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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (April 1, 1883)
April, 1883. AGRICULTURE. Although our toil and climate are second to uuue for the production of vegetable!, and our means of transportation are good, we Kill import girden product! from California. We hope not only to ace thii changed, but a lurplui raised to supply outside market!. It will pay somebody to raise vegetables extensively. The favorable aspect of the grain crop still con tinues. The desired rain has watered the fields, and there is now apparently nothing to prevent a large yield This state of affairs is universal in the northwest, and the consequence is a wide spread feeling of confidence and increased efforts in investment and development. The exceedingly poor condition of the English wheat crop is a guarantee of good prices, while the increasing facilities for handling grain here will result in giving to the producer a greater share than for merly of the price realized in the foreign markets. The question of making our own butler or im porting it from California, is one that should re ceive the careful attention of farmers. Home manufacture of this great staple means thousands of dollar! annually in the pockets of our producers. Weitern Oregon and Washington are unexcelled in the world in dairying facilities. With a mild climate, abundance of water, infrequence of snow, and green and nutritious grass growing luxuriantly the year round, what more could be desired? The establishment of cheese factories and co-operative creameries on the plan adopted in the east, is the proper step to lake. Let half a hundred farmers of a neighborhood band together, build a creamery at lome central point, employ a com petent man to operate it, and then each one keep from ten to fifty good milch cows and turn the milk into the factory every morning, receiving pro rata the earnings of the business. With but ter averaging forty cents such an investment can not fail if managed with any skill whatever. There is a splendid opening here for a number of experienced cheese and butter men to establish a paying business. Even if farmers feel timid about adopting the co-operative system, there is no doubt about their willingness to keep the cuws and tell milk to any factory that will guarantee for it a permanent market. Half a dozen of the many factories now struggling fur an existence in the east could transfer the scene of their ocra tions to this region with profit. It will pay them to visit us and investigate this matter. Two creameries, the Farmington and Klmwood, are illustrations of what can be done on a larger scale. Edward Nelson, secretary, said recently lo the Oregon City Enltrfrii: " In 1870 the Farmington creamery was started with capital of $4,000, in shares of $25 each. There were twenty-four stockholders in all. The dairy has been managed by a board of directors, which meets once a month and determines what shall he divided among the patrons. In the first year the creamery had Uc milk of seventy-five cows ; now it has the milk of over seven hundred, and is deemed an indispensable necessity. The creamery buildings cost in all $4. 00a We have an icehouse which will hold about one hundred and seventy-five tons, and this cost $350. A cottage cost $500. The first year we were in business we made butter for five months, and now make it the entire year." HOPS. Many hop vines are being planted along the Chahalis river. THE WEST SHORE. The land puichased In the forks of the Santlam and Willamette for a hop farm amounts to j.ioo acres. The work of setting out luuU is alicady begun. Two large farms near Salem, Oregon, were recently purchased at forty dollars per acre by practical hop growers. They will be converted into hop fields, much of them this season. The acreage of hops in Puyallup valley this season is nearly double that of 1881. The young roots will augment the crop but little this season, but hop growers express themselves as satisfied with a yield as good as last year if the prices re main as at present. In regard lo this Industry the Philadelphia AVr W says t "The plan In England is to select a good rich soil and plow it deep, at the same time manuring well and heavily. Cood drainage Is also necessary, and every precaution is taken lo afford the moil favorable conditions for securing the crop. Cut tings or shoots of any approved sort whlrh have been reared in a nursery are planted in rows six feel apart, and the hills should be that (II Us lire apart in the rows. From two to three plants are al lowed to each hill, and tli.