The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1916-10-27
BREAKING 4 WORLD RECORD
A Potato Yield Under Irrigation Sys-
TEN Never Excelled.

Every once in while some extraor-
|dinary large production from the SOIL
of this valley causes the public to Sit
|up and take notice, even among those
familiar with the country and its pos
Isibilities in the way of yielding returns
lfor cultivation and care. 1t is gener-
lally recognized that anything that Will
grow and mature in the temperate
zone can be produced in this valley.
and in quantity and quality that can
mot be excelled anywhere in this coun-
TRY. Especially has it been demon
strated that under irrigation there Is
mot to be found more generously re-
lsponsive soil This claim can be sub
stantiated by tangible evidence that
! has come to public notice time and
again. Fruit, vegetables or forage
plants yield prodigiously in this valley,
under the stimulation of water. where
any care is exercised In cultivation
This is demonstrated by the size, color
and flavor of fruit grown, both large
and small, the size and quality of veg
|etables, and the heavy yield Of alfalfa
Ito the acre.
During the past week we have had
an object lesson in the harvesting Of
record breaking yield of potatoes. II.
H. Granger, who owns what is locally
known as the OLD Wellington place,
|situated a few miles south of Oroville.
planted this spring a tract Of potatoes
on the bench land embraced in the
|ty road that skirts the foot Of the
mountain range on the west side of the
)Kanogan river. The Wellington ranch
|is land mark in the north part of the
county, it being among the earliest
|settled ranches in the valley. Every
olo timer knows its location. People
have driven past IL ever since the
white man first settled in the valley,
and the late Henry Wellington was
among the first. This land is under
and close to the main canal of the
West Okanogan Valley Irrigation sys-
tenn. Before the system was construct
led. nothing was grown upon this bench
land, that Is, nothing of any conse-
|Quence, owing to Its aridity. Soon after
the coming Of spring the ground be-
came as dry as bone and remained
in that condition until the coming OF
the fall rains or snow. Occasionally,
the original owner cut scant crop Of
barley hay from this bench land, but
so far as growing fruit or vegetables,
that was simply impossible without
water.
With ample water at hand, Mr..
Granger decided to utilize some of
this land, and in the spring planted
garden near his residence, including
this acreage of potatoes. The result,
when he came to harvest that crop of
potatoes not only surpassed all ex-
|pectations, but surpassed any yield of
that vegetable of which there is any
record. Mr.. Granger dug some Of the
potatoes aud was so surprised at the
Quantity contained in each hill that
he decided to have committee from
the Oroville Commercial Club witness
Il
of the potato patch, weigh in the pro-
duct and report the result. A committee
composed of E. N. Grubb, Elmer
|Stansbury, Ed. Klingman and j. F.
Samson drove down to the Granger
ranch Thursday last. A square rod of
land was measured off which contain
ed 25 hills, the potatoes dug and
weighed. The scales showed that the
square rod produced $50 pounds Of
potatoes, and that average would mean
$50 bushels to the acre. beating the
worlds record for yield Of potatoes
per acre, We are told. Some of the
Ivines were six feet in length, and of
course, heavy and vigorous. From In
Idications it was evident that the
plants had been given some attention
in the way of cultivation early in the
growing period, but were neglected
later in the season, owing to other de-
mands upon the time of the grower.
Had these potatoes received the proper
care until reaching maturity there Is
no telling just how great the yield
would have been to the acre.
Land that will produce such marvel
Gus crops should not remain unoccu-
| pied and uncultivated. In no country
can the farmer hope for a better re-
ward for his labor than right here In
the northern part of the Okanogan
VALLEY. Every acre Of this large ranch,
every irrigable acre under the project
for that matter, is just as fertile as the
land upon which these potatoes were
grown. The Granger ranch Is fortu-
lnately situated in it's relation to the
Irrigation project. There is ample wa
tier Immediately at hand to cover every
acre of the farm, and that water in
sures a bountiful return to those who
in the future may possess and culti-
Ivate the land, giving what is planted
the proper care and attention, be it
lfruit, vegetables or alfalfa. Consider
ling it's fertility the Okanogan valley,
land especially that part of 1t under the
West Okanogan Valley Irrigation pro-
lject, should become the storehouse of
the state, supplying the demand for
|choice fruits and vegetables.
It is understood that Mr.. Granger is
Ito put his ranch on the market, selling
lit in body If possible, and II not, d.
viding it up into tracts. This land
lshould find a ready sale considering
1.-THE location and the fecundlty of the