Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-01-05
POLK PRUNE TREES
SHOWN ON INCREASE
More Farmers in County Go Into the
Industry and Others Add to Their
Acreage.

Monmouth, Ore, Jan. 6.-The prune
acreage in Polk county has been in
creased greatly this fall by the plant
ing of many young trees in each of
the prune districts, according to a re-
cent survey of the various sections OF
| the county. In the summer, when the
decrease in the 1914 crop was appar- |
ent, growers ordered young trees for
1.-THE spring of 1915. A remarkable CON
! fidence in the crop by the old growers,
the starting of more farmers into
lprune growing and an awakened in
terest among county residents toward
the industry are noted preliminary fea-
lures of the coming season
| The increase in acreage is shown not
to have decreased to any great extent
the acreage previously in use for farm
ing purposes Several years Of toll in
the hills have in many cases resulted
in the clearing of tracts Of land large
enough to accommodate prune orch
ards Since numerous tests were made
on the hill land 20 find whG; grain
crops would thrive well, it has been
found that the soil is not adapted to
the successful growing of any grain
crop.
Prune Trees Solve Problem,
The problem Of land utilization in
the hills has been solved by the expert
ment which a few farmers conducted
several years ago by setting out prune
trees. The first orchards showed the
real function Of the hilly soil in crop
production, and adjacent landowners
have followed with new orchards,
The first place for the prune indus
try to start in Polk county was on the
western slope of the hills between
Dallas and Monmouth and Falls City
and Dallas. From there the crop
spread to the open sections Of the
county, where it was adopted by farm
ers who had become accustomed to
, raising grain year after year. The
orchards on hilly ground ere producing
the largest amount Of pruno3 annually
, now, but Ale drying houses expect the
orchards in he more level districts TO
swell the general county yield to Il
large extent within few years. Al
ready some of the new orchards have
! come into bearing, and The yield is cX.
pcctcd to increase each year,
Land.clcaring in the hills has
brought the crop back to its original
ground Some hills, too barren to raise
garden truck or grain crops and too
steep 20 insure mOp,r cultivation for
such crops, have been converted to
young pwnc orchards which have made
steady, uniform growth for a period
Of years.
Red Soil Best for Prunes.
The red soil of the hills has proved
to be the best for prune trees, even
; though the farmers have failed in their
/ efforts to make other kinds of trees
grow successfully ON it. \ prominent
grower declares Polk county hills have
much red soil equal to the widely
| known prune.growing districts near
, Newberg in Yamhil county, The Falls
, City district, in the western section Of
{ Polk county, is cultivating the prunc
crop wholly on the red soil of the hills,
d An example Of the uniform growth
, which the orchards make in this soil
{ is the orchard on Mount Pisgah, a high
hill midway between Dallas and Mon.
mouth, The trees, though still young,
soon win enter the bearing period,
The prunc survey shows that inhob.
itants OF the county, engaged in yaIi.
Gus lines of business, all have n part
in the industry. Physicians, under,
takers, bankers, dentists, lumbcrmcn
merchants, duirymcn and farmers
. are among those owning and managing
prunc orchards. Many in late years
, have come TO make prunc.growing thcir
major occupation, but large number
still conduct their business in town and
= hire men to oversee the work in the
: orchards during the busiest part of the
a season,