The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1923-07-20
ENCOURAGING
CROP CONDITIONS
outlook for Abundant Haryests Roth
on Hill and In Valley Gratifying
to Growers,

FROM our exchanges published in
the gram belts Of eastern Washington.
from travellers who have covered the
same territory by auto, from the hus-
Dandmen themselves living within
rsach OIL town comes the same cheer
ing word that the prospects for an
| enormous crop of cereals were never
more flattering. For the first time In
years copious rains have fallen inst
when they would do the most good. so
lar the altogether too frequent hot
| WINDS nave not withered the grain
ana the hopes of the farmer at the
same time and the country has escap-
ed devastating hail storms The stock
or the grain is nigh. thick and heavy.
the heads long and full and the ker-
nels plump. Some people may be a
trile TOO sanguine in their predictions
vi the yleld per acre, but discountine
the figures of the more optimistic 2h
per cent, or even 3S 1-3 pr cent, and
the quantity of wheat that will be
harvested will exceed any other har-
vest in years. Already in the southern
part OF the state harvest has COM
mencd and gradually the ripeninx of
tn grain will extend northward and
the click and hum of the binder will
be heard in northern Okanogan, in
dustrial notes that have not been
written into the musical score of our
farmers for several years.
And the grain grower alone ia not
basking in the smile of benign provi-
dence. 1t has been an auspicious year
for others who wrest livlinood from
mother earth. The semi-arid val
ley. where irrigation is necessary to
insure production, is feeling the influ-
ence of favorable season. Small
fruits have yielded abundantly, and
the outlook for normal crop of ap-
pies is very promising, and a normal
crop means oodles Of that king of
fruit. What promises better for the
grower, too is that the indications
point to harvest of apples superior
in size, and consequently In appear
ance wlich will give them a ready SELL
Ing value, to any crop heretofore gath
cred. This improvement in the size and
quality of the apple is more particu-
larry owing to the fact that the grow
ers are learning the science of apple
growing, for, in the growing of apples,
like in everything else in which hu-
man beings are engaged. there is
right way and a wrong way. and II Is
a Y N ~ nj nAn
the knowledge of how to follow the
proper formulas to produce the best
results. In old days and orchard was
allowed to grow up and take care of
itself very much like Topsy. Now, It
Is becoming highly specialized busi-
ness, and the man who is on to the
modern methods, devotes time and
close attention to following the advice
OF experts, finds his reward In better
fruit and an increased revenue from
what he markets.
Looking over the conditions as they
today prevail on the farm and orchard
those following the persuits OF grain
and fruit growing are to be congratu-
lated. 1t is satisfaction beyond ex-
preston in words to especially r6 alize
that the hill farmers Of Okanogan
county are to. enjoy a fat year after
so many lean ones that left them
stranded, depressed, discouraged. At
the present time ruling prices Of grain
is far from satisfactory but low prices
will not always prevail, as We older
people have seen fluctuations from
extreme low to extreme high, and
wheat will again come into its own In
the markets of the world. This year
the price may not be such as to create
any boisterous rejoicing, but 1t will be
higher than it has often been In our
day. and the farmer will receive some
return where his income from the farm
for several years have been of a minus
quantity. Furthermore, a rich harvest
this year is a precursory Of repeated
harvests in the years to come the
view based upon the fact that this
country enjoyed repeated harvests in
years past, and once the farmer gets
his head above water, and the bubbles
should start this year, in a short time
he will be out on dry land well on the
road to comfortable competency. And
no class of people better deserve that
kind of reward.