The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1915-05-06

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built, combining preceding and dry stor-
age, with a capacity of 100 cars.
Orchard Profits.
There Is a wide range between the
highest average price per acre by the best
orchards and the returns Of the poorer. 1t
is difficult to arrive at an average, but,
safely speaking, a well cared for CONNER
cial orchard will net on an average Of
from $25o to $500 an acre. High records
could be quoted and figures verified from
orchards that have averaged $1,000 an
acre for several years. This proves pos
sibilities under the best of market and
crop conditions and good management.
Growing Berries.
All varieties of berries bear prolific
ally, especially the %loganberry and straw
berry. Two canning factories have now
been established and offer 4 cents a pound
for all the loganberries raised. Two
crops Of strawberries are grown. The
second crop ripening in October. The
hope of the Valley Is canneries and evap-
orators and there is room still for great
expansion in that direction.
Market Garden Products.
The Valley has an extended reputation
for melons and cantaloupes. Brown Bros.
came to the Valley three years ago and
decided on raising cantaloupes for the
market. Their yield and returns the first
year was 900 crates to the acre.
Tomatoes do especially we'll and one
cannery has signed up 40 acres for 1915.
Gardening has been much encouraged by
the establishing Of public city markets in
Medford and Ashland, where the producer
sells direct to the consumer, both parties
being mutually benefited.
Irrigation.
The soil of the Valley floor as a rule
retain moisture remarkably, especially II
well cultivated and natures tree fruits
and cereals. But wherever irrigation Is
practiced the results amply justify the
expense. For intensified cultivation the
greater part of the Valley requires water
to get best results. On some shallow soils
water Is absolutely necessary and remark
able crops of vegetables and small fruits
are raised on very shallow soil with the
aid of the irrigation ditch.
Dry Farming Possibilities.
Certain districts in the Valley are
adapted to dry farming. The average
rainfall is IS inches. The season is early
and many crops mature before the Sum-
mer season of light or no rainfall arrives.
D. M. Lowe, Of Ashland, raises over 500
different products each year on one
ranch. He dry farms and his collection
of products have won special prizes with
entries from four different states Of the
Northwest and he now has a display at
the Panama-Pacific Exposition of over
500 products raised on his farm last year.
Aids for the Newcomer.
A number of aids are at the disposal Of
the new orchardist or farmer coming to
Jackson County. The county pathologist,
Professor Henderson, stationed here. Of
fers advice regarding fruit growing. An
other agency Is the county demonstration
farm, under the direction of Professor
Reimer, who determines the relative
worth of plant varieties for certain types
of soils. Some so varieties of pears were
found growing here and they have now
been cut down to seven or eight. Cover
crops and fertilizers are tested, best va
rieties Of potatoes and corn are used.
Land Values.
The greater part OF land values is based
upon Ifult poSSipiItles, cnedper idHuS are
found in the outlying districts. The high
est priced raw land is adjacent to some
matured orchard, which has proved its
commercial worth and the prices vary
from $50 to 5000 an acre. The cost Of
planting and caring for an orchard for six
or seven years is about 500 an acre, at
this age 1t brings some returns and in
creases rapidly until at 10 years large
profits are realized and II we'll planted
and cared for command $500 to $1,000 an
acre.
No allowance has been made for crops
between the tree rows up to the bearing
age. Corn is largely grown and the
greater part Of the corn is so produced.
Cantaloupes, melons, potatoes, tomatoes
and other vegetables are profitable filters.
The climate may be judged by the To-
concluded on Page 81