154 Report of State Board of Horticulture. 



at my orchard fi-om any direction and I have as good success as my 

 neighbors whose orchards are well protected. I admit that an orchard 

 not protected from the cold winds and storms will be more subject to 

 curl leaf and other fungous diseases, but with thorough spraying and 

 proper pruning of an orchard I think there is very little difference 

 as to locations. What is most needed to grow a successful peach 

 orchard is good rieh land, well-drained, with the hardpan, if there is 

 any, well broken up and where the water will not stand within three 

 feet of the surface — thoi-ough spraying, very heavy and judicious prun- 

 ing, and thorough cultivation. With this I think it possible to raise 

 a successful peach orchard in the Willamette Valley and as fine fruit 

 as can be grown anywhere in Oregon and I think that anyone who saw 

 my peach exhibit at the Oregon State Fair last September will agree 

 with me in this assertion. 



In conclusion, I will add that the people of the Willamette Valley 

 are beginning to realize that they are on the map of the peach-growing 

 districts of Oi'egon. I know there are some here who will take issue 

 with me as to the Willamette Valley ever becoming a noted peach- 

 growing district, but if they are "from Missouri" we propose to show 

 them. Why, this season, within a radius of three miles from my farm, 

 there were over 20,000 boxes of peaches raissd, mostly from young 

 trees. There is now, adjoming my place, 360 acres of young peach trees 

 set out in one tract and this is only one hour and twenty minutes' travei 

 from this beautiful city by electric line. 



Now this may be news to many of you, living right here in Portland, 

 but I assure you it is not to that great empire builder, James J. Hill, 

 who has done so much for the Pacific Northwest and at present is doing 

 for the great Willamette Valley and all Oregon. I say, it is not news 

 to Mr. Hill, for did I not show John F. Stevens, bis master builder and 

 engineer, through these orchards and rieh lands? Mr. Stevens said 

 to me: "This is one of the riebest and most ideal seetions of land for 

 fruit I have ever seen." And ever since Mr. Stevens' visit to our section 

 of the Willamette Valley, when I hear the shrill toot of the electric train 

 every hour in the day,'it seems to me they say, "Ye tillers of the soil 

 get a move on you, for we are over anxious for the time to come when 

 we will be called upon by you to transport a trainload of your match- 

 less fruits to the markets of the world every day." 



