The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1915-05-06
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LAND OF many and diversified re-
~ sources, Of great mineral and timber
wealth, of rich agricultural and hor-
ticultural possibilities, with a climate
combining the sunshine of California and
the moisture of Oregon-a fertile valley
set in the midst of a scenic wonderland
all that Nature can offer to make life
worth while, is found in Jackson County,
Oregon.
Medford and Ashland, her two largest
cities, are metropolitan. The country
well improved. The population of more
than average intelligence. The products
are varied and many. Some of her re-
sources need more capital for develop
intensive cultivation.
Topography.
The county is bordered on the east by
the Cascade Mountains, on the west by
the Coast Range, the Rogue River Noun
tains on the north and the Siskiyou
montains on the south. In the heart of
this mountain-protected area is the Rogue
River Valley, which has earned world
fame for its pears, apples and other
fruits.
From the level floor of the valley, slop-
ing benches and rounded hills lead up
to the mountain ranges, heavily wooded
with yellow and sugar pine, fir, cedar,
oaks and laurels, with now and then a
snow-eapped peak 1000 to 5000 feet in
height. The climate may be described in
one word as "moderate"-about half way
between the humid Willamette and the
sunny Sacramento.
In the sos and COS some of the pioneer
settlers set out family orchards. Grad
ually it became known that the quality
and quantity of the fruits were excep-
tional. The orchards developed and
Rogue River Valley fruit began to win
prizes and command fancy prices in New
York and London. This led to a plant
ing of a very large orchard acreage-and
today the Rogue River Valley Is one of
the most successful orchard districts in
the United States.
General Farming.
General farming is receiving much at
~tention, for it is realized that the high
specializing in fruit growing should be
balanced with diversified and intensified
farming, stock raising and dairying.
Corn Is rather extensively grown, a con-
siderable portion between tree rows in
young orchards. While the nights are
more cool than in the typical corn states
of the Middle West, yet good yields are
regularly harvested and as high as 10S
bushels to the acre has been grown, and
it is not to have 1t reach a
height of 13 feet. The average yield is
n bushels and average price 70 cents.
Alfalfa.
Alfalfa is profitable and when the year
Is favorable as to rains and on good
sandy and gravelly loans, yields OF four
to six tons per acre have been grown
without irrigation year after year. Along
the creek bottoms, where water is easily
diverted, much acreage is in alfalfa. The
combination Of corn and alfalfa make a
perfectly balanced ration for feeding and
fattening stock and is now considered
staple.
Dairying.
The dairying industry has not yet be-
gun to approach its possibilities. Move
ments have started toward bringing in
blooded dairy cows to the Valley, the
farmers cooperating with the, bankers,
who assist in financing the scheme.
Poultry.
Professor James Dryden, Of the Agri-
cultural College, said, II know of no
section in the United States that Is more
favorable in a climatic way for the rails
ing Of poultry Chan Tie Rogue River Val