1504 



ENCYCLOPEDIA OF IMiACTICAL IIORTICULTURK 



soil, have never bonu". ami perhaps never 

 will. Pears pa.v higher than apples; they 

 average ?oOO to $500 per acre, while ap- 

 ples average about $200. In Western and 

 Southern Oregon we like the cla.v loams 

 as they are more retentive of moisture, 

 but in sections where irrigation is prac- 

 ticed we like the lighter soils as they 

 are worked more easily and are not 

 troubled with a surplvis of water." 



Eastern Oregon 



Eastern Oregon has not made the de- 

 velopment in the fruit industry that has 

 been made in the central and western 

 portions of the state. This may be due 

 to the physical conditions, that make 

 fruit growing less profitable than in other 

 parts, or it may be due partly to lack of 

 transportation facilities, which until re- 

 cently was a great bar to settlement. 

 However, of late a great many orchards 

 have been planted, that are not yet in 

 bearing and that promise good results. 



At Baker a large acreage has been 

 planted in the belief that they will pro- 

 duce rich returns. 



In the Grande Ronde valley the soils 

 are rich alluvial deposits and trees are 

 being planted. 



At La Grande there are some of the old- 

 est orchards in Eastern Oregon, and ap- 

 ples have proven a success. 



At Cove apples, cherries and other 

 fruits are grown successfully. 



At Freewater and Milton, in the Walla 

 Walla valley, all kinds of deciduous 

 fruits are grown, but apples, prunes, 

 peaches and pears, are the principal 

 fruits. 



At Umatilla is a Government irrigating 

 project, in which the land is sold in 40- 

 acre units. The soil is sandy in character 

 and seems to be well adapted to straw- 

 berries, raspberries, blackberries, grapes, 

 peaches, pears and early apples. The suc- 

 cess of winter apples, for commercial pur- 

 poses, is yet to be tested. 



In the Eagle, the Pine and the .John 

 Day valleys there are some old orchards, 

 mostly "family orchards," but the suc- 

 cess of these has given encouragement for 

 the planting of commercial orchards on 

 a broader scale. 



Summer lake is well adapted to the 

 growing of such fruits as winter apples, 

 especially the Spitzenburg and Winter 

 Banana; also the tenderer fruits such as 

 peaches and apricots may be grown. The 

 soil is a sandy loam and the water from 

 the lake has doubtless modified the at- 

 mosphere so as to protect from frost. 



At The Dalles, on the Columbia river, 

 prunes, grapes, cherries and apples are 

 grown for commercial puri)Oses. 



Of the Hood River valley we have al- 

 ready written in brief, but the district 

 deserves further mention and we give 

 here a description by Professor Lewis, 

 as follows: 



"This district has earned world-wide 

 reputation for its apples. Yellow New- 

 town and Spitzenburg are the principal 

 varieties. It has about 10.000 acres in 

 orchards; has seven or eight different 

 types of soil, all of which grow fruit suc- 

 cessfully when supplied with humus and 

 when deep and drained thorou.2:hly both 

 as to air and soil. The region which is 

 directly above the town of Hood River is 

 known as the lower valley, while in the 

 vicinity of Mount Hood is the upper val- 

 ley. In the upper valley we find rich fer- 

 tile soil, but as yet few tearing orchards 

 in that district. With the proper hand- 

 ling the prospects are very encouraging 

 for orcharding. The elevation of Hood 

 River valley ranges from 600 to 2,500 feet. 

 The rainfall is about 35 inches. The main 

 apples are Yellow Newtown, Spitzenburg, 

 Ortley and Jonathan. 



"Between Hood river and The Dalles 

 is a small valley known as the Mosier 

 district. This district has much the same 

 conditions as are found in the Hood River 

 valley. Formerly a great many prunes 

 were grown in this district, but it is be- 

 coming chiefly an apple district, producing 

 such varieties as Newtown, Spitzenburg, 

 Ortley, etc." 



Willamette V.allcy 



This valley is about 150 miles long and 

 60 miles wide, vmdulating, rich, and beau- 

 tiful. It extends southward from Port- 

 land, and in some respects is the richest 

 agricultural portion of the state. There 

 is little or no irrigation i)racticed here 



