The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1896-05-22

-.lWashington's Fruit Industry.

| Washington state last year produc
Ell Its largest crop, which this yea
promises to exceed. The prune-plun
crop last year is estimated at 10000,
OOO lbs, of which over 5000, 600 lb
were dried. Over 10000 crates O
berries were shipped from the state tt
Idaho. Montana, British Columbia
Minnesota, North Dakota, South
Dakota, Colorado, Missouri, Illinois
New York, Michigan and.Massachusett.
points. The Northern Pacific and
Great Northern railroads, for the yea,
ending March 81 last, shipped by car
loads and express lots to points in and
outside this state over 5,693 900 lbs oil
green fruit, including apples, peaches,
melons, prunes, plums, grapes, pears
gooseberries, blackberries, cherries,
crab apples, apricots and nectarines.
To this is to be added over 542, 900 lbs
OF dried fruits shipped by rail, making
total of about 6,235, 900 lbs of fruit
produced in this state and handled by
the railroads. To get at the large
amount of fresh fruits brought into
Seattle, Tacoma, Everett, Whatcom,
Fairhaven, Olympia, and other Sound
points delivered by water, and also the
shipments by water to British Colum-
bia ports, is impossible, to say nothing
of the fruit brought to Spokane, Walla
Walla, Whatcom, Seattle, Tacoma and
other market points by fruit growers
in the immediate vicinity. In time it
will be possible to give accurate figures
of these shipments when reliable COM
pilation can be made of the output of
the various fruits for the whole state,
instead of depending upon estimates
which are always unsatisfactory. AT
least 10000 are devoted to small fruits
and berries and about 10000 acres to
large fruits, 10000 acres being planted
to fruit trees since last October.
Washington must soon rank as one
OF the leading fruit states of the Union.
each year requiring less shipments
from Oregon and California, although
the latter state will always supply us
with certain fruits, some of which we
do not produce, by reason OF the earlier
maturity of crops, and in time we shall
undoubtedly ship back our own pro-
duction as we have done in other
crops to practically Offset our pur-
chases. 1t may be noted here that
Philip F. Kelley. broker of Seattle, last
year shipped three carloads of prunes
to France, and about 70 carloads east.
Early fruit yields in abundance, and
with increasing facilities for reaching
markets must come greater profit and
improved culture to the producer, fol-
lowed by fruit preserving plants and
the manufacture of fruit syrups and
extracts. which are important adiuncts
to the fruit industry.
In view of the above showing, the
people of Washington may we'll be
proud of what has been accomplished
in promoting the fruit industry OF the
state, and they have certainly good
reason for believing that Washington
must soon take front rank as a fruit
producer, with every advantage fol
commanding abundant markets at
home and abroad. In conclusion we
quote from paper on fruit culture
read before the State immigration AS
sociation by J. T. Blackburn:
| eve have the climate, the soil and
the transportation facilities to market
our fruit, which facilities will improve
as the volume of fruit increases
Fruit culture hasa fascination connect
ed with it which grows on the person
engaged and is very contagious. It il
not absolutely necessary that persor
should have large bank account be
fore he embarks in this, one of, If no
the grandest industry in the world
True. it has shared with all other in
dustries in the the effects of the finan
cial depression during tina past two 0
three years, and the margin of prof
has been very small, and were it no
for the bright star of hope for the fu
ture the fruit grower might hay
reason to become discouraged. Blu
when he remembers the fact that
failure of fruit crop is not known !
|, the Puget Sound country, and whe
he remembers the amount OF failure
Of this crop in the eastern states
: should not stimulate and encourag
) the fruit grower, and also the wouit
!; be fruit grower? For example, la'
wear / received number OF commit
nications from eastern cities, saying
+ .We depend entirely upon Washing
8 ton, Oregon and California tor OF
2 pears, plums and pears. "-Seatt
+ Trade Register.
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