QUIETLY nestling in an alcove of the i Blue mountains lies a beautiful little valley - the Grande Ronde - sheltered from the cold and icy winds of the north, the dry and withering winds of the southwest, and the bitter, biting winds of the northeast. It has a climate admirably adapted to certain phases of horticulture. The temperature ranges from 6o° to 850 - 900 being exceptional - in summer, and from 6o° to 8o° during the remainder of the year. The soil is naturally deep, friable and fertile, and has the best of surface and sub-soil drainage. In winter the snow is ample to protect the roots and crowns of tender trees, shrubs and herbs, and sufficient rain falls during the summer so that irrigation need not be practiced. The Grande Ronde valley has within the past few years come to be considered one of Oregon's most favored regions.

The valley proper is about thirty-one miles long and sixteen miles wide There are several "arms," however, which make its total area something like 500,000 acres. The greater part of this is easy of cultivation, being a prairie loam, varying in color, but uniformly deep, light, ashy and fertile. The sub-soil is generally gravelly along the borders - and here it is that in some seasons irrigation seems desirable - while toward the center and along the streams it is an alkali "pan".

The timber of the valley is found along the streams, and consists mainly of willow and alder. In the mountains there is an abundance of coniferous woods - spruce', fir, pine, cedar and hemlock. Not only is the valley promising from an horticultural standpoint, but, also from that of the general farmer. In fact, it has for some time been noted for its quantities of fine cattle, horses, sheep and general farm products. In hay, especially, does it excel. Every year thousands of tons of baled timothy are shipped to the less favorable localities.

The orchards and gardens of this section are young, emphatically so, there being very few of any considerable area over six years old, and many, by far the greater portion, have been planted but two, three and four years. It was the productiveness of a few old orchards of ten or fifteen years, some old berry patches of a dozen or two bushes and vines, that pointed out to some sharp-eyed easterners the natural adaptability of the valley to fruit culture. Since then, only a few years ago, it is marvelous what an acreage of trees, bushes and vines has been planted, when we consider the markets, transportation facilities and population of that section.

The plantings of apples include chiefly the following : Ben Davis, Tompkins King, Swaar, Early Harvest, Red June, Pearmain (?), Pippins, Hawley, R. I. Greening ; of pears, Bartlett, Clapp's Favorite; of plums, Italian (prune), Hungarian (prune), d'Agen (prune); of peaches, the only one, practically, is the French. This originated in the valley from a sprout set out by a Mr. French in '69. He had purchased some peach trees the year previous, and these having died, be allowed some vigorous looking sprouts to take their place, and from these, when they bore, he selected this variety, which gives universal satisfaction in this section. It is an early cling, ripening in July ; the blush is very inviting and the flesh is of excellent flavor. Of cherries, Napoleon* (locally known as Royal Ann), Luelling* (locally known as Black Republican), Bigarreau* (locally known as Yellow Spanish) and Early Richmond; of raspberries, red and black - no names for varieties; of blackberries, Lawton, Snyder, Evergreen; of strawberries, Jucunda, Wilson. Currants and gooseberries are grown without any special care, as they are not in much demand in the market.

At present there is an excellent local market for all fruit grown. For example, during the past year the following fruits sold per pound at the given prices: apples, 2C.; pears, 5c; plums, 2C.@3C.; peaches, 8c. @ 10c.; cherries, 10c., sold in gallon boxes; raspberries and blackberries at same prices. AH fruit is sold green, save a little for home use. Large fruit is sold by weight, small fruit by the gallon.

Although strawberry culture has received especial attention during the past few years, it has had a much longer run than the larger fruits. James Hendershott, the State Horticultural Commissioner for the Fifth District, has two acres from which he gathers, on an average, 400 gallons per acre. These sell readily at 50 cents per gallon, marketed in returnable gallon boxes, costing 2½ cents. The dimensions of the boxes are 6x4x12 inches. Women and children do most of the picking and receive 5 and 6 cents per gallon. He cultivates in rows which are four feet apart and plants 20 inches in the row. The soil is not stirred from the time of blossoming till after fruit is all gathered. The most remarkable feature of the system of culture is that the plants are renewed Only once every six years. He is convinced that by this method are the best results obtained.

When these younger orchards and gardens come into bearing, there will be ample facilities for transportation to outside markets. As a large section of the country adjacent to this valley abounds in mineral wealth, there will be near markets for all products for years to come. Then, besides, it is no great distance to that "great west where fruits, apparently, will not grow".

E. R. Lake.

*These three cherries are quite universally known throughout the state by their local names.