THE POLK COUNTY OBSERVER, FRIDAY, MAY 14, 1015.
OREGON Hp! GROWING
TWENTY THOUSAND ACRES NOW
DEVOTED TO INDUSTRY.
Crop Average Twenty-Million Pounds
and Has a Value of Four Million
Dollar, Says Grower.
(By Fred Stump, Suver.)
The hop industry In Oregon dates
from 1870, but for some time after
its Inception was of small consequence.
The acreage, devoted to hop growing,
in Oregon has varied greatly, expand
ing after years of high prices, and
contracting after years of low prices.
At present there are In hops about
20,000 acres, which produce a crop
Averaging 25,000,000 pounds (worth
$4,000,000. Of this sum nearly $2,-
000,000 is expended for labor. Many
families depend on work in hop yards
for the money on which to live
through the winter. Aside from lum
bering there is probably no other in
dustry In the state so great a portion
of the proceeds of which go to labor.
Hops are usually planted eight feet
apart each way. Pegs are set where
the hop roots are to be planted and
holes made with a sharp stick or some
such means on a certain side of the
pegs and the roots inserted in these
holes. Soil is then packed around
the roots. A hop root is a section six
or eight inches long taken from a
nil! of hops which has arrived at ma
turity. Hop roots are planted in the spring
as early as practicable and a crop is
sometimes secured the first year.
There are three varieties of hops in
Oregon: The Fuggle, the Red Vine
and the Cluster. The Fuggle is an
early hop, which while it does not
yield heavily sometimes sells for h
higher price than do other hops. The
Red Vine is the first hop that was
planted in Oregon and as a conse
quence all the old yards In the state
are of this variety. This Is the most
hardy variety and on some soils it
yields heavily. The Cluster hop Is the,
most prevalent variety and until re
cently was the best liked hut on ac
count of Its tendency to die out it is
losing In favor and there is a strong
tendency towards replacing It with
Red Vines. In point of quality the
Red Vine is a favorite with buyers
and this, together with its superior
vigor and hardiness is inclining grow
ers strongly towards it.
Hops are, of course, perennial and
need to be renewed only when the
roots die from disease or Injury. There
is, however, a great deal of trouble
from this cause, which is sometimes
so serious as to cause whole yards to
be plowed up. There has never been
any, satisfactory explanation of the
cause of these dead hills, and the only
remedy is replanting, which it not
only expensive, hut renders a part of
the acreage temporarily unproductive.
At the present time hop vines are
usually trained on wires supported
on poles ten to twenty feet long. The
vines are lead to these wires by cot
ton twine of a strength sufficient to
bear the weight of the vines.
Hop yards are plowed and worked
both ways, which1 leaves a small
square around the hill, which has not
been disturbed. This square is then
loosened and stirred with a hoe and
surplus roots removed. This process
is variously known as hoeing, grub
bing or pruning. Cultivation with
various implements is continued un
til about the middle of July when the
growth of the vine Is so heavy as to
make It difficult or impossible to drive
a team through the rows.
Irrigation of hop yards has been
tried In a limited way and undoubted
ly of value, especially in dry seasons.
Hop vines require a great deal of
moisture especially at the time the
crop la maturing and because of our
very dry summer seasons, hops fre
quently Buffer from lack of moisture.
Hops are attacked by aphis or hop
lice, which makes it necessary to spray
the vines with an insecticide. An
emulsion of whale soap and extract of
quassia chips is the agent most com
monly used although nicotine sprays
are sometimes used. Spraying Is usu
ally done just after the hops have
bloomed. However, It Is sometimes
necessary to spray sooner If the hop
Hee are present in sufficient numbers
to cause honeydew. If the season Is
favorable for hop lice with rains and
warm, cloudy weather, a second spray-
Ing may be required. Red spiders are I
also a cause of considerable damage
as they sometimes become so numer
ous ns to sap the hup vine of practi
cally all its vigor, thereby greatly re
ducing the crop. No satisfactory
means of combatting this pest has yet
been found.
Hops ripen about September 1st
and are picked within the next three
weeks. Two methods of paying for
pleking are in vogue. Some growers
pay by the box, which contains nine
bushels, others by the hundred
pounds. It would seem that picking
by weight Is to be come universal.
