The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1915-04-15

planted recently and are just beginning
to bear and the fruit are as fine as any
grown on the Coast.
One of the finer productions of this sec
ton is the cherry, which has a splendid
texture in this territory, and enables
growers to ship them to the most dis
tant markets. The cherry trees in Polk
County are remarkably free from pests
and the cherries are excellent in size and
flavor. They grow thrifty wherever
proper soil is available. .
When proper handling is given the lus-
cious Bartlett pear, 1t is a paying crop
in Polk County. Other varieties of the
pear may also be grown to a profit in this
territory,
Smaller Fruits.
The smaller fruits are particularly
adaptable to a profitable production here.
Strawberries grown in November are not
unusual in Polk County. The ~loganberry,
blackberry and raspberry are all suscep-
tible of easy culture and, for shipping,
canning or evaporating are very thrifty
in this section. Planted between the
rows in an orchard, strawberries, rasp-
berries and other small fruit help to pay
the expense of bringing the orchard into
bearing.
Within the State of Oregon there are
about 5000 acres in bearing hop lands,
5000 of which are in the rich, alluviai
bottoms of Polk County. Prices Iluctuate
from II to q cents per pound, the cost
of production being estimated at about >
cents per pound. Many thousand dollars
are distributed annually during harvest to
the pickers necessary to harvest the Polk
County crop.
Dairying is yet in its infancy in Polk
County. The almost perpetual green pas
turage, cheap housing, abundant crops of
grains, hay and root vegetables, opens a
big opportunity to the dairyman. Some of
the best specimens of the Jersey in Amer
lea are found in Polk County with a good
number Of Guernseys, Holsteins and other
breeds. Prices for butterfat averages
nearly 32 cents.
Leads in Mohair.
Polk is the banner county of the state
in the mohair industry. The Angora
goats raised here have carried the high
est reward wherever exhibited, not only
for the high quality of breed but also the
excellent quality of the mohair. Some
of the best Angora stock have gone In
bands from Polk County to various Sec
tons of the United States. The Angora
goat was introduced into Polk County so
years ago, from pure-bred stock from
Asia Minor. The industry has been broad
ened until now the annual clip Is valued
at $425 900. Single goats sell readily
from So to So, while high-grade bucks
bring higher figures,
The famous Petaluma district Of Cali
fornia finds a rival in Polk County. Rich
because OF its sheltered position from
heavy rains and chilling fogs, and a drain
age equal to that of Petaluma. Polk Coun-
ty has very favorable conditions for the
raising of poultry. Prices for the poultry
products are about the same as New York
and Boston, eggs retailing as high as SO
cents per dozen during the Winter
months. The demand is always greater
than the supply. Dallas holds a poultry
show each year, aided by the Commercial
Club. at which high-quality birds are ex-
hibited.
Polk County Lumber.
OF the 1872, 720 acres of forest land,
2720 are in forest reserves, and it is esti-
mated that privately owned forest land
will cut 10000, 900 900 feet of lumber.
Sold at the rate of $40 per 1000, this will
bring 500, O00, 900, paying for labor APP
p~roximately SIS, 900 900. 1t would re-
quire five sawmills, cutting 100000 feet
per day more than so years to convert
the c%ounty's standing timber into market
able product. Approximately 40, 900, 900
feet of lumber are shipped annually. The
timber forests are tapped by three rail-
roads.
Educational Facilities.
The settlers in a comparatively new
country are always interested in the cd
ucational facilities. Figures gathered In
1913 and 1914 show the following con-
ditions.
Number Of rural schools, 81; number
of city schools, 6; number of children of
school age, census 1914, 50S2; num-
Der of children in primary and interme-
date grades, 1889; number of children
in grammar grade, 1876; number of chill
dren in high school, 531; average number
of days in school year, 144; whole num-
Der of days attendance in year, 427,O16;
average daily attendance for the year,
1911; per cent of attendance for year,