The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1895-01-11
SHELTON MASON COUNTY, WASHINGTON. FRIDAY JANUARY II
Markets of the World Open.

lie making preparations to carry on
vigorously during the year its work OF
developing the horticultural interests
OF the state and combating the in
sect pests and fungus diseases, which
would otherwise damage the orchards.
The members whose terms expire this
year are President John P. Blackburn,
OF King county; ]. P. Cass, of Skagit
and Mr.. Maxey, of Kittitas.
Secretary Tonneson was asked ves-
terday to outline the prospects for the
future development of horticulture in
Washington His reply was devoted
chiefly to prune and apple raising,
saying that the conditions governing
their culture apply very largely to the
other varieties of fruit grown in the
state. Said he:
According to the present indica-
tlons and the experience of the past
lew years, the cultivation of winter
apples, and of prunes, may be under
taken commercially in this state with
prospects of good returns, and con-
tlnued profitable investments.
"The superior size of our Italian
prunes ranging from 80 to 40 per
pound when dried, and the excellent
quality of these and the French
prunes are establishing a separate
market for these fruits as a Washing
ton product. The eastern states, and
importers in the English markets, are
making inquiries for larger quantities
OF such grades as have been shipped
east the past season. Instead of an
output of one million pounds of
prunes from this state, If there were
ten times as large an output better
market would be established even
than now exists; though the prices
ranging from 6 to Z cents per pound
to the grower, which brought him
from 500 to $3.50 per acre were quite
satisfactory considering the year of
general depression. ii the acreage
now planted with this class of fruit in
the state were increased ten times,
when in bearing it would not be nec-
essary for the United States to i'm
port in any one year 26,414,112
pounds of prunes at value of 81 .162,-
31S, which was done in 1898, and that
a product very much inferio- in quail
ty to that which is produced in the
United States. In most of the mid
die and eastern states such prunes as
raised here, are great luxury and it
is safe to assume that as facilities for
the product are improved,
so that prices to consumers can be
lessened. much larger quantity will
be consumed.
"Among the essentials to be oberved
by those planting this class or any
other of the large fruits, is to select
soils which are deep in fertility, that
is with the hard pan at least four feet
below the surface and having a good
admixture of clay and sand. Sections
should also be selected where the ther-
mometer does not range much below
zero for the prune, or in other words,
sections where the temperature does
not go to extremes. There are many
locations from which such selections
can be made in different parts of the
state.
Gas for the culture of apples, for
which this state, with its mild moist
eli mate, volcanic ash soils and great
abundance of lime stone, is so admir-
ably adapted there are now great open
markets awaiting supplies of the pro-
duct. Fifty per cent OF all the fruit
exported from the United States the
past few years was fresh winter apples.
has an open market of from
,ne and one-half million to two million
dollars worth of this fruit, but the
United States cannot supply it. Be
sides the open markets abroad, there
is a great demand for such choice
Trl1it OF this class aS can be produced
here in the states east of the Missouri
river along the entire distance OF the
Pacific coast, both of North and South |
4 merca. besides the trade which is
gradually being built up in the orient.
Even in the home markets when large |
,rops are grown a much larger quantl-
" of this, the kind of fruits, Is con-
If the prices ranged about 70 |
Der cent lower a great many more |
,oyes would be consumed in Tacoma |
md Seattle today, and the growers
.ould still be paid from so to 70 cents
Del bushel for fruit of good qualities
we'll put up.
"There is'e7ery prospect that if the
present acreage in apples is increased
IT least ten times, when In bearing
he markets will still re seeking larger
of the winter apples.
.Insect pests, blight and seab are
,ome of the maladies with which this
lass of fruit is affected, but 1T has