Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1916-09-19

WlOL-fa- w Lila
duet last year through members OF
the local association.
Blue Ribbon Cherries.
Polk county cherries, which grow
thriftily wherever proper soil drain
age is had are Of the finest products
of the section, and while crop that
must be handled quickly if sold in the
fresh state, are profitable, having IN
this locality d splendid texture that
enables growers to ship them to the
most distant markets. Cherry trees
in Polk are peculiarly free from pests
that are difficult to overcome, and
the fruit grows to size and has a
flavor that always tops the market.
The opportunity for canning the big
luscious Bings. Lamberts, Royal An
mes. Tartarrans and Others of the
sweet or semi-tart varieties IS here,
and only awaits the entrance OF capl-
tai and experience in the canning in
dustry. The same irmness of texture
that makes the Polk cherry good
shipper makes it better canner
from the fact that it "stands up
better under the canning process than
those grown by irrigation. 1t is peril
nent to say at this point that Polk
county has more "blue ribbons" to
her credit than any other county in
the west, having long ago acquired
the habit of taking large percentage
of the "blues" wherever she has
shown her cherries.
Luscious Bartlett Pears.
The big luscious Bartlett pear, diff
cult to produce in places and Of such
SURPRISING excellence either canned
dried or in a fresh state, simply rev
els in the moist soils of Polk county
and never fails to throw a paying
crop if proper handling is given. And
the Bartlett is not the only pear thai
thrives by any means, but is mention
ed because it is the king Of all pears
Where the Bartlett is success, other
varieties more than hold their own.
The lure is not held out that one
can just happen into a fortune II
fruit without capital, experience, la
bor or energy, for such is not the cas-
in any part Of the world, but giver
the requisites Of any business propo
sition there is no reason why pleas
ant, profitable life cannot be lived il
the fruit industry in Polk county
where nature has provided condition
unexcelled anywhere on the face o
the globe.
The Smaller Fruits.
As a filler and pot boiler, during tn
tine of bringing an orchard into bear
ing the strawberry between row
| helps out materially, especially sine
the best of facilities for distribution
have been secured. Strawberries i
bloom in November sounds like
: dream, or the "windjamming" of
, realty boomer, but this is not unusu
al in Polk county. But the real bene
fit so far has been in the berry il
! season, with the shipping quality an
the flavor that secures return orders
: There is also the loganberry, whic
has come into its own in no uncei
r tain way, as well as the Mammot
4 Black, the red and black varieties o
= the raspberry, all susceptible of cas-
2 culture and which produce splendi
: crops of shipping, canning or evapoi
D ating fruits, equal to, or better, tina
the best Of any other section. Thes
. help to pay the expense of bringing a
orchard into bearing, when they ma
: be replaced with other products wit
no great loss, if desired.
: Polk County Hops.
Oregon's annual hop crop is al
: proximately 38 per cent Of the Gro
for the entire United States. With
the state there are about $4,000 acre
in bearing vines, 5000 acres of whic
total are in the rich alluvial bottom
of Polk county. The standard an
quality Of this product are high, an
are in great demand in the Euglis
market, where they command prem
um. In a recent year 10 carloads
hops. consisting of 1,75O bales, we
shipped from Polk county to Englan
Prices fluctuate from IL 10 n cen
per pound. The cost of production
put hops in the bale and ready Il
market is about 9 cents per pound.
1t is estimated that 10000 pickle
are necessary to harvest the Po
county crop, payment being at t
rate Of one cent per pound. MAJ
thousands of dollars are distribute
annually, during the six weeks
harvest, among the pickers, which i
clude men, women and children.
Dairying.
While dairying is an important
dustry in Polk county, yielding su