MEDFORD MAIL TRIBUNE, MEDFORD, OREGON, TUESDAY, MAY 24, .1910.
FEAR BLIGHT AND ITS CONTROL
UPON THE PACIFIC COAST
This !s the Thirteenth of a Scries of Articles That Will Bo Printed Dally
Until Subject Is Completed Every Orchardlst In the West Should
Save These Issues for Future Reference, as They Contain Valu
able Information.
By ritOFESSOK O'GAIU,
Assistant Pathologist United States
Department of Agrlcuturo. Writ
tea especially for the Mcdford Mall
Tribune Copyright, 1910, by tho
Mcdford Mail Tribune.
Eradication Work in California
Oregon.
nnd
In a preceding chapter, mention
was made of the enormous losses in
tho pear districts of the San Joa
4aln valley, California. In tho short
space of thrco years, from 1900 to
1904, almost half a million pear trees
were lost by blight Practically no at
tempt was made to check tho disease,
and ono of tuo greatest Industries of
tho San Joaquin valley vanished like
a dream, and oven beforo tho people
realized what had befallen them. As
ia other localities, east and south,
the growers had a self-sufficient and
aelf-satisficd feeling thnt blight could
aover hurt them. They had grown
pears for a quarter of a century and
more, and such a thtng as blight en
tering their valley was Just as im
possible as anything ono might Im
agine. In all that time, thunder, lightning,
excessive heat, cold, etc, had caus
ed not the slightest injury. However,
as Boon as blight camo all tho factors
mentioned nbovo seemed to explain
their predicament fully, they needed
no help and spurned assistance. This
is tho ctory, in a few words, a story
"which might bo told of many other
localities wL'ch had suffered the
same calamity.
In 1904 tho blight Invaded the
pear districts of tho Sacramento val
ley, and although some little work
was dono In tho matter of eradicating
It, the efforts were weak and ineffec
tive. Prominent men In the state
became alarmed, and tho pathololo
.Klsta of the United Btotos depart
ment of agriculture wero called to the
coast. In tho fall of 1904 Profes
sor M. B. Watte made his first visit
to California, and inaugurated a plan
of campaign for eradicntlrg It or at
least keeping It under control. I may
ay that tho jcvernment pathologists
did not come to the Pacific coast un
til they wero called. Such Influen
tial men as ex-Governor Pardee and
prominent Southern Pacific officials
appealed to Hon. James Wilson, secre
tary of agriculture, to send a3 many 'homo orchards, where It Is
ceodlngly light. Tho growers lu those
sections becan their fight early, and
have kept It up so that at this time
thero are probably no fowor bearing
pear trees than thero wero four or
flvo years ago. In Placer county
alono when I first began my work
there, ton Inspectors, Including tho
county horticultural commissioners,
wero put on and tho work of eradi
cation was thoroughly dono.
It would bo very difficult to tell
how many trees wero lost la Califor
nia throughout the entlro state, but
tho figures taken from the carload
shipments will toll the story pretty
well, jfn 1900 Callforn'a shipped
2115 carloads of pears, and In tho
same year 7276 .tons woro dried, nnd
perhaps half a million cases woro
canned. In 1907, only 1039 cars woro
shipped and only 500 tons wero dried.
Wo havo no dat:i on tho canned prod
uct, but It is well known that It foil
off correspondingly. Such figures a3
I have given should strlko terror Into
any community whoso Industry Is that
of growing pears and apples.
In tho Roguo River valley and in
southern Oroson wo find a magnifi
cent soil for pear and applo growing.
At this time, with tho valley only
partially developed, the estimated
value of the orchards reaches far Into
tho millions. Pear blight has not
been In the valley very long, but It Is
hero and must be considered serious
ly. Only In three or four cases has
it dono any serious damage, and tho
total loss for the entlro valley In pears
and apples is probably not more than
2000 trees. Tho highest recorded los
in one orchard Is perhaps 500 or 600
trees, and this loss might havo been
avoided If tho owner had taken tho
proper steps In eradicating a very
few cases of holdover blight An
other orchard lost nearly 200 trees,
but theso wore mostly Infected and
practically destroyed beforo It was
known that blight existed In the val-
uey. The writer first came into the
valley in isut, anu since mat time a
very strenuous fight has been kept
up. As In California, we had to fight
stupidity and Ignorance, hut, for the
most part, tho growers have swung
into line and are putting up a good
fight. Very slight losses have occur
red during the past two years, and
theso losses havo been mostly In the
villages and towns and in the old
difficult
ROGUE IS MOST
BEAUTIFUL LAND
E. E. Calvert of Portland Orcrjonlnn
Writes of Hill Trip Through Vnlloy
nnd Says Railroad Magnate
Praises It Highly.
