The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1905-01-05

Glacier some recent copies Of Watson
vile (Cal.) papers, the Evening Pariar
oman and the Daily Register. Boil
papers contain mention OF the receipt a
Watsonville OF Hood River apples from
the orchards Of Frank Stanton.
G. ii. Rodgers, who is mentioned il
the Register, will be remembered al
having come all the way from Watson
vile to visit the Hood River apple show
last October. Mr.. Rodgers, who is pres
ident of the board of trade Of that city
and one Of the fruit commissioners o
the county, while here took careful nott
OF the latest methods of cultivating anc
marketing apples, and secured a number
OF boxes to take back with him, in order
that his neighbors may see what is don,
at Hood River in packing apples.
The following article is taken from the
Watsonvlle Register
G. III. Rogers, horticultural commits
sioner, came home yesterday from the
fruitgrowers convention, even more en-.
thusiastic than before he went away
There were some aspects Of the meeting
not particularly pleasing to him, but the
value of the conference was great enough
to overbalance many disturbing Incl
dents.
One OF his first duties after reaching
the Board of Trade rooms was to assist
in unpacking and arranging for exhibit
tion fine collection of Hood River
apples sent by Frank II. Stanton, q
prominent grower and shipper OF Hood
Riuar nraoton Tbara n no unaoi,nana oI
some twenty varieties in the collection,
prominent among which are the Spitzen-
berg, Baldwin, White Winter Pearmain,
Winesap, Roxbury Russet, King Of
Tompkins county, Topekoken, Arkansas
Black, Redcheeked Pippins, Wagner
Walbridge, Ortley and Mammoth Black
Fancy.
All of the fruit is well formed and
firm, the red apples high in color, and
the skin smooth and clear. 1t is certain
that it was produced under good condi.
tions in country and on coil that
holds all that is required to bring out the
finest fruit.
Samples of the soil OF the Hood River
valley were sent also, and it has already
been examined with interest by many
of our orchardiats. One OF the two
samples is labeled coax land" and the
other pine land" Seemingly there is
little difference. Both are mouse.col-
ored loan with sand mixture. The lis
covery that 1t is peculiarly suited to
fruit-growing was made not many years
ago, but the development OF the fruit in
dustry there is remarkable.
The orchardists of Hood River have
made some notable improvements in
methods Of marketing, and In other
ways have shown that they are making
progress on scientific lines.
Their experiments in selection and
deveopment have produced wonderful
results" said Mr.. Rogers. 'They watch
their trees carefully at all seasons, no
ting any marked characteristics. A tree
that shows fruit better than the average
is marked, and from snch stock all cions
for grating are taken. In few years
this systematic effort to improve the
bearing qualities of their trees, and the
size, color and texture of their apples
has made great change, and it proves
that there are boundless possibilities in
the plan.
ut is easy to.fnd apple-growers who
laugh at scientific methods. There are
not willing to accept reports OF the dis
coveries made by those who have studied
experimental, failed and tried again and
again. But it is certain that the num-
Der Of such oTchardists isgrowing small
er and smaller. There would not be so
many now ii all would attend the fruit
growers convention and listen to others
and speak for themselves"