Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1913-04-24

oregon has its peculiar advantages
and in any of them can a settler find
a good home and bountiful returns
for his labors; but probably the most
important and the one offering the
greatest inducements is
Jackson County.
This county is in the extreme
southern portion of Oregon, border
ing on California. 1t is hemmed in
by the Cascade range on the east
and the Coast range on the west.
These two ranges with the Siskiyou
range on the north form the water
sheds or reservoirs which supply the
waters of Rogue river and it's num-
erous beautiful tributaries, streams
to which the famed Rogue River Val
ley owes its beauty and almost tropi-
cal fertility.
Jackson county has an area of
about 5000 square miles, or over
100000 acres, one-third of which is
the finest prairie land. The popula-
tion of the county is probably at
present not far from $4,000. 1t is
probable that in all the world there
is not valley that with natural
beauty combines so many advantages
as the valley of the Rogue river.
To begin with
The Climate
Is simply perfect. The winters are
tempered by the proximity to the
coast and by the Chinook winds, so
that they appear one long spring, or,
as one might say, one long May time.
Snow storms are very infrequent,
and even when they do occur the
Snow rarely remains upon the ground
more than few hours. The sum-
mers are sufficiently warm to mature
the abundant and varied crops and to
produce excellent Indian corn; but
the inhabitants are not subjected to
the extreme heat that makes the
summers of the Atlantic states but
little short of endurable. June.
July and August witness vast crowds
departing on trains and steamers to
the far distant mountains or to Eu-
rope seeking pleasure or flying to
escape the breath of death that Turks
in the furnace-like cities But the
residents of the Rogue River Valley
are not subjected to such trouble
and expense. Almost within an easy
days ride in carriage on on horse
back there can be had almost any
climate that one may desire. In the
mountains, valleys and glens he may
choose the temperature that best
suits him. He may pitch his tent
beneath the shade at one of the soda
springs, of which there are a great
number, and imbibe its pleasant and
healthgiving waters, or he may seek
the river and lakes where with rod
and rifle he may revel in the sports
mans paradise, and yet be hardly
out of sight of his valley home.
Rarely does the farmer have to
watch the weather in order to har-
vest his grass and his grain; for
while their is sufficient rain for ag-
riculture. during the season of hay
ing and harvesting rains are or rare
occurrence.
Products.
AS yet it is hardly known what
southern Oregon cannot produce.
AS before intimated, in the early
history of the country agricultural
ventures were limited to the staples.
or rather to the absolute necessaries;
but recently the farmers have begun
tC launch out, and no one is more
than the "old Oregonian"
at the capabilities of soil and
AS in the Willamette val
ley, astonishing yields of grain have
been the rule; but prices, owing to
the isolation, have been so low as
to make grain growing of little
profit. Now that the iron horse has
come to do the freighting farmers
are beginning to pay greater atten-
tion to the production of cereals, and
1t is probable, from present indica-
tions, that the Rogue River Valley
will this year produce larger and
finer crops than ever before. Wheat.
oats, barley, rye, corn, potatoes, both
Irish and sweet, and all kinds of
vegetables, always produced in great
variety and abundance; this year
give promise of an unusually bounti-
fnl harvest.
Dairying.
The dairying interests of southern
Oregon have always been important,
but with the rapid increase of popu-
lation and consequent rapid develop
ment of the country, the old slip
shod methods of dairying have given
place to methods more improved and
ofitable. Better grades of cows
have been introduced, and more care
given to the manufacture of butter;