Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1895-07-26
An Infant Industry.

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Among the infant industries that re.
Iuire all the attention OF the careful
and intelligent nurse, just now, are
those which involve the development
of our latent resources, and chief
among these is the creation of mar
ket for the products OF the soil.
Conditions this year have been favor
able for instruction as to the methods
for developing the strength of a bant-
ling OF no mean pretensions, and his
speedy attainment of a vigorous
growth. This industry is the cultiva-
ton of small fruits. Our market,
hitherto, in cherries. berries and
pIunes has been confined almost ex-
clusively to the local demand, but
partial failure OF Eastern crops this
season, has led to an effort 10 find sup
plies at remote points, which has DEM
onstrated the entire feasibility OF plac-
ing even as perishable crop as straw
berries in Chicago, and markets still
farther East, in prime condition and
with absolute certainty of obtaining
satisfactory competitive prices.
Seven carloads of strawberries have
been shipped by the Rochester Brok-
erage Co., OF Seattle, this season to
Chicago, mostly obtained from yards
in King, Pierce and Thurston counties.
This crop was followed by cherries,
in which small beginning has been
made, but enough to determine its en-
tire reliability, provided the cardinal
points for success are observed. These
consist in careful attention to all the
minute details OF growth and ship.
ment. The first essential is in select
ing the best varieties, both as regards
the excellence of the fruit aud its
keeping qualities. Judgment in varie-
ties should be extended to the best
grade of soil and to care for the plants
or trees. Then comes an equally inn
portant item, the packing. Mr.. r. L.
Robertson, one of our principal ship
pers, informs us that, last season, he
found ready sale for a shipment of
plums in a neighboring city, while
they we're drug in the market, at an
advanced price, simply because they
were of superior variety, carefully
selected and packed in neat and at
tractive shape. This will apply to all
fruits. There is no nerve 80 sensitive
to impressions as the one leading from
the eye to the stomach, and any prod
uct which leaves an appetizing impress
zion upon the retins is quite sure to
set in motion a series of nerve forces
that ultimately lead to a release of the
purse. strings in the pocket of the indi-
vidual. This statement is not based
upon theory, but observation and ex-
perience, and all dealers are emphatic
in the injunction for producers to look
we'll to details, for the establishment
of a reputation for high grade Of
fruits and when attained it will doubt
less be maintained from the most
power III of Observation-Disclosures.
Th' difficulty experienced this year
in ms sing thorough test of the bust
ness 8 a money-maker was from the
utter mpossibility OF obtaining suf.
ficient quantity of fruit to meet the
demand. The Rochester Co. tried
their best to fill car, which carries
1900 boxes, and after persistent effort
were compelled to dispatch it with
LOO boxes, and it is to the credit OF
Olympia that her orchards furnished
700 Of these, or more than one.half of
the pioneer shipment by freight.
There have been, Of course, quite
number of express shipments to the
prairie States, but these do not enter
into the calculations for the develop
ment of trade based upon close COM
petitive figures. The shipments made
by local dealers have been as follows:
By R. L. Robertson Is 1871 pounds; by
L. P. Wilson 5000 pounds, and by r.
H. Whitman 1850 pounds; a total of
product for export OF 2O.6Sl pounds.
The next crop that Mr.. Robertson
has made arrangements to handle. is
blackberries. In this too, operations
must this year be circumscribed from
the small area that has been devoted
to cultivation. In q partial canvass OF
the county, he found very little knowl-
edge was passed of its adaptability as
marketable product. People were
growing enough bushes for their own
use and limited supply to the local
market, but when told that the crop
might be placed upon footing with
strawberries for export, universal
disposition was manifested to meet the
demand by cultivation. There is but
one yard Of any size in the county de-
voted to blackberries, and that is
owned by John P. Hays, near Tum-
water. He has an acre of bushes OF
the Meade variety, splendid berry,
propagated by the late L. D. Durgin.
From this patch Mr.. Robertson fig.
ures that its owner will realize profit
$500 or 5000 this year.
The prune orchards in this county,
although yet young. will many of
them produce q paying crop this sea-
son. There are within radius of
three miles of this city say 4, 600 young
trees which will produce from Is to 20
pounds each, and give an aggre-
gate yield OF $4,000 pounds, and there
will be at least 10000 pounds from