The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1904-12-15
TO ASK FOR COUNTY
FRUIT INSPECTOR
State Board of Horticulture VIII
Apply to the Legislature

T.. L. Smith, president Of the state
board of horticulture, returned Friday
from Portland, where he was engaged
with Secretary IMmberson in compiling
the eighth biennial report of the board.
Mr.. Smith Gays he has a large
amount Of work on his hands yet before
he can turn the copy into the hands OF
the state printer.
When In Portland, Mr.. Smith con-
ferred with Commissioner Newell Of
Washington county, who is also men,
Der OF the state Legislature which con-
venee in January, regarding the pro-
posed legislation which the state board
OF ofhorticuItufe will ask for. The idea
OF county inspector appearsvery favor
able 10 Mr.. Smith and Commissioner
Newell.
There isno nae 10 expect any appro-
priatiori from the state for a fruit in
spector, says Mr.. Smith, and as the
plan or county fruit inspectors seems to
work satisfactorily in California, Idaho
aid Washington, 1t should be given a
trial in Oregon is the opinion of the
members Of the horticultural board.
The state board OF horticulture has
compiled an unofficial report OF the
years fruit crop and finds that II will ag.
gregate 81, 2,240, ,000, distributed as follows:
Apples, $S86y000; prunes, 1910, 900;
SIG, 1000; peaches,s ,sl75 900; small fruits,
$4,000
In Southern Oregon the yield was
100000 baxes OF apples, 1000 OF pears,
250,O0 baskets Of peaches, $4,000 crates
Of small fruits and 100000 pounds Of
dried prunes. This IL nearly full crop
the yield Of peaches having been the
best. There was comparatively poor
amount being 100000.
The Hood River Valley is long on ap-
pies and will continue TO be 90 now for
all time. The younger orchards have
not come into bearing yet, however.
There are several times many young
trees in the Hood River valley as those.in
bearing, and in three on four years the
yield there will rival that In Southern
Oregon. This year there are 100000
boxes Of apples, 100 carloads. In q
half dozen years tho present orchardage
will produce 600,0 boxes
The best apple crop has long since
been contracted for. The Hood River
Newtowns sold for8l.76 box and Spitz-
enbergs for $2.l0. Ben Davis apples
were sold for IS cents.
Speaking OF the fruit situation, Mr..
Smith was quoted by Portland paper
as follows.
"The most notable thing is the num-
Der Of young orchards being set out.
The fruit crop OF today IL nothing com.
pared TO what 1t will be in O few years.
New orchards are very common all over
the state, especially east OF the noun
tains. Southern Oregon is also receiv.
ing O great deal OF attention, but the
Willamette valley is'taking more to the
diversified farming and the growth of
the large commercial orchards is not 80
marked AZ elsewhere. The Hood River
valley and Grande Ronde valley seem
TO be getting the most of the increase.
The partial failure Of certain varieties
OF fruits this summer does not seem TO
to have affected the increase in the
least Even though there were fewer
prunes than usual, noone believes that
q short crop like that IL likely to happen
again soon.
"Asto the market for prunes, be-
lleve IL will be better every year from
now on. II has long since reached its
lowest mark and better prices will be
had each wear"