Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1901-08-30
THE PRUNE OUTLOOk.

4
All Indications Point to a Large Crop in
Oregon, and an Excellent Price.
The San Jose Mercury sets forth the
following conditions which in its estima-
tion mako it certain that goOd price
will be had for the new crop Of prunes.
Its article is at least worthy OF consider
alton by prune growers, and for that raa-
son We give 1t space here:
During the past week there has been
about l50 cars OF prunes sold by the as
sociation on the three and a quarter cent
basis, and they are going out at the rate
of from twenty to thirty cars day.
These all 90 into actual consumption, as
they are scattered all over the country.
A runner was set afoat few days ago
that the association was geing to cut the
price to three cents, and this intelligence
was tslegraphed to eastern markets. II
had no real foundation, and its effect
naturally was to bear the market go as to
enable the buyers who are out in the Or
chards to get hold OF the crop at less
than it is worth. Notice was given Tues
day that the price would be firmly held
at three and quarter cents, subject to
change without notice, which was sug-
gestion that at any moment the price
might be raised to three and half cents.
The figures for the several day 8 sales
since the price was fixed show that some
twenty to twenty-five carloads are being
sold daily. Ii this Is continued il will
not take long to dispose of all fruit On
hand.
The officers of the association are very
anxious that growers shall not be ia
duced by the efforts Of buyers to bear the
market and sell their crops too cheap.
They have taken great deal of pains to
learn the exact situation, both as to the
probable demand in the East and the
size of the coming crop. They are told
that the new crop can be marketed easily
on faur cent basis by some of the best
posted fruit men in the East, those whose
interest would be best served by naming
low figure, since they will be buyers.
Advices from France are to the effect that
the crop there will will be very much
smaller than last year and that the ex-
port demand for prunes from this coun-
try to Europe will be much larger than
las. year. German buyers are already
here looking for fruit, which is something
new in the business.
The crop of California has been care
: fully estimated. Experts have been
sent into every orchard in the state and
have made careful estimate of its out
put. These estimates have been tabula-
ted and show total of 81, ,OO0, 900 pounds
; with ten per cent added. for safety.
Based upsn thia the association will be
on the sale side by calculating the State
crop at 60,000,G00 pounds. Last year
the State crop was 100000, 900 pounds.
} The falling off is chiefly in Santa Clara
county, which last year had l0o, ,oOO,O 900
pounds and this year will have but 25,-
100000. The crop of Oregon, Washing
ton and Idaho is estimated yarieusly be-
tween 10000 600 and 100000 pounds
Taking the maximum in both cases, this
would give a new crop of but 100, 700, 900
The carry over is indefnate. Last year
it was about 100000 pounds. but this
year it will probably be larger. The as
sociatior now has about $1,000, 900 or
hand, but the daily sales are lowering
this amonnt rapidly, and it would be safe
to estimate the carryover to be dispose9
of when the new crop comes in at %, 900,
600, making total of 125, 100000 to be
disposed of as against 1S5 100000 las
6 season.
This of itself gives ample justification
. for a belief in high prices for the coming
, crop, but the best foundation for such a
belief exists in the condition of the frui
supply in the East. The market is prac
t;cally bare Of fruit and the coming croE
is extremely short and Of poor quality
D The supply OF summer fruits and berries
| has been short andthe quality of much o.
; it not good, and this is one of the reason.
7 why millions of pounds Of prunes hav'
: been sold for consumption in the sum
: mer season this year contrary to previous
experience. The droath in the Mississ.
= ippi valley has made it necessary for frui
; and vegetables to be shipped there from
J the Atlantic States, something unheart
q of, while the demand upon Califernis
? has become enormous. The creates
!, shortage is going to be in the apple crop
y and it is dried apples that come the mos
4 into competition with prunes. Anothe
influence stimulating this unusual sum
mer demand is the increased consump
: ton due to the advertising done las
April, This effect will be permasen
= one and must be reckoned with in esti
j mating the probable demand 1t is thes
= things rather than the size of the prun
E crop, which of course they can not know
accurately and which in Eastern com
q mercial circles is being much everstatet
q for bear purposes, which have led promi
nent dealers there to give it as thei
q opinion that the market will be OH fou
! cent basis for the rew crop. The asso
I citation has named no price for the new
), crop as yet and will not do so for q time
4, a II ~