men as ho had available, to aid in
what was thought to bo almost a
hopeless case. Blight was everywhere
with the exception of tho Santa Clara
valley, which to this day has kopt it
out by very careful and I'.ird work.
The task undertaken was an enor
mous one, and tho amount of terri
tory necessary to be covered was bo
largo that every available source of
ihelp was called for and the campaign
finally started In the early winter of
1905. The time was short, but good
work was done. In many districts
wnere there was a willingness to co
operate with tho government officers
the blight was checked, in others,
where conditions were the reverse,
tho ulitrht gained headway. Tho re
sult of sovoral years' work, which
Jims been carried on up to tho pres
ent time by the United States de
partment of atrlculturo, Is that bov-
-oral districts In tho Sacramento val
ley and adjacent valloyo avo saved
their pears. Theie are particular In
stances whero practically ovorythlng
went excepting singlo orchards which
wero saved by Individual growers, by
using heroic measures and carrying
'into effect every detail given them
ty tho government officers. To this
day theso men continue to grow pears
whllo their neighbors aro entirely out
of tho business. They aro charged
vwJth being lucky, but there is no luck
-In fichtinjr ponr blight; it is careful
nttontion to details and constant
watchfulness. Among those who have
been Buccossf ul in fighting pear blieht
is iiowara neea 01 Morysvwe, uai.
Mr, Heed, with G000 Bartlotts, has
Jost relatively few, although tho dif
ficulties ho had to overcome would
havo discouraged tho average man.
H'hree years ago his orchard was un-
uor water on account of tho ovor-
tflow from tho Sacramento river and
;he was compelled to fight the pear
'Jallght from boats and rafts. To show
you how well he has won out In the
fight I will simply state that his crop
two years ago was CO carloads of
first-class fruit, which he shipped to
astern markots. Besides his green
fruit, he dried somothlug ovor 25
tons. I cannot help pointing to Mr,
Heed as an oxamplo for everyone to
fellow. Ho has made doubly good,
because ho had to fight not only tho
blight but tho mossback community
in which, ho lived.
In the foothill districts of Placer,
Bldorndo and Nevada conutlea east
of Sacramento tho loss has been ex-
(to make the owners seo the necessity
of cleaning up. Tho commercial or
chards have done excellent work.
Even the largest orchards in tho val
ley nave demonstrated tna oiiective
nesa of careful eradication. At this
tlmo It Is a pleasure to visit them and
seo tho heavily laden pear and apple
trees with not a blighted spur or twig
upon them.
The only serious mistake made In
the beginning of the pear blight cam
paign In 1907 was tho failure to pro
vido a sufficient number of Inspec
tors, and this mistake has only been
remedied in part at this tlmo. Until
a year ago tho entire work of going
over tho two counties of tho Roguo
River valley was given to two men.
It Is surprising that as good results
have been gotten, and I nave often
wonderod how It happoned.
The importance of tho pear blight
problem to the horticultural Interests
of tho Pacific coast states empha
sizes very clearly tho valuo and neces
sity of plant pathological work. What
each district needs Is a strong man
who is both scientific and practical,
for handling Buch a difficult problem.
Not only does each district, need the
constant and careful attention of a
trained pathologist, but it needs In
spectors and commissioners who will
see to It that the horticultural stat
utes aro rigidly enforced. If a grow
er chooses to lose his crop by any
diseaBo which Is not considered con
tagious or spreading, and which may
roadlly bo controlled by slmplo spray
treatments, It Is his own lookout;
but whero his pears and apples aro a
source of general Infection from pear
blight It becomes a matter for tho dis
trict commissioner and local Inspec
tor. Thoro Is only ono remedy and
that Is to Increase tho Inspection and
to make It rigid. Forhapa ono other
thing might bo added. It would bo
a wiso plan for each county or dis
trict to appoint a largo numbor of
volunteer Inspectors who would servo
without pay In their own lutorest,
but who would bo vested "with author
ity to Inspect and condemn within
tholr Immediate neighborhood. If
this could havo been done during tho
past year In tho Rogue River valley
many a dollar which has boon spent
in summer cutting would havo boon
saved.
