The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1905-10-19


led in setting to any extent in this
valley. From market conditions and
the general consensus of opinion
think | am justified in saying that |
would set more largely of the New.
ton Pippins than of the Spitzenbergs.
With regard to the distance apart,
the two limits seem to be 26 by &c
feet and 30 by 80 feet. Qui few
are setting rs by %, the extra two feet
permitting more space through which
to haul the spraying outfit and wagons
during the picking season and making
the chance less cf knocking off apples
when the trees grow larger.
In reference to picking apples |
want to call the attention of the grow
ers, and particularly of the new COM
crs, to the fact that great many ap-
lies of the next years crop are lost
this year. | noticed some boys pick.
& apples who were raised in the val
10y and after they had finished tree
J picked up from the ground thirty
tour fruit spurs, which would have
meant one dollars worth of apples
EeXt year. The time saved was about
five cents, therefore there was ninety
five cents lost by this haste in pick
ing. Do not allow picker to knock
off fruit spur or twig.
Another cause of serious loss to the
grower, perhaps the most serious loss
of any, is the bruising of the apples.
| had an extreme case last year where
man had apples that we're worth
81 10 per box so badly bruised that
the packers refused to pack until they
we're all sorted. These bruised apples
brought him less than one half what
he could have got if they had not been
bruised His loss by this bruising in
picking and wiping was one dollar per
box. No picker or wiper should be
allowed to handle apples so that they
can be heard to drop in the picking
basket or heard to drop in the box
when they are being wiped.
| sincerely hope that all of our grow
ers will endeavor to build packing
houses as rapidly as their means will
permit. Last year apples after being
pick were stored in all kinds of
sheds and barns which afforded no
protection against the cold W ather
and some apples were lost by being
frozen and others had to be packed
out before they were ready to be ship
Fed. An apple should not be packed
until it is ready to be shipped, for
tie reason that this is the only way in
which we can feel sure of delivering
the buyer perfect box of apples, and
bydelivering perfect apples is thu only
way that we can maintain our repu-
tation and secure the high prices
which we are getting. Along this
line of bruising | would suggest that
it is advisable for all growers in wip-
ing and sorting their apples to put
all applesthat run four-tier and larger
in boxes by themselves, and all aplpes
that run four and "a half and fiTe-tier
in boxes by themselves also. If this
method is followed, when the apples
ar poured on the table for the pack
er the grower is saved a great deal OF
M 2ney by the apples not being paved
over, for the reason that this paving
over naturally bruises more or less.
While some OF these table bruises may
rot show when they are packed, they
ill certainly show up in tn box later
after being packed and affect our rep
Utation, and il our reputation is
affected it affects the price and our
pocket and we are the loser. Every
grower certainly should have pack
ing table. A mailing machine is
equally essential. Some growers nail
ed their apple boxes last year by hand
without a machine. When you try
to put the lid on box in this way it
is absolutely impossible to avoid
bruising in getting the lid down.
All apples should be nicely wiped,
for the reason that they present a
much better appearance to thu buyer
and find a reader sale than if covered
with spray, and it is this demand that
enables us to get the price. One
grower spoke to me about his apples
being accepted, as he was an expert
cnced orCharist and thoroughly up to
date in every part of his business. |
replied that if any f his apples we're
to blame more than the packer or
the inspector, for the reason that he
knew what would go and what would
lot, and it was his duty to himself
aud everybody else in the Valley to
place on the packing table only such
ipples as should go, that is, a first
class apple in every respect. A box
# apples after it is nailed up should
he placed on the side as they are piled
the packing house and should be
laid on the side in the wagon when
loading, as this method prevents
Lruising. | was very much surprised
last year to see quite number of our
growers haul in apples over rocky
roads on deadax wagons, when the
apples we're worth over two dollars per
box and a set of springs could be pur-
based for twelve dollars.
In conclusion | would say that we
cannot be too careful in reference to
every detail of the apple business, as
large grower on the East Side, whom
YOU all respect, said to me before /
cane into the Valley: can apple
orc hard is an orchard Of children.
Each tree requires nursi lg and care
il st the same as you would give a
child"
In presenting Ties few views
and opinions want to say that
eyrect to be criticised for
scme of them at least. In reference
to the opinio expressed with regard
to cultivation, spraying, pruning
AID thinning l want to say that the
views expressed are the opinions
formed by mysel from conversation
with many able men in the business.
Tie remarks on these four points
that | have made are not given out
a. hard and fast rules or stated as
facts. My idea in discussing these
four subjects was to lead up 70 a
general discussion among ourselves
in order that we might perfect our
selves more complet ly and improve
or present methods of thinning aud
pruning, in which in the opinion OF
ihe most able expert in the United
st t.t,s we are at the present time most
deficient.
If this article is the means OF i'm
proving anyone in his work along any
part of the line touched upon, | shall
certainly feel gratitied and be willing
to stand the kicks and criticisms that
NAV follow, for the reason that in my
present position | am g tting pretty