Reports of R. H. Weber. 47 



staple a business as raising wheat, and much more interesting 

 and profitable, as instances are on record where an mdividual 

 free will bring as much revenue as an entire acre of the finest 

 crop of wheat. Deep, alluvial, well-drained soils are required 

 for the profitable production of cherries, and in this the section 

 surrounding The Dalles abounds, and it may be safely said 

 that The Dalles district is as famous for its cherries as Hood 

 River for its high-grade apples. 



Large plantings of Italian prunes are also being made this 

 spring on account of the high prices prevailing for this article 

 during past several years. 



Prunes grown in this section, unlike many other districts in 

 the northwest, are shipped exclusively in the fresn state to our 

 large eastern cities, where they command a ready sale at 

 highly remunerative prices. 



Peaches and apricots are receiving their share of attention, 

 and many acres are being set to these varieties, mostly of sorts 

 adapted to canning. Principal of these are the Phillips Cling 

 peach and Royal apricot, which command good prices at local 

 canneries and are very productive. 



In the Hood River and Mosier sections large plantings of 

 apples are being made. These districts have prospects for 

 immense yields of their duly celebrated Yellow Newtown 

 Pippins, Spitzenburgs and Ortleys, and make comment here 

 quite unnecessary, for they have spread Hood River's fame 

 both far and wide. 



Note must be made however of the increased planting of 

 pear trees in the Hood River Valley; varieties largely Beurre 

 de' Anjou, Bartlett, Beurre Bosc and Winter Nelis. It having 

 been found that these varieties will yield immense crops of 

 high quality fruit, and being in great demand at highest 

 market prices in our populous eastern cities, it is safe to say 

 that within a few years the shipment of pears from Hood 

 River will amount to hundreds of cars annually. 



To the Dufur section in Wasco County belongs the distinc- 

 tion of setting the largest individual apple orchard, not only 

 of the great northwest, noted for its vast enterprises, but of 

 the entire United States, and perhaps the whole world. For 

 here one firm will this season finish the planting of 4,000 

 acres to apples exclusively, consisting principally of Yellow 

 Newtown Pippin, Spitzenburg, Jonathan, Winter Banana, and 

 some other leading varieties. This plantation presents a 

 veritable hive of activity ; scores of men and horses are busily 

 engaged in performing the various labors necessary in the 

 conducting of the work required in the production of an 

 orchard on strictly scientific and up-to-date principles. Here, 