You'll want to anawer In person
ono of today's real estate ads and
rather promptly, too, most likely,
E. E. Calvert, special correspond
ent of tho Portland OroRoninn,
writes from Mcdford as follows of
tho Hill visit to tho Hokuo River vnl
loy in Monday's OroReninn:
This, tho center of the Roguo River
vnlloy, can bo reached by wagon road
from Klamath Falls in a journey of
about S5 miles, and u trip botweon
tho two points is ono of tho best les
sons that can bo obtained in the di
versity of resources of Oregon.
In traveling over this 85 miles of
wagon road onu leaves at Klamath
Falls tho outskirts of a great stock
range at tho trading point of nn irri
gated section whore hay, grain and
root crops and dairying are profit
ablo industries, cutors and traverses
the greatest existing belt of piuo tim
ber, crosses streams ofefring almost
incomparable water power, and drops
down into a valley whose fruit crops
nro famed tho world over and whicn
is surrounded by hills over and which
is surrounded by hills whero aro some
of tho oldest still profitable placer
diggings of the west.
Six Industries Represented.
In this stretch of 85 miles, Vix
great resources of Oregon aro repre
sented stockraising, geaornl agri
culture, timber, horticulture, water
power and mines. Practically the
only two that aro not found nro Ore
gon's strictly grain-producing dis
tricts nnd its commercial fisheries.
The 05 miles of road between
Klamath Falls nnd( Ashlund, which
wero travorsed by' tho Hill party in
gaining Western Oregon, constitutes
one of the oldest highways in the
state. Over this road,"" nearly f0
years ago, William Hanley, ono of
Mr. Hill's companions in the tour,
first accompanied his father In a cat
tle drive from tho Rogue River valloy
to Hnrnoy county. Mr. Hanloy, in
driving cattle, followed until 188J,
this old road from Rogue river to
Linkville, now known ns Klamath
Falls. Thereafter a shorter route,
known as the Dead Indian road, was
followed ovor tho mountains by tlu
cattlemen who purchased stock in
Western Oregon nnd drove them to
tho rich ranges of Hnrnoy county,
there to fatten them for tho market.
The journey Thursday, the first he
had made over the road in 27 years,
brought out many reminiscences from
tho big cattleman of Central Oregon.
Mr. Hanley pointed out whero the
cattle had mired down on ono drive,
another point where the "chuck
wagon" and tho calves had to be halt
ed for several days on account of
muddy roads, and relnted how in the
interval the cows forcot their off
spring and had to be lassoed later,
that tho hunghv youngsters might ho
fed. Homes of pioneers, now dead
and gone, were identified and the pe
culiarities of tho men of tho enriy
days were related.
Road Almost Impassable.
Forty miles of this old road, al
though full of scenic attractions, are
now almost impassable, because of
ruts and rocks. After reaching Ash -
land Mr. Hanley, in addressing the
business men at luncheon, urged the
improvement of this road for tho ben
efit of Southern Oregon, asserting
that it was n better highway 40 years
ago than it is today.
In spito of its familiarity to the
old-timers of Southern Oregon, the
Klamath country is looked upon as a
new district by tho commercial inter
ests of Portlnnd, and in n way it is
a new country, for railroad transpor
tation and irrigation nre bringing
about a new growth and development.
Yet, 25 years ago, wheat Bent from
Klnmath county to nn exposition in
Now Orleans gained a first prize. In
the valley below tho city are farms
that would bo a pride in any agricul
tural territory of the middle states
or far east.
Tho N. C. Merrill place, whero the
Hill party was entertained at lunch
Tuesday, was doclnred by Mr. Hill
to bo the best farm ho ever saw. Tho
homo is a handsome residenco of the
Colonial type, with spacious verandus
nnd surrounded hya woll-kent lawn.
