An Ideal Ranch in Douglas County, Oregon 
A FAMILY FARM.—In the Fall of 1S>09, John 
Busenbark, a native of Wichita, Kansas, landed 
in Roseburg, Oregon with the express idea in mind 
of buying a tract of good farm land. After consid¬ 
erable investigation and debate, he succeeded in 
satisfying his particular desires in the purchase of 
a 300-acre farm, or ranch, as it is called here in the 
West, located about six miles from Roseburg, and 
named “Alfalfadale Farm.” The following Spring 
Mr. Busenbark had the rest of his family, consisting 
of four sons and one daughter, come to Oregon. 
They had not been here long when arrangements 
were made to provide each of the married sons with 
a comfortable, substantial house and 10 acres of 
land immediately to tbe rear of each house. The 
three sons’ homes are built in a row on tbe east side 
coli, I believe, is more delicate in texture ar.d of a 
more mild flavor, but is used exactly the same as 
cauliflower is used. Last March a crop of 250 boxes 
to the acre was harvested from the 12 acres. The 
crate in which the heads are packed for shipment 
holds approximately 40 lbs., and for a crate of this 
size a price of $1 to $1.25 net was received. It might 
be well to add that it is not necessary to tie up the 
heads of broccoli for blanching purposes, as is neces¬ 
sary to do with cauliflower in the East. 
LOGANBERRIES AND PEARS—Like all other 
lines of farming, the loganberry comes in for its 
share of attention. As you may know, the logan¬ 
berry is quite similar in shape to the blackberry. 
I Is color is different, being a reddish purple. The 
flavor is quite sour, and the berries are exceedingly 
keep long. From the four acres set to cherries a 
yield of 11 tons were picked and sold for six cents 
a pound on the average. 
PRUNES.—Have you ever heard of the Mistland 
prunes? Well, if you have, you can slip it under 
your hat that they came from Douglas County, 
Oregon, the home of the prune. It is estimated that 
approximately fifteen million pounds of dried prunes 
will have been shipped from Douglas County before 
many months have passed, or as fast as they can be 
shipped to their market. You little realize, I am 
sure, tbe amount of labor and patient toil that is 
connected with the growing and the preparation for 
market of a mere prune. It happened to be my good 
fortune to visit this farm during the harvesting of 
tbe prune crop this Fall. Their total acreage is 00, 
ot the private driveway, at the end of which is 
located the father’s house. The sons carry on the 
work of the farm, while the father and mother, in 
their retiring years, can look out upon their vast 
acreage and feel proud of their possessions. Their 
home is not elaborate, but comfortable and abound¬ 
ing in happiness becoming “Daddy” and “Mother” 
Busenbark, as they are known for miles around. In 
order that the reader may get a clear, concise idea 
of the type of farming that is conducted on “Alfalfa- 
dale Farm,” it will be necessary to mention the many 
different phases in which they are engaged and to 
describe them. 
WINTER WORK.—It is generally conceded that 
tlie Winter months are not of much account other 
than to sit around tbe fire, pop corn, cut wood and 
do the many other so-called odd jobs that nearly 
juicy. Last Summer these berries sold for 40 cents 
a quart. You can form an idea of the work neces¬ 
sary to take care of eight acres of these berries, 
also some idea of the income from such an acreage. 
A young pear orchard of 15 acres produced a yield 
of 24 tons of fruit, selling for $05 per ton for No. 1 
and $55 for No. 2, this past Fall. Incidentally, it 
might be well to add that every fourth tree in this 
orchard is a young English walnut tree, which is a 
valuable asset to any farmer in this part of the 
country. 
CHERRIES.—The proprietor of Alfalfadale Farm 
considered well his choice of cherries—the Bing, the 
Lambert and the Royal Ann. If you have never 
tasted the Bing cherry, which is one of the popular 
varieties, you have yet a great treat in store. The 
Ring, as yon may know, is hard to beat when it 
most of which is of the variety known as the Italian 
prune. Of this GO acres there are 10 acres of small 
trees not yet bearing. The 30-acre orchard, 11 years 
old, yielded a crop of 7,800 bushels during the past 
season. The 20-acre orchard, eight years old, gave 
a yield of 1,200 bushels for the first crop during the 
season just past. In pounds the 50 acres of prunes 
netted a yield of approximately 213,000 of dried 
fruit. It is doubtful if there is a more beautiful 
sight than a well-kept prune orchard at any time of 
year, more especially when the trees are laden with 
fruit. 
PRUNING AND SPRAYING—During the months 
of December and January pruning is done, mainly 
to shape the tree. Very little spraying is needed as 
compared with that necessary to the raising of 
apples. The orchard are usually plowed in March 
IHclcing Up Prunes from (1 round. Fig. 651 
An Oregon Tourist Who Traveled 350 Miles in llorse-drawn Automobile. Fig. 603 
every farm has attached to if. But that is not true 
in this case. Instead, plans are being made to har¬ 
vest the broccoli, of which there were 1G acres. 
Quite contrary to most farm crops, this crop is ready 
for harvesting about the last of February or the 
first of March. It may be of interest to you to know 
how the broccoli compares with cauliflower. Unlike 
cauliflower, the broccoli plants are set about the 
20th of June. The plants grow to enormous sizes, 
often reaching a height of from 3 to 5 ft. The leaves 
are broad and of a light green color. The broccoli 
heads resemble the cauliflower very closely in ap¬ 
pearance. and there is not a very great difference in 
flavor. However, the advantage that does exist 1 
should feel inclined to give to broccoli. Ofteutimes 
one of these heads weighs from 10 to 12 lbs. Rroc- 
comcs to size and attractiveness, and none surpasses 
it in quality. Tt is, too, a very good shipping fruit, 
ranking with the best of its particular group. The 
meat is solid, very sweet and fairly juicy. The 
color is an exceedingly dark red. However, the 
growers of the Pacific Northwest do not place it as 
one of the best for preserving purposes, but more 
for fancy market purposes. They are very rich. 
The Lambert is also another very desirable cherry. 
The flesh and flavor leave little to be desired: the 
flesh is purplisli-red, marbled with lighter red, firm, 
meaty and juicy, with a sweet, rich flavor. This 
cherry, too, Is excellent for market purposes or for 
home use. Royal Ann is the leading firm-fleshed 
sweet cherry. It is large in size, handsome in ap¬ 
pearance and of high quality. They carry well and 
and kept under clean cultivation during the Sum¬ 
mer. In the latter part of August or early Septem¬ 
ber they are seeded to a cover crop of common vetch, 
which is plowed under the following Spring. This 
practice keeps the soil mellow, and aids in retaining 
moisture and restoring fertility. Harvesting starts 
usually in the early part of September, depending 
upon the weather and manner of fertilizing. The 
application of nitrate of soda, which has been found 
to be the only fertilizer that it pays to use, makes 
■ tbe prunes ready for harvest about two weeks later, 
on the average, and increases their size very 
materially. 
HARVESTING.—When the crop is ready to har¬ 
vest the shakers, big, husky men, go through the 
orchard with stout poles having an iron hook on one 