When picked the hops are sacked
and hauled to dryhouses or kilns,
where the moisture content Is remov
ed by artificial heat to such a degree
that they will keep. Sulphur is burn
ed under the hops while they are
moist to give them the dtsired color.
When dry the hops are removed to a
bin or cooling room, where they are !
eommonly allowed to absorb atmos
pheric moisture or come In case. They
are then compressed In bales weighing
about 185 pounds and wrapped tn
heavy burlap to protect them during
shipment.
Recently there has been organised
the Oregon Hop Growers' association
which has as Its objects the stabilis
ing of the hop market through the
collection and dissemination of infor
mation regarding crop conditions at
home and abroad; through a better
acquaintance and closer relationship
with the consumer and through more
economic production which can be
brought about by co-operation. The
association will be able to eliminate
competition in selling among growers,
which is frequently a cause of falling
prices, as a rush to sell Is always tak
en advantage of by dealers. Manlpu
lation of the market by unscrupulous
dealers will also be made difficult or
Impossible by an associated effort on
the part of growers. It is expected
that growers representing more than
70 per cent of the Oregon hop crop
will avail themselves of the oppor
tunity to Improve their condition by
Joining this organization.
There is a similar movement to
wards organization among the hop
growers of Washington and California
and it is supposed that with a large
part of the hop acreage of the Pacific
coast under the control of an associa
tion, it will be possible in a measure
to control prices, although there is no
disposition shown to exact exhorbitant
or unreasonable terms. All that is de
sired Is to secure to the grower a just
return for his labor and investment
and this It is thought can be brought
about by eliminating the manipulation
of the market, which has been so com
mon and which has worked to the
detriment of the producer without
bringing to the consumer any benefit.
If the association can get for the
grower what the middleman has been
taking, hop raising will be made a
reasonably profitable occupation and
will continue to give employment to
many families which depend on hop
work for their subsistence.
The Oregon hop is preferred to any
other Pacific coast hop and this pres
tige can be increased by the better
quality which will result from united
effort In that direction. Our best
market is England and complaints are
coming from there that our hops con
tain too many leaves and stems. It
will be one of the principal efforts of
the Oregon Hop Growers' association
to better this condition, to the end
that this desirable market may be
held and broadened.
LURE OF THERICKREALL
FALSE-TEETH SPECIALIST AND
SKY-PILOT VISIT WATERS.
Fastness or Mountains, With Gloomy
Forests, Beetling Cliffs and Scam
pering Waters Attract Anglers.
By Rev. George H. Bennett.
"The Gods live here, along the moun
tain Bide
At least my Gods among such scenes
abide;
Down by the river, or in the wooded
glen,
In trees with songbirds, or in wild
beasts den.
The deity that beckons me above
Is nature's God the God that's al
ways love.
hear the voices calling in the
streams;
I hear the wisdom of a sage, it
seems,
In tales of love told by the forest trees,
In rustling whisper of the Autumn
leaves.
God made the country; let me then
abide
Along with him, by brook-or moun
tain side. Baker.
GERMANY IN NO DANGER
HAS
AMPLE SUPPLY OP FOOD
STIFFS AVAILABLE.
Bolgiuti Was OfiVml Indemnity for
Paswago to France. Hatred for
Hrltlsli Intense.
"It will be a long war no one in
lierlln believes it will end before an
other year rolls around" says C. O.
Alandantz, who has Just returned
from lierlln, where he has been on a
visit for the past year, in an inter
view with The Telegram. "Ciermany
cannot be starved out, for there are
ample supplies enough rye for bread
until November and plenty of other
food. In preparation for the future,
all available ground is being placed
under cultivation, for even the vacant
luts in Berlin are planted to vegetable
gardens.
"The hatred of the Germans for the
British is intense. The Germans do
not hate the French; they even feel
sympathy for them, for they know
that France wants to get back Alsace
and Lorraine, the lost provinces. The
Belgians have not acted fairly, say the
Germans, for Germany offered to pay
a cash indemnity for any loss caused
by the army passing through to
France, and repeated thiB offer after
the capture of Liege. Germans hold
England responsible for the war and
say that there would have been no
war but for the preparations which
England has been making for years to
bring It about.
