The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1904-08-11

lile RGDNtT'
Chris Lethman stated that his pack
last year was not satisfactory He had
everything handy for the packers, and
most Of the fruit was four-tier, yet his
packing cost him 10 cents 2 box.
Mr.. Avery declared he was new at
the business, never having handled
apples until two years ago, therefore he
preferred to listen to growers with more
experience. He had little fault to find
with the work last year
]. W. Wickham had no particular
objection to make, except that his pack
ing cost him too much last year, but
this he laid to the laten,ss Of the season,
Mr.. Cash, who resides on the Baker
place, asked how apples were handled
in Hood River, This gentleman comes
from Idaho, where he has had consider
able experience in large orchards.
Mason anrwered the question by say np
that last fall the packers were paid &c
cents an hour for their work. This
included board and the time occupied
in going from one place to another. The
packers furnished their own beds.
They frequently slept in barns.
j. q. Jarvis had no complaint to offer
except that too many of his Spitzen
bergh of light color were thrown out
when he thought them marketable fruit
His apples cost him four cents box fol
packing. He had the fruit graded
before the packers set to work on it.
Mr., Shoemaker had objections TO tn,
packers basing their selection of apple
on color. For that reason he was forcet
to stop the pack,
g. r Castner had no complaint t,
make. He kept no record OF the cost o
his pack. He had beginners in hi
packing house who made as high Al
~ day, and girls who possibly mad,
less. He put the apples on tabl,
already graded He believed that pack
ers should not be expected to have the
time taken up in grading and cullnl
the fruit. 1t is too much trouble 10
the packer, and results in too great
cost to the grower,
r. G. Church said things were salts
factory with him, aud that his pack cos
him five cents a box, not considering
meals.
w. ]. Baker had no experience witt
the union packers because they were Fl
late in getting around to his place las
year that he was compelled TO pack tn
apples himself, His apples were picke
six weeks or two months, he said, be-
fore the packers were ready to work 70
him.
President Mason explained that thi
difficulty was to be obvated this year
Every effort will be made to give tn
growers square deal. He hoped tn
members OF the union would endeavo
to treat the dire, tors with the sam
fairness that the directors expected +
exert toward the growers. Tie hope
the members Of the union would dea
! lleniently with the board who wcr
endeavoring to profit by the mistake
encountered last season.
Mr.. Cash then explained the method
Of apple growing in Orchard Valley
Idaho. In that country the apples ar
packed in the orchards. The cold stor
age dealers who take the apples deman,
this method of packing with the leas
handling possible. Apples packed il
the orchard brought from % to so cent
more per box { an apples that had Il
receive additional handling. There ar
packing tables in every fourth row o
trees. At each table were six packer
one mailer, one carrier and ten pickers
The packers had to sort the fruit. The,
had guage by which to grade tn,
apples Soon they learned to size tn,
the fruit without the gnage test Girl,
and women did the packing, Their,
were several systems of packing. The
packing costs Q cents box, where III,
fruit was wrapped and layer paper used
In three and one half tier Ben Davi
the cost was reduced to 80 cents, an,
for Jonathans cents. The apple wer
supposed TO be handled as if they Wer
soft shelIed eggs,
Mr.. Avery asked il the apples i
Idaho were wiped,
Mr.. Cash replied that they were not
He said the merchants in the East ha
been educated to know that the spra
was necessary to produce perfect fruit
and that it does not iniure the qualit
of the apple TO have the lime left on
He believed by packing the apples with
out wiping them; they kept longer
Nature gives them an oily coating whicl
serves to keep the decay germs iron
the apple, and it is better that apple
are not wiped.
Mr.. Mason explained that apple pack
ing could not be carried on in Oregon
orchards as the rain would interfere
and Mr.. Angus added that the win,
would blow away all the paper.
| Mr. Earrpn nf Mnsfnr ,,.hl