The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1905-08-10
APPLES IN THE
PAJARO VALLEY


cans, the apple increased but little.
Sufficient quantities of apples to sup |
ply the coast markets we're being rails
ed in other parts of the state, prlncl-
pallv in the counties adjacent to San
Francisco bay, and as the demand
was limited, there was no special IN
centive to plant commercial orchards
in this district.
In 1884 two of the apple grower
most dreaded pests, codling moth and
San Jose scale, made their appearance
in California orchards. Mainly
through negligence on the part OF
growers, such havoc was created py
these insects that by 1880 the indus.
try was practically abandoned Ill what
had been the foremost districts OF the
state. As result Of the calamity
which befell those sections, together
with consequent stimulated demand
at high prices, our apples first came
into prominence and the business re-
ceiyed that impulse which afterward
transformed PaJaro valley into the
leading apple producing district OF
the West. Our climatic conditions
proved not so favorable for the rapid
MULTIPLICATION of the above named
pests and the loss to the orchardlst
from this source was very light for
many years.
At present the number Of apple trees
in this district reaches close to 9oO,
900. and the area covered exceeds II,
600 acres. pproximately seven
eiRhths of these trees are NeWtoWn
IN nalIAonapa In abDut the
promotion of three of the first TO
two of the latter. The remainder If
made up of every variety found IN the
catalogue, with White Winter Pear
main, Red Pearmain, Missouri PIP
pin, Sangford Seeding and Lawyer
predominating. From present pros
poets the yield this season will amount
to /, $50, 900 boxes, or about 200 car
loads
But slightly more than one third
of the trees have attained full bear
ing. Figuring on the rapid increase
in Weld of the large acreages which
are Just reaching the bearing age, the
Pajaro apple output within the next
five years will amount upwards OF o.
900, 600 boxes.
The Newtown Pippin on account OF
its superior keeping qualities, may be
sent to the most remote parts of the
globe. 1t finds best markets In Eu-
rope and the eastern states, but there
Is a growing demand In Australia,
Asia, South America and islands OF
the Pacific.
Markets for the Bellhower are con
fined mainly to the territory reach
ing from this coast to Chicago, al
though the demand is gradually ex-
tending eastward from the last named
place.
The poorer grades Of apples are
shipped to markets within the state,
or are used for canning, jams, jellies,
cider, vinegar and the dried product.
Though PaiarO can produce New
town Pippins aud Bellflowers which
cannot be excelled by any spot on
earth, yet through an unfortunate
combination of circumstances, the re-
putation of our fruit has suffered ma
terially during recent years. Some of
the mlsfortunes came through causes
which could not be obviated, Others
are due to avarice and shortsighted-
ness on the part of some Of those most
Interested.
Last season, shortly before picking
time, an unprecedented hot spell pre-
vailed for a day or two. The result
ant injury to the apples shipped out
was not perceptible until the fruit ar
rived at its destination in distant
markets. Ii rapidly deteriorated,
much to our discredit, but too late
to remedy the evil consequences to
the reputation of our apples. Again,
the greater portion of the apples have
been handled by packers who buy the
fruit on the tree, paying a lump sum
for the crop. Prices range pretty high
In that event, the packer paying from
one hundred to two hundred dollars
per acre, depending upon variety and
prospective yield. After paying Il
high price and with the whole crop,
good and bad, on his hands, the
temptation to the packer is very great
to smuggle inferior fruit INTO the box
es marked "choice. "
Particularly would this inferior
pack be expected when brokers and
buyers from outside markets "wink'
at the deception and accept the pack
because they can get the goods at &
few cents cheaper on the box than
they would have to pay for choice ap
pies.
There are reliable packers in Wat.
sonville, and If outside buyers would
deal only with those who put out
honestly packed goods, the unsorupu
lous packer would soon be eliminated
Very few orchardists pack their owr
fruit. The growing tendency IL tt
handle on plan somewhat similar Il
that of the fruit exchanges. In thii
case reliable men have established
large packing houses in town at con
venient places for shipping, The or
chardist delivers his crop at this plac,
in boxes, loose. From this time tn,
packer takes charge of the fruit, fur
nishing labor and material for pack
ing and also finding "A market for tn,
product. These houses are sendinl
out sti ictly reliable pack and tn,
plan is proving satisfactory to all con
cerned.
Apples are packed in pine boxe
l0XllN22 inches in dimensions and
box holds about fifty pounds. Fo
export each apple is wrapped in paper
The grade is determined by the mum
ber Of rows required to fill the enc
of a box. Grades are known as 3, 3ie
4, A. and 3 tier. The 4-tier is il
greatest demand and prices are quot
ed ON alter basis. Prices for 4-tie
Newtowu Pippins and Bellhower
range from about 9Oc to 81. l5 per bo
t. 0. b. Watsonville.
While the apple orchard does no
reflect all sunshine and profit, yet al
things considered, there probably /
no fruit industry of the state attend
ed with as little annoyance and ris
and no branch Of fruit growing NOR
pleasant to pursue nor yielding a
sure profit as the apple business i
Pajaro valley,