Eleotrio current tapped from trans
mission lines extending from Klam
ath Falls throughout tha valloy lights
mo iiuuBu una Darns, oporntos mo
tors that move farm machinery and
pump water for tho household sup
ply. Tho livestock is thoroughbred
and tho fields aro marvels of scion'
tifio cultivation. Mr. Merrill's neigh
bors often call on him to diroot their
seeding, and ho has tho reputation
of being able to secure a bettor stand
of nlfalfa than any man in tho
county.
Fanners Aro Enterprising.
Other farraors of tho Klamath
country aro endeavoring to bring
their lands to tho sumo high typo oC
cultivation and improvement, ami
when tho hotter rail facilities now .
dor construction nro oomplotod, noth
ing will apparently stand in tho way
of milking tho Klumntli country a
model in agricultural endeavor.
Tho transition from thU level, cul
tivated area to tho pino timber holt
with its rushing streams is remark
able, but less so thiui tho cliuugu
from thu timber belt to the orchards
of Roguo river. A transformation
has taken place since William Han
ley drove cattle ovor tho Siskiyou
trails to interior Oregon. Now tho
Roguo vnlloy no longer supplies cattle
for tho ranges nnd the livestock mar
ket. Onco this was a hny-produoing
country. Now Roguo River valley is
buying beef cnttlo for its own mar
ket and is shipping in hny for live
stock consumption.
Tho channel of trado is still in tho
process of reversing, for the vnlloy
promises to becomo n largor buyor
year by year. Tho old cattle trails
aro boing roplacod by tho railroad
the Hill interests nro building from
Mcdford to a oonnootion with tho. Or
egon Trunk lino. This road will tap
tho timber bolt, carry tho fruit of
Roguo River valloy to Central Oregon
and eastern markots and bring back
beef cattlo to tho consumers of tho
valloy and hny nnd grain to food tho
fancy livestock and tho farm aiu'mals
that aro neoded in tho cultivation of
tho lands.
Orchards Replace Meadows.
Alfalfa is still grown iu the Roguo
River vnlloy, but tho mondows aro
being rapidly roplacod by poar and
applo orchards. Last year 15,000
acres woro sot out to orchards iu tho
portion of tho Roguo Rivor valloy
extending from Ashlnnd south to
whore tho vnlloy pinches 12 miles bo
low Medford bofore again widoning
out into tho Grants Pass district.
In this 25 milos length of vnlloy
thoro aro now 05,000 ncres sot in or
chards, and from this area tho fame
of Roguo river fruit has boon givon
by only 2500 ncres of bearing trees.
Next year will probably seo moro
thnn 15,000 ncres additionnl convert
ed into orchard lands. In tho season
of 1909 this portion of tho Roguo
Rivor volley shipped 500 carloads of
fruit, valued at $1000 a car. It is
estimated that this year 1000 car
loads will bo shipped, next yonr 2000
carloads, and tho following yonr 3000
carloads.
In tho now orchards pears nro
coming moro nnd moro into favor,
for as n producer of fancy pears
Roguo rivor prides itself that it never
can be bent. In apple-growing it has
,
iK ar mm m frm AT"f& .W r .k V I
Complete House Furnishers
WE, SAVE YOU MONEY ON
FURNITURE, REFRIGERATORS, ST O VE S, RANGES,
LACE CURTAINS, DRAPERIES, COUCH COVERS, POR-
TIERES, RUGS, CARPETS, ETC.
Damamrtai Wo givo our porsoiml attention to ovory
IVeilieilllJer orti01. allli 110VGr advertise anything but
the truth. Aviait will be appreciated. Courteous troatmont,
whether you come to buy or just to look.
WE INVITE YOU TO CALL AT OUR TEMPORARY LOOA-
TION, NEXT WASHINGTON SCHOOL, WEST MAIN AND
LAUREL STREETS. PHONE MAIN 1451
strong competitors in tho I food Rivor,
Wonntchoo mid othnr countries. Up
to this year tho porceutago of now or
chards sot to poar trees was about
50. This year it is about 05 per
cent.
Whole Region Like Picture.
