The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-15


While the price o. Washington prlnes
as lower this year than ever before. sim
he Increase - crop paid the grower as
luch as h.s returns were in previous
ears. when the fruit commanded q much
CHER price. The fact % lower prices
rs season does not indicate al ever
locked market. hut rather that the cont1i-
ons OF the country were such that all
ltursl products bore The same relative
ductioa % previous values as did prunes.
gain. the development Of the Italian
1Ire, which IS distinctive in every aar-
cuiar from that OF the prune grown IN
alifornia. has not yet acquired the S3gui-
OF being able 70 make a market FOR IL
y, but must. in a measure. depend unon
e market Tor California and French
unes This desrinent IS but Temporary.
?. as the Introduction OF these prunes
eeps apace with the DEVELOPMENT Of the
s-ness. then SyilI the fixed value OF
unes depend on TIRE prune itself. and on
other cause. When the italian prlre
vances 10 the dignity 81 being accorded
value in keeping with its quality IL viii
ing considerably more than pr8nes growa
California or other districts
Already the result Of The marketing of
: years crop is showing itself. and
ave every reason 70 believe that The sea-
n Of lNsi viii witness the attainment Of
fixed value Of Italian prunes Last years
-op was an immense Increase over pTevi-
~ years and the same vas spread
throughout the many different markets Of
ne country where IL would bring ths
reatest returns, considering not only the
arket price received for the fruit. bar
- good 70 b. derived on future business.
lany markets have been inaccessible (
-0m the fact that the supply hitherto was
holly insufficient TO create A knowledge
nd demand for our particular variety.
The Washington italian prune for quail
" flavor and size cannot be equaled- The
Iality is very rich. and as testified 10 by
number of prominent gentlemen in the
asst when properly cooked they remind
ne Of the rich. old-faShioned plum jam
at We used to enjoy so much when a boy
ne flavor - slightly tart. with Just
Rough acidity 10 impart strength Of char
ter that cannot be approached in an or
nary sweet prune.
With this natural advantage in our favor.
nd the knowledge that our industry has
-own steadily, with rapid consumption Of
Il our supply 1t must naturally follow
at the introduction OF our fruit Is the re
ait of the superior quality OF the fruit
self. and that when II becomes fully
lown our product viii command a price
ommensurate with its superiority over
her kinds of prunes. Already evidences
the result to be anticipated from the
de Introduction Of the fruit are coming
b. Letters have been and are being re-
ived by prominent fruit men of Clarke
ounty from dealers and consumers in the
rye cities Of the country Mandatory OF the
rune; and many inquiries are received as f
our ability TO fully supply the demand
ringing up everywhere.
/ wish to emphasize in relation 10 the
after OF overproduction that we cannot
'oduce sufficient prunes TO be a menace
the prune industry in this state. My ex-
rience is just the opposite. that is, the
lief difficulty hitherto was that the fruit
rover sold his fruit as a matter of neces-
y more than a matter Of pride. conse-
emily neglecting the manner of curing
"a packing OF these goods as IL should
ave been done TO obtain the best results.
packing correctly the price, or returns.
M justify the wisdom Of putting out
1thing but the best.
Among the requisites TO successful prune
Using are. TO my mind three facts. which
e OF vital Importance. They ARE.
oper soil. a good location, and intelligent
ltvation and pruning. AS mentioned in
opening remarks. Dame Nature has
rnished the first two mentioned as well
me gift TO the favored sons OF Washing
n and particularly 10 the citizens Of
arke county II IS unnecessary for me
dilate on the question OF soil and loca-
n, except 10 remark that II is generally
needed among those competent TO Judge
conditions Of soil and climatic influ-
ces more favorable to the culture Of this
rticular variety Of fruit Having the
81 two important essentials furnished as
nature. the third We must supply our
YES.
Utilization means work. particularly
en- applied 10 a prune orchard. You
ST cultivate constantly, develop and as
the prune trees a. you would any other
FRY hat he -
bring out its better parts. 10 the end that
en- the time Is at hand for the giving
N Of the fruit you will be rewarded for
or expended. If any one has an 5dea
it raising prunes is a soft snap" then
had better abandon Il. The mere fact
clearing of stumps and roots and plant
trees, then sitting down 70 wait hve
lrs for a certain fortune IS bat air castle
hiding. and he who practices il viii find
mself sadly mistaken and disappointed.
Among the more important requisites 10
oper cultivation are to be considered the
eparation Of the ground or field, care
: selection Of trees, properly planted and
uned constantly. with careful attention
soil stirring il frequently SO as 10 Keep
e trees free from pests.
g. who would have large returns from
une cusure without doing all this had
lch better find other employment. II
ar trees have developed so that they are
airing fruit. then comes the serious
ought OF placing this fruit on the mar
so that your labor VIII be paid its high
{ worth You must then first consider
e picking after which time the prunes
Ist DE cured: after curing they must DO
AIDED. after grading they must be- prop
Is uackcd as the requirement Of the mar
dema nds. Each. OF course, requires it,
"a special care and attention.
There are upward Of fifty prune dryers
oneration in Clarke county alone. which
we been erected al cost OF Ssf7 apiece,
total outlay of about S4Ap1 IN dry
uses alone. This gives some idea OF u" (
tent o. the fruit operations ia this coun-
particularly since with all these dryers
IS necessary 10 operate them 20 their
Hest capacity in order 10 take care OF !
SO years crop.
81 me reitera,e that too much care can /
{ De- exercised in CurlGE. grading and /
ckinc the fruit for the market, because ,
fruit sent out rests our reputation as
-cessful growers iu the future
r. conclusion. ! need only 10 add that the I
lture ot pruues requires the same pains /
King and practical business methods "a i
90 any other business "a order 80 receive (
,-essful results The magnitude OF the |
siuess now and tile prospect for the fu- /
-e Justify tne belief and hope ghat before /
e the Evergreen state VIII he supplying /
....ou,e o. the niteI States with their /
l3fretn-uts 81 pruues. and that part or /
country. which the famous Joan =. /
ihouu said was not worth "A unkeT
u " ID prove that III pruue industry /
Dc. il worth an the NOTIFY ard care that
given ID Ibis Northwestern country
O. che time the Hudson Bay Company
as0 planted tae urst fruit trees IN
.rAe county. Wash