]70 PACIFIC STATES FLORAL CONGRESS. 



ROSE GROWING IN OREGON. ' 



BY FREDERICK V. HOLMAN. 



The state of Oregon is divided into two great parts by the Cascade 

 Mountains, which run from the southern boundary of Oregon north 

 through the state of Washington into British Columbia. The Sierra 

 Nevada Mountains are the southerly part of this great range. 



In eastern Oregon the climate is comparatively dry ; in summer it is 

 hotter and in winter it is colder than western Oregon. The great height 

 of the Cascade Mountains shuts off much of the influence of the Pacific 

 Ocean from eastern Oregon. It contains vast farming areas in cultiva- 

 tion. > It also furnishes grazing for great herds of cattle and horses and 

 large flocks of sheep. 



This paper treats of rose growing in western Oregon, and especially 

 that part known as the Willamette Valley. This is the old part of the 

 state, and is the part usually meant by strangers in referring to Oregon, 

 its climate, its agricultural products, and its flora. 



As I shall refer only to western Oregon in the rest of this paper, 

 1 wish to be understood as meaning the western part of the state, and 

 particularly the Willamette Valley, when I use the word "Oregon." 



FACTORS INFLUENCING CLIMATE OF WESTERN OREGON. 



The climate of Oregon is tempered and greatly influenced by the 

 Pacific Ocean, its warm currents, and its soft, balmy winds. The main 

 factor is the Kuro-Siwo, or Japan Current, which has an effect on 

 Oregon's climate similar to that of the Atlantic Gulf Stream on the 

 climate of the British Islands and of France. The Cascade Range, 

 which assists to confine these influences largely to the west of those 

 mountains, is another important factor. 



It is the effect of these factors which has given Oregon the reputa- 

 tion of being an unusually rainy etate. But it does not deserve this 

 reputation. It is true it has many days, especially in the winter, when 

 some rain falls, and it has many "gray days," resulting from the moisture 

 in the air. 



Oregon's climate suffers in reputation by comparison with "thfc 

 glorious climate of California," its small average annual rainfall, and 

 its long periods of dry weather, and not taking into account the dis- 

 advantages resulting therefrom. 



Mr. Edward A. Beals, the Section Director of the United States 

 Weather Bureau at Portland, has furnished me with some facts and 

 figures which I give here. These are necessary to explain why Oregon 

 produces such fine roses. 



