and this result
ed in bigger returns than he would
have obtained otherwise. Whether
this will hold good in all cases is a
question There is good field for
cooperation among growers, from
two to a half dozen combining ship
ments and sending a good man along
to see that the fruit Is disposed of to
the best advantage Another point
that must be seriously considered by
the Rogue river shipper is the mat
ter of pack. The opinion of eastern
shippers of national reputation could
be cited that wouldn't look good in
print, as regards some of the pack
ing done in the west. There is no
quality of apple that will Offset a
poor pack.
Mr.. Burke called attention to the
increase of profits that might come
to the fruit growers If they would
set up modern evaporating plans
along with their packing houses and
utilize a large part Of their peach
and apple crop that will not bear
shipping. With such evaporators on
the ground there might be doubl-
ing up OF profits in small fruit pro-
duction.
The operation Of the Grants Pass
cannery under first-class manage
ment would help to relieve the Local
market situation somewhat, but Its
present capacity would not suffice
for the mass of small fruit that could
be produced in the immediate vicin.
ity.
Mr.. Burke speaks with some en-
thusiasm of the possibilities of wal
nut culture in this section. Experts
have repeatedly stated that the Eng
lish walnut can be grown very profit
ably in this valley, for there are hun.
dreds OF acres Of land here that Is
we'll adapted for the nut.