THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
at $3,200,000., The wool and mohair produced in this state 
arc of a very fine quality and bring the highest market price 
as a rule. It is estimated that about one-tenth of this product 
is manufactured by the mills of Oregon into blankets, 
flannels and other goods, and that the products from these 
mills for the year 1903 amounted to nearly two million dol¬ 
lars. There was produced from wheat, corn, hay, potatoes, 
barley and vegetables for the year 1903 over $75,000,000. 
In the eastern part of the state the yield of wheat is very 
large, and perhaps is not equalled in any other state in the 
Union. Corn is raised in the Willamette Valley and in 
Southern Oregon, and makes very good crops. In nearly 
every portion of the state the hay crop is as a rule good, and 
the amount is very large, a part of it being shipped to for¬ 
eign countries. The yield of potatoes is large and of very 
fine quality, and they are shipped all over the United States. 
A large amount of barley is produced and shipped for the 
Oriental trade. Vegetables are being canned and preserved 
in various ways for the market, production being large and 
inexpensive. 
As for the fruit business in Oregon, everything seems 
favorable to its success and prosperity. The receipts for 
the year 1903 show an increase of over $200,000 over those 
of the preceding year, and although perhaps not more than 
one-twentieth of the land suitable for the purpose is in orchards, 
already the receipts from this industry are.among the most 
important of the state’s assets, the total for 1903 being 
$2,501,000. The apple leads and is destined to lead in com¬ 
mercial importance from this time forward. The acreage 
of apple orchards is rapidly increasing and the excellency 
of the product has made Oregon apples famous all over the 
world and causes them to bring a superior price wherever 
put on sale. There are no “off years” in Oregon, and prop¬ 
erly cared for the apple crop is sure for an indefinite period, 
as the age limit has never been reached on the trees, there 
being trees 50 years old that still produce vigorously. The 
opportunity for up-to-date orchardists is nowhere equalled 
outside the limits of this wonderful Oregon. 
But while the apple is to lead there are other varieties 
of fruit which yearly add large wealth to the coffers of the 
Oregon farmer. In some of them, too, Oregon leads the 
world and its cherries, especially the Royal Anne, and pears, 
as well as small fruit, are sold in the markets of New York, 
Philadelphia and London without regard to the prevailing- 
prices, since thej'' have practically no competition. The 
larger portion of these fruits, is, of course, canned for the 
market and buyers have not been able to contract for the 
amounts they wish. One local eanner could have sold to 
one firm in London more pears than he could pack in three years. 
The conditions indicate that in course of time Oregon 
will become the packing center for special lines of fruit, in 
the growing of which she excels. These include berries, 
cherries, apples, Bartlett pears and plums. Northwestern 
Oregon cannot always depend on a crop of peaches, but 
they can be packed in Southwestern Oregon. They grow 
well in the Snake River Valley and in the vicinity of The 
Dalles, and in the course of time those sections will have 
their own peach canneries. The east cannot compete with 
Oregon at all as regards Bartlett pears and cherries, so that 
67 
there will be room 
to produce. 
for -os large a 
supply as the growers care 
In 1903 the prune crop of Oregon was estimated at 25,000,- 
000 pounds, not including some 5,000,000, pounds grown in 
a portion of Washington, which is commercially a part of 
Oregon. The total crop of what are called “Oregon prunes” 
is about 30,000,000 pounds. Estimating the average price 
at 31 cents a pound, the entire crop was worth about $1,- 
125,000. While the establishment of the prune industry 
has been full of difficulties, it is now recognized as one of 
the permanent and profitable enterprises of the state. 
With the continued application of scientific business meth¬ 
ods to the fruit business, the best example, of which is found 
at the present time in the Hood river country, each year will 
see a great step in advance in the extent of acreage, the pro¬ 
duction per acre and the profit derived, and no business of 
which we have knowledge offers a better opportunity for 
pleasant, profitable and healthful work. 
The Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition Commission, 
which I have the honor to represent as president, was ap¬ 
pointed by the Governor of the state of Oregon, in accordance 
with the provisions of an Act of the Oregon legislature, which 
appropriated $500,000 to be expended by said Commission 
in aiding to hold an international exposition at Portland, 
Oregon in 1905. This Exposition will commemorate the 
100th anniversary of the exploration of the Oregon country 
by Lewfis and Clark in an expedition planned by President 
Jefferson, which resulted in giving our government its first 
foothold on the Pacific coast. At this exposition there will 
be made a display of the resources of this Oregon country, 
tending to show the tremendous increase in wealth which 
has taken place in the past fifty years, and the possibilities 
of its still undeveloped resources. A larger object of the 
exposition is to demonstrate the possibilities of trade with 
the Orient, and to this end the magnificent government 
exhibit from the Philippine Islands will be of great value. 
A beautiful site has been secured and prepared and with 
the participation of the other states of the Union and of the 
national government, and the kindness of the transcontin¬ 
ental railroads in granting low rates, a successful exposition 
and large attendance should be assured beyond a possibility 
of doubt. 
THE FRESNO NURSERIES 
Fresno, Cal., May 10, 1904—F. II. Wilson: “The sale 
of nursery stock throughout the great San Joaquin Valley 
of California has been very good the past season, indicating 
that farmers have faith in the fruit industry and they are 
investing their money with prospect of good returns. 
“The Fresno Nurseries of Fresno and Dinuba, California, 
have just closed their season’s business and the aggregate 
sales of this’concern show considerable increase over former 
years, in fact the season has proved a very profitable one 
from a nurseryman’s standpoint. 
“The outlook for next season’s plant throughout the state 
is very good and with a good winter rainfall the sale of nursery 
stock generally in California will average as well as this sea¬ 
son, if not more. In Central California, the sale of Raisin 
grape vines has been very active and a great many wine 
grapes have also been planted. Fruit trees have sold well 
throughout the state and the season all around has been a 
good one and fully up to expectations.” 
