The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1904-05-19
The strawberry situation.

The Glacier man has been interro-
eating some OF the growers and shippers
OF strawberries, and indications point Ia
g successful campaign. Mr.. Davidson
OF the Davidson Fruit Co. says there
are ll50 acres OF strawberries in full
bearing and $50 acres set to plants last
fall and this spring. A conservative e..
innate Of the crop for those In full bear
ing is from 100 to l25 crates per acre.
Last year the first shipment was made
on May Ia. This week it will probably
be week or ten days later, and the
campaign will not have fairly been
opened until May 25, and will probably
last until July is, The bulk OF the Der.
ries, however, will probably be marketed
between June 5 and July /. The first
0regons marketed this year were from
the Roseburg district, and sold in Port
land Saturday at 40 cents per box.
The weather conditions 80 far have
been ideal for making berries and II II
continues thus until our irrigation ditch
ID In shape TO serve ita patrons with
with water on the west side as they are
on the east side, our success Is assured
30 far as the crop Is concerned.
The next point OF interest will be the
market. Mr.. Shepard OF the Fruit
'irowers' Union said there were 100000
acres In strawberries In Arkansas and
slissourl. The Arkansas berries are in
the market now and will be out Of the
way before we ship crate. The Mis-
souri, crop began to move May 10 and
Will probably be In the market June b,
and Thus come IN touch with our ber-
fies, but are not likely to Affect our
prices, as their berries will be the clean
up OF the crop. soft and unsafe to handle,
while our berries viii be fresh and firm
ana VIII bring good prices. The Colorado
berries VIII probably give us more
trouble than those raised in any other
location. There u just one thing i'll our
iavor as against the Colorado berry. 1t
our growers VIII use care and pack prop
erly, Keeping out culls, so that tie bei'
rles may not DO damaged IN transit by
having wet or mashed berries packed
among them, our berries VIII go INTO the
market looking as II fresh picked from
the vines, while the Colorado ferries, il
weather grows warm Will not be able
70 stand up There IS no berry on th'
lace OF the earth that can stand the
rough handling that the Hood River
ClarK seedlingi but because oil this our
growers should not become careless. We
shouiu take all the more care to put up
none put nrst class berries IN hrst class
shape we ought 10 endeaVor not only
70 retain the nigh reputation Hood
RIVER now enjoys but to add fresh lau-
rsls rel 70 our name among fruit consumers
we can 90 ulisl every grower VIII use
proper care, bnt II many 90 as some
uia last year, snip any ola thlng mat
grew on their vines, it will not be long
until Hood River cannot sell her berries.
There was one instance last year where
berries from the south country were
shipped to a Montana market and the
berries stood up better than the Hood
itlyer berries, received there the same
late. Whyf Because in the Hood
River car were several crates which had
been put up by one or two slovenly |
growers, who put in everything but the |
vines. Their berries spoiled and in
lpoiling solled and ruined others to such |
IN extent that this commission man
Ntote one OF our thlppers tnat ne wanted
o handle the Hood River berries this
'ear, but that they would have to be
'etter than the consignmeutin in question,
II is up to the straw berry growers
whether they stay in the market or not
roper care will keep the Hood River
'erry as II is now, at the head OF the
recession, but the position once lost
through carrlessness or slovenliness or
ishonesty in picking and packing and 1t
ill take years to regain it, ii ii ever can
Q regained. The shipping agencies say
hey will be stringent this year in the
rading of berries and insist that the
erries must be in proper shape and will
reat all alike in the handling Of the
erries.
The subject Of sending shipment OF
lood River berries to the exposition
nth man IN charge as an advertise
lent OF Hood River berries. 1t certainly
ught to be a profitable experiment, for
owhere in the world could shipment
Q sent that would place it prominently
afOrp the whole nation no in tho ayOn. |