The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1896-04-10
Quality of Northwest Apples.

l i
| ed in the Rural New York in which
unfavorable comments were made up
on the character of apples grown in
the Pacific Northwest. While these
unfavorable comments we're unques-
tlonably made in all sincerity, they
we're manifestly based upon insufficient
data. 1t is very easy matter for
eastern men to be mistaken in their
conclusions regarding the fruit pro-
duced in the Pacific Northwest. 1t Is
almost impossible for any person who
has not made a special study of the
subject to appreciate how great the
climatic differences are in different
sections in Oregon, Washington and
Idaho. Mr.. A. Wirth, a scientific
pomologist of Marshfeld, Or, in a
letter to the Rural New Yorker called
attention TO the marked difference in
the character of the fruit grown in
different sections, and to the fine flavor
of apples grown in our upland districts.
There are undoubtedly a good many
apples grown in the Pacific Northwest
which are lacking in flavor and ap-
pearance. AS rule these apples are
grown ON trees which are from thirty
to forty years old and which have
yielded some twenty, or more, heavy
crops of fruit. During all this time
NO return has been made to the soil
and in many cases a crop of hay has
been annually cut in orchard. Under
such circumstances it is not surprising
that the fruit is now lacking in flavor.
Apples grown in Oregon, Washing
ton and Idaho sell in such markets as
st. Paul for as high figures as are OBJ
tanned for the choicest Michigan and
New York fruit; and those from
Southern Oregon find special favor in
Texas cities where they come into di-
rect competition with the apples of the
Ozark district OF Missouri and Ar
kansas.
One mistake which our eastern
friends frequently make is to infer
thai the greater portion of our apples
are grown by irrigation. In fact only
very small percentage of our apple
orchards are irrigated, even in Eastern
Oregon and Eastern Washington.
Apples of very large size and the best
quality are grown in Oregon. Washing
ton and Idaho in sections where the
rainfall is only from fifteen to twenty
inches per year, without irrigation.
The apple thrives in almost every
portion of the Pacific Northwest up to
an elevation OF from 5000 to 5000
feet above the sea level. Within GER
tain limits almost every possible varia-
ton as to climatic conditions can be
found. By proper selection of locality
nearly every variety of the apple which
is known to the markets of the United
States can be produced of the best
quality. One variety attains perfec.
tion on alluvial soils west of the Gas.
cade mountains, another on the high
and dry uplands east OF the Cascades
while many varieties find most con
genial conditions on the foothills anC
inter-mountain valleys.
No better keeping apples of gooc
dessert quality were exhibited at the
Columbian Exposition than the New,
town pippins grown at Hood River
Oregon. There is very large portion
OF Oregon, Washington and Idaho, tht
apples from which will prove as gooc
keepers as those grown anywhere. lr
certain limited portions of Oregon ant
Washington, in the immediate vicinit.
OF the ocean, apples tend to oversize
aud coarseness but apples OF excellen
quality are grown within few mile
! of the ocean.
In his letter to the Rural New York
er, Mr.. Wirth states that little ex
perimenting in the way of adding var
ious mineral substances to the sol
gives convincing evidence OF the I'm
pOrtant influences of such substan ce
upon the shape, color and keepin
quality of the fruit. 1t has long hee
observed that the presence OF All abuI
dant supply OF iron III the sod tends t
the production Of high color in frui
and notable instances of this can b
found in Oregon An abundant SUI
ply of available potash IS also believe
to be an essential factor IL The Or
duction OF highly favored apples, an
fortunately the soil Of the districts i
Eastern Oregon and Eastern Washing
ton in which apple culture is bein
most extended are very rich in potash
If, through the completion of th
Nicaragua canal, or any other means
freight rates are reduced sufficiently
enable us to place our apples in easter
markets on large scale our easter