"Life in Berlin is going on much
as usual. The cafes are doing busi
ness, with good crowds, although they
now close earlier than formerly. The
theaters are open, but the attendance
Is poor. Everyone Is busy, there is
plenty of work and I did not find a
beggar from the time the war start
ed until I left for Portland. On the
streets you see men on crutches, or
with an arm-in a sling, and there are
women wearing mourning, but these
are the only signs of war noticeable,
other than the absence of young men.
"Patriotism Is strong in Berlin. If
there was a call for volunteers today
nearly every old man would offer him
self. The prisoners there are thou
sands In a bullpen In Berlin are
guarded by old men and youngsters. I
visited the detention camp and saw
English, Russians, Turcos, French,
Belgians and Hindus all together.
Sometimes these allies fight among
themselves. English merchants who
were in business In Berlin are interned
out at a big race track. They have
no trouble in obtaining supplies, but
they are not permitted playing cards
since they had a big row over cards.
"Public works are In progress as
though nothing was happening. Then-
is a shortage of young mechanics and
engineers, but that is all.
"Germany cannot understand why
most of the newspapers of the United
States are pro-British. They know
that when war started the British cut
the German cables and thereafter told
whatever they wanted the American
to know. I, with many other Ameri
cans who were In Berlin, signed a pe
tition to President Wilson, asking him
to cease the sale of guns and ammu
nition to the allies, Germans realize.
however, that as a neutral the United
States has a right to sell war muni
tions, for Germany sold guns and am
munition In the Philippines and Id
Mexico.
"And. say." said Mr. Mandants,
"there are no long faces seen on the
streets of Berlin. The people are
cheerful."
Observer want ads. do the bis.
The days of balm and sunshine,
with the snowy peaks of the Cascades
peering out of the eastern dreamland,
and -the forest-clad Coast mountains
silhouetted in blue outlines on the. sun
set sky somehow awaken the spirit of
romance and adventure and we hear
the "call of the wild."
Who does not feel the magic, pow
er of the shadowy canons, and hear
the rythmic voices of the crystal wat
ers that issue from the dim land of
mystery. The voices of nature find
responsive chords in many hearts
when the wily trout begins to rise to
the fly and we steal away to the deep
pools and whirling eddies.
So we stole away, while the day
was young, In Dr. Foster's trusty Ford.
We had the usual outfit of baked
beans, fly rods, coffee, bait, sandwiches,
and unbounded enthusiasm. But the
"trusty" quickly lost its enthusiasm.
It was In the middle of a dizzy hill
but the call of the wild was upon us,
and could not be mistaken, and we fi
nally hit the trail with all that load
of "outfit" and happy expectations.
But say, It was too bad to abandon
that pert and saucy, "trusty" to its
fate of watchful waiting.
The doctor felt his responsibility,
too, for at daybreak he had been
warned the fish up the Ttickreall had
very bad teeth and he had better take
his forceps along. So we struggled on.
He first led us as a lamb to the
slaughter off the trail around a lonely
cabin and down a shady gulch a mile
along an old log way. It was a cool,
exhlleratlng morning. The dew hung
in spangles on every blade of grass
and sparkled like jewels on every leaf,
while the sweetbriar and mountain
balm filled the air with the breath of
Eden. It was a joyous morning un
til we discovered our lost trail stretch
ing along the canyon side three hun
dred feet above us. But there is
nothing like it for jaded nerves and
weak digestion so the doctor led us
skywards. Every joint creaked and
our knees fairly smoked when we fell
into that lofty trail at last; and then
we knew how to sympathize with the
trusty Ford.
It was a three mile hike to a little
valley where dwelled a few peaceful
souls far from the jostling throng and
corroding care. But It was mighty
dry in said valley, for a sedate coun
tryman was sowing oats amid a cloud
of dust in a fertile field of clods. With
deep motions and stirring thought of
"back to the farm" we trudged with
all our "outflt" across the broad acres
of plowed ground. The doctor then
tried to unload some of his respon
bility onto the s. c. He even offered
his money to guide us to the trail over
yon mountain height through the
tangled thickets to the far famed
Rlckreall. But that good man had In
him none of the love of the "root of
all evil," for he could not leave his
oats.