Of tho Roguo Rivor valloy, more
truthfully thnn of any other district
in tho wost, it can bo said "it is like
tho pictures in tho book." Hand
somely illustrated literature oau bo
issued descriptive of almost any
prosperous country by using for tho
illustrations only tho show places. Iu
Roguo Rivor vnlloy ono may turn tho
camorn in any direction nnd tho re
sult is a gom.
Tho Hill party has mado a olose
study of tho valloy from Ashland for
25 miles north. Automobiles have
taken them from Ashland, through
Tnlont nnd Phoenix to Medford,
thence undor tho guidnuco of Med
ford folk to Jacksonville, the county
sent of Jackson county, nnd tho sec
ond oldest town in tho state, by pla-
cor diggings thnt have produced $22,
000,000 in gold and nre still boing
worked, thence through tho Sams
vnlloy, a tributary of tho Roguo, and
on to Central Point nnd thon out over
tho Pacific & Eastern railroad route
to fiva milos beyond Englo Point and
back to Medford. Now and old or
chnrds havo boon visited. For tho
exploitation work of tho Groat North
ern uicturos have been taken show
ing young nnd old orchards, ehorry
treos loaded with ripened fruit iu the
middle of May; wheat standing
shoulder high, bearing fig trees and
vineyards of Tokay grapos.
"It is tho most beautiful country I
ovor saw," duolared Mr. Hill, aflur
his return to Medford.
Ilnwkinw for IToalth.
ijjia.i-i.i1-. J-i.1 jiiilii
. . LP VII
LARGE FORCE OF MEN
REPAIRING POWER DITCH
E. F. Graham of Pronpcct has a
largo force of men repairing tho
power ditch of tho Roguo Rivor Eleo
trio company's plant at Prospect. Tho
ditch is not only boing repaired, but
mado larger. Tho floods of last win
ter destroyod tho intake gnttc.
NOTICE TO 8TOCKIIOI,DKR8.
Notlco Is hereby given that tho
nnnunl meeting of stockholders of tho
Pacific and Eastern Railway will ho
hold at tho office of tho company,
In Medford, Oregon, on Monday, Juno
G, 1910, nt 10 o'clock a. m.
Dy order of tho Proaldont.
O. P. HUMPHREY,
8ocrotary.
YOU
BE THE JUDGE
All wc ask is an opportunity
to put our proofs and facts
before you. 1 hen
decide for yourself.
Wc arc positive that
Rex Flintkote
Roofing
will be your choice
because there can
only be one BEST and
wc KNOW Rex Flint
kote Is the best roof
ing in (Ins world.
Either visit us or let us visit
you with proofs.
52
sw
'll!llC
Wt
&yow
k
WOODS LUMBER CO.
The Pasadena
of Oregon
rfr
People of refinement;' people with means; rotired business men; professional mon;
college and university graduates, are coming to tho Rogue Rivor Valloy by tho score.
Within the past two years almost a hundred Chicago and Evanston, Illinois, people have
3 purchased homes near Mcdofrd, and nearly every one of them has a friend or two
whom they hope to induce to come and locate in tho valloy.
New York, Philadelphia, Boston and many other eastern cities aro almost if not
quite as well represented, while St. Paul and Minneapolis have more representatives
; hero than any other several cities combined.
Think these statements over and get your thinker going. Write to tho undersigned
or the Medford Commercial Club for detailed informtaion about the country, and you
will never have cause to regret it.
Bearing Orchards
Near Medford
lAtat of tho producing orchards havo been hold in largo holdings until recently.
0 i'ew weeks ago tho Eden Valloy Orchard, containing 605 acres, was placed on tho
market in any desired acreage. Wo havo been authorized to offer tho bearing apples
and pears for sale, and if you kno anything abmit tl country and want a desirable
block of bearing trees, write or come soon. During the past week over $150000
worth of tho property has been disposed of. It is located within two miles of Medford
at an elevation of about 100 feot above the city and is ono of tho best kept orchards in
tho world. Parts of tho orchard offered for sale have paid tho owner over $600 nor
acre per year for four years straight.
JJo not como unless you aro prepared to stay, for just so sure as you do como tho
bmation of fat soil, grandeur of scenic beauty and Italian climate will steal you
and souL After one visit hero you will bo miserable any other place on earth '
John D. Olwell
com-body
EXHIBIT BUILDING
MEDFORD, OREGON ::