Page:Portland, Oregon, its History and Builders volume 1.djvu/498

 aking propo-

sition. The only "fly in the ointment" was the neglect and refusal of his neigh- bors, proprietors of the old "big red apple" trees, to clean up their old trees, purge them of scab, fungus, scale, and codling moth. His example was not sufficient to secure reform. The law must be enforced, and Lownsdale was appointed by the governor to enforce the law. Then the trouble commenced. The inspector pointed to the law and demanded compliance or destruction of the infected trees. The owners pointed to their glorious past, and the ties and memories of the days long gone by when these dear old trees fed the multitude, and under whose sur- viving boughs generations of children had played — and eaten red apples. James Whitcomb Riley's lines were invoked to stay the hands of the destroyers. And here we say good bye to "the old red apples."

"The orchard lands of long ago !

O drowsy winds, awake and blow The snowy blossoms back to me,

And all the buds that used to be ! Blow back again the grassy ways

Of truant feet and lift the haze Of happy summer from the trees

That trail their tresses in the seas Of grain that float and overflow

The orchard lands of long ago !

"Blow back the melody that slips

In lazy laughter from the lips That marvel much that any kiss

Is sweeter than the apple is. Blow back the twitter of the birds ;

The lisp, the thrills, and the words Of merriment that found the shine

Of summer time a glorious wine, That drenched the leaves that loved it so

In orchard lands of long ago.

"O Memory ! Alight and sing

Where rosy-bellied pippins cling. And golden sunsets glint and gleam

As in that old Arabian dream — The fruits of that enchanted tree

The glad Aladdin robbed for me! And drowsy winds awake, and fan

My blood as when it overran A heart, ripe as the apples grow.

In orchard lands of long ago V

Since the above was written Mr. Lownsdale mentioned above, sold his 300 acre fruit farm in Yamhill County to Michigan capitalists for the sum of $300,000,

INTERESTING FRUIT HISTORY.

A number of valuable additions have been made to the fruits of this region by the work of Oregon horticulturists. The largest and best cherry now produced anywhere on the face of the earth was developed by Joseph H. Lambert, residing within two miles of Portland city limits. "The Lambert" cherry was produced by Mr. Lambert at his nursery near Milwaukie, about twenty-five years ago. It is the largest of cherries, dark rich color, and of a delicious cherry flavor and