Some pioneer had hewed a cowpath
into a wagon road that wound and
zigzagged across the crumpled land
scape and ft was our highway to
success. And after a few more miles
we stood In view of the promised land.
But crossing Jordan and taking old
Jerleho were nothing to conquering
that unspeakable jungle which stretch
ed to Infinitude below us. I opined to
our popular tooth-carpenter, by way
of exegesis or revenge, that if he had
a grudge against the Old Nick, just
send him to the Bickreall. We f'll
down briery steeps, toiled up salal
hills, stumbled into fallen fern-hidden j
tree tops, were trapped in tangles of
vine maple but how refreshing was
the Ice-cold water we drank from the
little rivulets that babbled among the
mossy rocks. We found the tell-tale
tracks of a fleeing deer startled from
his morning nap. And when old Sol
was beating down from mid-heaven,
we emerged from the evergreen woods
and stood on the stony banks of the
laughing Riekreatl.
We stopped for a breathing spell in
the shadow of a red huckleberry bush.
radiant with tufts of pink blossoms.
and with dogwood shrubs In full
bloom standing guard all about us.
Our dinner bells were ringing, and we
speedily forgot our troubles in a lusty
attack on a can of Van Kamp's fa
mous pork and beans, and moved our
faces over great squares of bread and
deviled ham.
But the trout! Well, they are hum
ble folk but they have minds of their
own like all other good American
citizens and It wasn't time for them
to dine. We whipped the riffles and
boiling torrents and shimmering pools
for a mile down the picturesque I
gorge; we tempted them with bait,
but only a few were beguiled by our
blandishments.
The stream here runs through a
big sag In the country which has been
logged off. A bridge of huge logs
spanned the walls of the gorge a hun
dred feet above the stream and near
by a cluster of cabins nestled in ab
ject and lonely desolation among the
alders the deserted village. It was
once a scene of throbbing life, but its
glory was now departed. Several miles
up a winding, grassy wagon trail along
the high bushy banks of the stream
stood a huge dam built of great logs
like a big log house. It was near sun
set when, weary and hungry, we threw
down our packs beside a dilapidated
cabin. The false-teeth specialist
whipped the waters till dark, while
the sky-pilot set the camp in order,
gathered wood and spread the evening
banquet. The doughty dentist return
ed hitrhtv elated with his catch. It
had been a regular campaign of tooth
pulling. Every time he cast his line
hp nulled out a fish's teeth but the
fish came with them. And he pulled
them with a little hook. He didn't
need the forceps after all, and so his
thriving business went right on there
in the wilderness.
But it was a famous feast we had
that night in the fitful flicker of the
irelight steaming coffee, graham
bread and trout! Then we stretched
our weary frames on a bed of hemlock
boughs to peaceful slumbers.
God send to every hot and tossing
heart
The rest of one dear canon night. To
leave
The teeming haunts of men and climb
some cool
And shadowed trail, the while the
world recedes;
To walk thro' all the wonders of the
hills
And stop to pluck a flower, and gather
here
A cone and there a filigree of fern;
To feast the eye on some green stretch
of pines,
The silver ribbon of some prowling
stream,
Some vista of the vines, the plain be
hind, Some castled crag or pinnacle of peak
before.
How sweet to rise and go my way un
til I reach the spot where Nature hath
prepared
Fler guest-room for me, hung with
vine and fern,
The windows open softly thro' the
trees;
The celling is the canopy of blue;
The couch ah, who shall say how
finely sweet
The spiced aroma of the needles is,
How soft the perfumed fangle I ar
range As twilight falls? and now the taper
stars
Are lighting me to slumber and I draw
The darkness round me like a coverlet;
I feel my mother, Nature, tuck me in.
And now the white regattas of the
clouds
Sail past me as the moonbeams gently
kiss
My closing eyes to rest and happy
dreams. Maurice Smiley.
