19 1 8 



BETTER FRUIT 



Page 25 



quality, size, flavor and fine drying 

 characteristics. Dr. J. R. Cardwell, 

 an enthusiastic horticulturist probably 

 set the first orchard of commercial im- 

 portance near Portland. During the 

 next ten years the industry became 

 well established in Polk, Yamhill and 

 Douglas Counties, in Oregon, and in 

 Clarke County, Washington. 



A promoter named Evans from Cali- 

 fornia succeeded in interesting several 

 farmers, Hans Weaver, John Weaver, 

 J. J. Chadwick, Geo. Dement, John Isner 

 and John Hall, at Myrtle Creek, in a 

 patent dryer in 1877, and sold them 

 prune trees to get the business started, 

 but it developed that he knew far more 

 about promoting than he did about 

 prune drying and the growers were 

 soon left to work out their own salva- 

 tion. Their greatest trouble was to dry 

 the crop. This was an entirely new 

 business in Oregon and it is recorded 

 that for two years the crop lay on the 

 ground to rot. Drying was carried 

 through the experimental stage how- 

 ever, until several types of dryers were 

 developed that proved successful. The 

 tunnel dryer is in greatest use now. 

 Judge G. W. Riddle has a steam dryer 

 which has over five miles of pipes in it. 

 There was considerable trouble in 

 marketing the fruit in the early days. 

 The markets of the East were not eager 

 to buy the prunes in dirty gunny sacks. 

 Probably the greatest single factor in 

 the development of the prune industry 

 must be credited to the processor. The 

 product was sterilized and packed in 

 clean boxes such as the trade desired. 

 With that came extensive advertising 

 until today the Oregon Prune is favor- 

 ably known wherever people cat fruit. 

 With the expansion of the market the 

 growth of the industry in Douglas 

 county has been steady, until it has be- 

 come the safest and most profitable 

 business of the county. 



Yields of 2 to 3 tons are not at all un- 

 common in the Valley of the Umpqua. 

 Judge A. F. Stearns of Oakland, dried 

 70 tons of Italians from 25 acres in 

 1916. Dr. Hoover of Roseburg, grew 

 over three tons to the acre on 30 year 

 old trees. The young orchards are 

 doing well, too. A. F. Hoffman received 

 .'?1200 for the crop on Wi acres eight 

 years old. The name of Weaver in the 

 Mvrtle Creek district is a synonym for 

 prunes. Ed. Weaver dried 150,000 

 pounds of Petites on 30 acres in 1917. 

 "Success in prune growing, " says Mr. 

 Weaver, "depends on the application of 

 good common sense, providing you have 

 the right kind of soil to begin with. Al- 

 ways cultivate before bloom and plow 

 away from the trees. Mounding the 

 dirt around the trees is the surest way 

 I know to prevent a crop from setting." 



Your common sense will tell you that 

 you cannot buy now all the things you 

 bought before we had a war to win. 

 Your buying must be restricted and 

 your savings invested in War Savings 

 Stamps. 



In France all grains that can be used 

 in bread making are reserved for human 

 food. 



Ridley,Houlding&Co. 



COVENT GARDEN, LONDON 



Points to remember when consigning 

 apples to the London Market 



Specialists in 

 Apples 



CABLE ADDRESS: BOTANIZING, LONDON 



J 



M^ The Acme Fruit Picker 



Mr. Fruit Grower: 



Labor is going to be 

 scarcer than ever thjs 

 season. The Acme Fruit Picker is worth its weight in gold as 

 a labor saver. Works successfully on any tree fruit. Weighs less 

 than three pounds; light and durable; made of the best mater- 

 ial obtainable. The picker takes the place of heavy, burdensome 

 stepladders and is so simple of construction that a child can 

 operate it. Guaranteed not to injure the tree in any way, and 

 with the zigzag delivery chute it is impossible to bruise the fruit. 



Price $6.50 F. O. B. Bellingham, Wn. 



If not satisfied money refunded. 



Reference. Bellingham National Bank. Bellingham, Wn. 



Write for free descriptive circular. 



ACME FRUIT PICKER CO.^Muliin Hotel, Bellingham, Wn. 



RHODES DOUBLE CUT 

 , PRUNING SHI 



RHODES MFG. 



520 s. DIVISION AVE.. GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. 



'THE only 

 pruner 

 made that cuts 

 from both sides of 

 the limb and does not 

 bruise the bark. Made in 

 all styles and sizes. All 

 shears delivered free 

 to your door. 



Write for 

 circular and 

 prices. 



Pittsburgh Perfect Cement 



COStSd NSilS are of the highest standard 



The Heads don't come off. Given Preference by Largest Pacific Coast Packers 

 MANUFACTURED EXCLUSfVELY BY 



PITTSBURGH STEEL COMPANY. Pittiburgh, Pa. 



A. C. RULOFSON COMPANY, Pacific Coast Agents 

 359 Monadnock Building, San Francisco, California 



WHEN WRITING ADVERTISERS MENTION BETTER FRUIT 