-y are separately Horn inate and pistillate, one male plant being planted for every fifty of the others. Each hill has a short pole, which is fixed before summer, lo which the young vine is fastened and trained. Eaily In spring the ground is again cultivated, both the cultivator and hoe being used, and the hills are finally earthed up In June. In (his country the distance between rows varies from ilx lo eight feet, and some growers use two poles Instead of one, the poles being from twelve lo eighteen feet In height. Seven feet apart each way is also a favorite distance, which gives 900 hills to the acre, snd allows fewer vines lo the hills. Plenty of sunlight and a free circulation of air are beneficial to the vines, and manure may be added at any stage of growth, owing lo the plant being a gross feeder. The use of manure and the quality of (he soil are also Important, but first in the manage ment is the judicious use of the plow, cultivator and hoe, to say nothing of setting, tying and training the vines. From four lo six pounds have been gathered from each hill on good locations, and it is not expecting loo much lo claim one ton of hops for every acre cultivated, though much less is often obtained. The New York hop dis trict last yen produced 16,000,000 pounds of hops, and the cost of production was from ten lo fifteen cents per pound, including all expenses of wages, interest, use of land, etc., and the average price obtained was sixty cents, although some lots sold for $1." rsuiT. The fruit crop of Boise City wss valued at $50,. 000 last year. The ojwning up of Southern Idaho by the Oregon Short Unc will aid in the develop ment of thai industry there. A gentleman from the east recently paid $6, 000 for 200 acres of land between FrreKrt and Alkl, on Puget sound. He is clearing the land and will plant taige orchard and an immense garden of small fruit, to supply the Seattle market. A tract of 350 acres in Windy cove. Mason county, W. T., has bees purchased by two gen tlemen for a cranberry marsh, on which tbry will plant the beat New Jersey berries. On seventy- 75 five acres of this tract wild cranberries grow In profusion. The whole patch will I capable nf producing ao,ooo barrels annually. In buying fiuit trees, orckardlaia should be careful lo gel I how feared in localities with cli mate and soil as near like that of the region In which they are to be planted as possible 1 the har dier varieties foi the colder and more exposed sec tions, the more tender fur the mild or sheltered regions. Much loss and discouragement may ba avoided by using good judgment in selecting the young trees, seeds, cuttings etc. There is no question almut the future of the fiuit industry, which will develop to large propor tions in the nuhwesl. The completion of the tram-continental ;:iad will on a maiket for fresh, diied and canned fiuit thai must soon cause orchards lo ap;ear on every hand. The apples, plums, cherries and peaia of Oregon, Washington and Idaho are unexcelled foi flavor and soundness, and mutt hold a prominent place In tin market. In many localities, and erclally in Southern Or egon, (icachrs glow ih it are suierior to those of California in delicacy of flavor, while grapes, apricots, almonds, etc., ara equal to those of the (iolilcn Slate. Ily raising In each locality those varieties of fruit that are secially adapted lo the soil and climatic conditions, complete success can he obtained throughout this whole region. Hith erto, in the elnence of a suitable market, apples and other fruit have been allowed lo rot upon the ground. During the past three years a number of patent fruit dryers have been In use ami the re sult Is so favorable that many more will lie pur chased this season. An nrchardlst at Coivallls sent a box of dried apples to New Yoik last De cember. Thry were submitted In three trailing houses and were rated at sixteen cents per pound in that cly. A bottle of dried plums was also sent, and ihey were pronounced equal to lh best in the market, Drake llros., of St. Taut, if cently made inquiries of Suierlrlendent Mulr In regard lo the possible supply of Oregon and Wash ington fruit, in which ihey expect lo deal as soon ss the Northern Pacific Is completed. Some thing over a year ago we had 1 conversation with Washington Porter, of the ,fitm of Portei llros., Chicago, the heaviest shippers and dealers In California fruits, In whkh that gentleman saUl that owing lo climatic reasons the Northern Pa cific would be preferable lo other routes for the shipment nf fruit, ami lhal probably on the open ing of that road and the California estcntlon, much of the California fruit would he sent over its line. In Ihsl event, In purchasing he would prefer to buy in Oregon as much as possible, be cause he eipecled lo get sounder fruit and would have less distance lo transport it. When It Is un derstood that these gentlemen handle several thousand Ions of California fruit annually, It will be seen that this opinion la very significant. There is a splendid oienlng here for practical or chsrdists from the east lo lay lh foundation of a sure ami speedy fortune. Men of energy and intelligence, even without previous experience In fruit growing, need not hesiiale to embark in business so promising, where land can be had so cheap and ihe elements of success are so plentiful. The farmer who wisely deckle now to plant an orchard or to enlarge the small one be already owns, 'will have reason In a few years to congeal stale himself upon hie Investment.
