Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1920-05-04
BERRIES SEEN FROM THE
JOURNAL WINDOW
(By the Country Editor.)

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$$% x x x 4 x X X X X X X X
Seventy tons of berries rotting on
the vines because of no market, at an
approximate loss of $25,000, would dis
courage the ordinary grower in the
valley, be he expert or novice. Such
was the experience of w. l.. Bentley,
Of Woodburn, during the season of
1915; but today he finds the present
joys Of his new industry better tnan
any picture of a future paradise that
was ever painted from a pulpit. All of
the difficulties met by the experienced
grower have been forgotten, SO to
speak, even to the immense loss sus-
tanned last winter when the vines of
his big berry farm were frozen, and
he has dropped gracefully into the re-
sponslbillties of the great industry,
which means so much for the future of
Oregon. A man who can plunge into
the industry in the face of these condi-
stions and stake his future on the eff
cheney of the same, is so full of faith
that he ought to be talking from be-
hind a pulpit instead of prancing
around in berry field giving orders
TO a bunch of helpers.
Its a great game, this berry bust
ness, said Mr.. Bentley, "and the peo-
pie of Oregon only see it today in its
infancy" His faith is so great in the
lOganberry possibilities that his yards
nave been expanded to include sixty
seven acres of highly cultivated berry
and His system of fertilizing con-
asIs Of planting vetch between the
rows which he plows under the
ground at this time of the year, and
mas proven a great success.
starting few years ago with small
capllai, Mr. Bentley has developed
iaFm near Woodburn of immense
value His faith in this vocation has
also made for him a reputation enjoy
su oy few men in Oregon, but envied
w many, One thousand dollars per
acre Is said by persons familiar with
~e property, to be a nominal consid-
ela'oh-but the farm is not for sale
q any price. What Mr.. Bentley has
svneVed can be accomplished by 9TH
''s' ana in years to come the hus-
nanumen of Oregon will take hold of
ue industry like women take to religA
Ou TOP notch or nothing should
ne battle cry of every agricultur-
~ ~ !" pursuing the industry, and with
''' siOgan followed to the letter the
,a,n'ers have found something that
"a, excel anything ever undertaken
'ne willamette valley, il Mr.. Bent
pictured II correctly-and from
ne'ai ',,. appearances and previous re-
= Is mighty likable sort of
~'ap ana has way about him that al
~ SCI right In under your vest. An
sample of this characteristics in the
,ra aA y seen in the fact that he is maxi
ss S,0's Just now to convert a beau
p,.,s s'oVe on his farm adjacent to the
,ona. ue highway into beautiful ana
T.. 'siuent camping ground for tn.
0tit U an VINO iind need
A.. Il Bently is not only an extensive
b.r. MY producer, but is an extensive
a,Ss ne is buying for the Puyallup-
ana Am. M raeking company at present,
no. through his agency, has control Of
\ man three hundred acres OF ber-
hs,s aus between Woodburn and Hub.
esh5r..ast LAST year he established a re-
snnss's esation at Hubbard. erecting a
ss.a. ,As for that purpose, and this
sb.sa ne is erecting one at canbv
ssshl,s. receiving station will also be
We arc
duxrv I.e !, not afraid of the berry in
esmn, s, aid Mr.. Bently. I'VE haven't
salev TO see the results in the
tee - = YET This testimony in the
sor,hs = MS many discuragements. is
ss,rv y consideration on the part of
hor,.s.a .af'her for he has a complete
sngls q Oh the game from every
- From twenty acres Of herries
leu mi I'M ne paid an income tax and
con ,aOw y, what that means. Had his
Oeen damaged last winter. he