The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-01-01
Increase and Present Value of
the Fruit Industries.
LARGE PROSPECTIVE MARKETS
Natural Favorable Conditions for Gull
tuFe-Fruit Crops sh"uid Net An
nualiy Over el5, OOO,0 600.

there were planted In the state Of Wash
ington about $1,000 acres with fruit
trees, making total acreage of about
Il. 900 devoted to fruit growing. OF the
entire acreage planted there is yet but
small portion in bearing, as near as
can be estimated. nearly 1000 acres.
We are past the experimental stage.
both as to culture and markets. The
fine qualities OF our Italian prune,
which rate in size from thirty to forty
per pound when dried, as compared with
those raised further South, which are
considered large when rating from forty
To sixty per pound. are creating for this
product grown here a special market.
The train load of Italian prunes recently
shipped from Vancouver to Missouri is
known as product from the Pacific
Northwest. Leading commission firms
in New York city are soliciting consign-
ments of the large and fine grade of
prunes from this section. and IT, in
stead OF having surplus Of 1880, 900
pounds Of dried prunes. there could
have been shipped from this state l5.-
600. 900 pounds. a better market would
be established than now exists
Instead of exporting crop raised on
100 acres. 1t would be much better for
individual fruit growers IL a 10000 acre
prune crop could have been raised here
to meet the demand Of over $4,000 900
pounds which were imported into the
United States during 1898.
In all sections of the state where the
temperature does not range much below
zero in winter, nor above 80 degrees in
summer. and where there is a friable
and loamy clay soil with hard pan at
L.
soil Is q volcanic ash. the planting of
prune trees may be continued very eX-
tensively with good prospects of profit
able returns. In the warmer sections
OF the state the French prune Is IA
vorite with many leading fruit growers.
Our apple crop prospective culture
The apple trees which We're planted so
extensively the past two years are grow
ing finely. but If instead of the present
small acreage in bearing and that which
Is now planted come into bearing, there
could have been raised in the state the
past season for export at least 5000. 900
bushels. the market for them would
be ample. with fairly remunerative
prices. The crop OF this fruit Is short
In the Eastern states, and has been
small for several years. In England
and other European countries the apple
crop Is deficient. and the fruit In great
demand. During the year 1890 the ap-
pie growers Of Missouri were paid Sl0.-
10000 fer their crop. II the planting be
continued In this state. buyers from
abroad will seek the product, and with
In a few years q like sum may be paid
to the apple growers of this state for
this single variety Of fruit.
Small fruits and vegetahes-Strdw-
berries yield abundantly throughout the
entire state. In sections where ripening
very early II Is considered one OF the
most profitable classes OF fruit. Being
so easily grown. there Is a tendency. es-
peciaEy In the western part OF the state,
10 plant rather more extensively with
this than with other classes OF small
fruits which require a little more time
to bear full crops
There are now sufficient quantities Of
all small fruits raised on Puget sound
10 furnish one or more preserving
plants with such amounts as would be
required TO establish the business al
very low rates for frst-class fruit when
purchased by the ton.
Prospective markets-Tf instead OF
the present small acreage now in bear
ing. the state OF Washington had from
so 600 10 80 600 acres from which annual
fruit crops could be produced. buyers
from foreign markets would be here 30
secure supplies. During 1893 there was
paid by the United States to other
countries over $40 eo0 nm for fruits and
nuts above the amount which was ex-
ported. Rv this we uav realize TO some
extent the large market IN orr owl
country WASHINGTON being 81 situa ted
a. To presses great commercial advan-