The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1922-09-22
MAGIC OF SOIL
AND WATER
A Combination That Is to Enrich the
Grower Under the OkanOgan Val.
ley Irrigation System.

This paper has held time and again
that the soil OF the Okanogan valley
under the West Okanogan Valley Irri-
cation project was the most fertile In
the state, the fertility made possible
by the abundance and never failing
water supply that is insured from an
inexhaustible source, the Similkameen
river, a supply that could be increased
many acre inches at comparatively
little expense considering what irriga-
tion systems cost. This claim has been
substantiated time and again by enor-
nous yields Of anything and every
thing planted in the valley, and moro
evidence of the correctness of the
claim is accommodating year after year.
Wherever honest and intelligent effort
has. been put forth cultivating, plant
ing and caring for the crops that fol-
low the nusbandman has been re-
warded far beyond his expectations,
and when at last all the acreage under
the system is in a high state of culti-
vation the production will be in ton
mage far beyond anything that could
be anticipated. The reason for this is
that besides the chief stimulous, water,
the soil of this part of the valley is
an alluvial deposit containing all the
elements that enter into plant life,
and very largely free of rocks and
gravel. In some localities in this val
ley, even where orcharding has proved
to be successful, the land owner takes
enough large boulders off his ranch
to build fence around the entire
tract when first prepared for planting.
and ever year the stone boat is about
as much Of useful institution about
the premises as plow or harrow. for
the boulders continue coming to the
surface. Around here, over most Of the
territory. gravel as large as marble
Is rarely encountered; and thus vast
amount OF heavy manual work is elm
mated from improving an Oroville
orchard tract.
But that is neither here nor there
and has no direct bearing on the fact
that this land is extravagently pro-
ductive, and was rung in on this item
only as side issue. What was intend
ed was to quote further evidence VI the
fecundity of the SOIL
We have ben amazed to learn of
large yields Of apples elsewhere. OF
$4,000 boxes off 200 acres. OF $4,000
boxes off 80 acres, and SO on down
the line. But on single orchard Of 40
acres in East Oroville, what is known
as the Haskell orchard, D. X. Patter-
son, the manager in charge, informs us
that he will pick over 10000 boxes Of
apples this season, and sucl apples.
that no other locality can surpass and
mighty few equal. Between fifty and
sixty car loads from one modest size
orchard. And other orchards in the
same vicinity will yield equally as
heavy crops. With such production
when the young orchards in and
around Oroville once come into full
bearing the shipments from this depot
will be enormous.
The fact is our own people hardly
realize or appreciate the wonderful
yield of apples this year. They know
from word Of mouth that the crop is
immense and the fruit of magnificent
quality and they take the reports ON
trust and do not go to the trouble TO
visit the orchards and have those re-
ports confirmed by personal inspec-
ton. although those orchards are at
our very door. Those who have not
been out among the trees caunor rea
lize the extent Of the crop or the beau
ty Of the fruit. Notwithstanding that
the orchards were thinned out from
so to rs per cent early in the summer
the trees are weighted down with fruit.
Even great limbs bend low and fairly
groan beneath the load. The trees look
like supperanuated men kept on their
feet by the use Of crutches, for very
wilderness Of props are supporting the
over burdened limbs. The greenery of
the orchard looks as though it werc
splotched with blood where the bdush-
ing fruit peeps out from among the
leaves, blush put on the fat and
| JUICY fruit by the magic touch OF sun
shine and the chemistry Of the soil. 1t
is picture to delight the eye and
strengthen ones confidence in the fu-
ture of the country. Go out and take IA
look before the ruthless hands of the
gatherers strips the branches OF their
golden wealth.
/