The stilly night in the remote moun
tain wilds has charms of its own. One
of them was the marauding maneu
vers of a wood rat a mischievous,
thievish little beast; and another was
the chirping voice of the elusive bob
cat. The mighty solitudes are enliven
ed here and there by the querulous cry
of the Oregon jay, by the sweet song
of the bright gold finch, and the minor
notes of the chewlnk. While resting
next day In a sunny spot, stretched
out on the grass, looking at the many
forms of tree tops, a dapper silver
grey squirrel came frisking down the
path. He bobbed about and then
hopped onto my knee and thence to
my foot and then how he scampered
for the bushes.
The fastnesses of the mountains
with their gloomy forests of giant fir,
their beetling cliffs, and abysmal can
yons, have their own peculiar fascina
tions where the heart atune to na
ture's anthem finds keen delight. And
the purling stream with its many
moods is the sacred snnne wnere xne
longing heart finds solace. But the
reverie Is broken when the fly falls
lightly on the swirling water, for a
Hash, a tug. a whirr and the battle
is on. And a battle royal it is, into
the depths, across the mad waters, ;
then down with the current, while the
light rod bends and bows in humble
obeisance to the prince of waters at
the other end of the silken line.
But though our catch was small -ev
ery trout was a beauty to gladden the
eye and quicken the heart-beat of old
zaac Walton himself.
v "
I kr-s J
CHARLES FROHMAN
New York theatrical man who want
down on tha Luaitania.
n HI FOB mm
And We're Getting It, Too
This laundry offers you a service that cannot be beaten.
We know you will appreciate our kind of service and are
anxious to prove to you the assertion that "it cannot be
beaten." It is
The Particular Kind
For Particular People
, And its every-day service, rendered by laundry workers
experienced in the art. We keep our promises, and deliver
on time. Our wagon picks up laundry in all parts of town.
Simply telephone No. 1274, and we will be Johnny on the
spot in a jitt'v. It's coining our way help it along.
I BIT STEAM LAUNDRY
YOU MAY VISIT
the
California Expositions
On your way to or from the East.
On sale May 15 daily to September 30
permitting stop-overs en route. Ten
days' stop allowed on one way tickets
at San Francisco and Los Angeles.
A New Fast Train
"The Kxposition Special"
Daily on and after May 16
Leave Portland daily 8:30 a. m.
One Night to San Francisco
LOW ROUND TRIP FARMS TO SAN
FRANCISCO AM) SAN DIEGO DUR
ING TIIK EXPOSITION PERIOD.
Visit the Southern Pacific building at'the Panama-Pacific
Exposition. Rest Room, Moving Pictures, Travel Lec
tures, Ticket and Validating Office and Information Bureau.
Full Information from nearest Agent of
SOUTHERN PACIFIC
John M. Scott, General Passenger Agent, Portland, Ore.
May 14-21-28.
WHEN THE TEST COMES, YOU WANT TO KNOW
THAT YOUR CAR WILL MEASURE UP TO THE
REQUIREMENTS. FORD CARS, WITH THEIR
LIGHT, STRONG, FLEXIBLE FRAMES, STURDY,
POWERFUL MOTORS AND SIMPLE DESIGN, MEET
ALL DEMANDS. IN CITY OR COUNTRY, ON GOOD
ROADS OR BAD, UNDER ALL CONDITIONS, THE
FORD GETS THERE AND GETS BACK AT AN
AVERAGE COST OF TWO CENTS A MILE FOR OP
ERATION AND MAINTENANCE.
BUYERS WILL SHARE IN PROFITS IF WE SELL
AT RETAIL 300,000 NEW FORD CARS BETWEEN
AUGUST 1914 AND AUGUST 1915.
RUNABOUT $110; TOURING CAR $490; TOWN
CAR $690; COUPELET $750; SEDAN $075, F. O. B.
DETROIT WITH ALL EQUIPMENT.
ON DISPLAY AND SALE AT
Ford Garage, Dallas, Ore.
Star Transfer Co.
WE MOVE ANYTHING
THAT IS MOVEABLE
PROMPT SERVICE
G. A. & L C. MUSOTT & LP. STARR, Props.
Phon. Standa: Webater'i Confectionery 511 Ellis' Confectioaery 1063
Ban 1074
- t