The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1906-08-16
HIGH PRICES
ARE EXPECTED
BIDS TO BE OPENED THIS MONTH
Review of the Apple Situation by a
Prominent Hood River
Grower.

ub lOllONluk III bhb wv
land journal from o. l.. Vanderbilt,
is timely and reviews the apple situa-
tion:
From offers already received the
impression prevails at Hood River
that prices for Oregon apples this
year will be- about the same as last
year, when the highest prices ever
known we're paid and the entire Hood
River crop was shipped to Eastern
and European markets. The crop in
the valley this year is variOusly esti-
mated from 100, 600 to l3G, 900 boxes,
nearly double the amount of last
years crop.
Already Eeastern and European
buyers have visited the v8lley. The
Apple Growers association has not
made any contracts and has fixed up-
on August 20 as the date when the
crop will be sold to the highest bid
der. Sealed bids will be received by
the cashier of the First National
bank of Hood River and opened by
the banks directors.
The association represents 80 per
cent of the apple growers of the val
ley and numbers about l28 men. No
grower is allowed, under the rigidly-
enforced rules, to pack his own apes.
This work is done by experts en-
poyed by the association. A crew
consists of four packers and an in
spector. Every apple is inspected be-
fore being placed in the box. An as
Iociation wrapper and box label has
been copyrighted and is used exclus-
lively by the organization for protec-
tion of buyers and consumers from
apples that are grown elsewhere and
labeled Hood River apples.
This year for the first time the Hood
River valley grower has sold his GRAY
ensteins, Kings and Wealthies, early
varieties, to the European market.
OF these there will be seven carloads
from this valley. Two cars are from
Beulahland, the largest apple ranch
in the valley. Oscar Vanderbilt, own
or of Beulahland, who was in Port
land today, said;
Conditions in the valley at pres
ent are almost perfect for the apple
business. The three early varieties
now sold to Europe will be picked
and shipped in about three weeks.
Picking of other varieties will begin
In October. This year is the third in
which the association has followed
the plan OF selling the Hood River ap-
pie crop to the highest bidder. 10
has worked successfully aad this year
the growers will realize the benefits of
both large crop and good price.
Mr.. Vanderbilt said the increased
acreage planted this year is not large,
but number of good sales have been
made. Some of these are at prices
that people might regard as fancy.
But when compared with prices and
earnings capacity of Colorado or
chards, and elsewhere, Hood River
prices are still conservative. Colora-
do apple orchards bring from $1,000
to $1,000 per acre, while the Hood
River prices do not range at half
those figures, although the latter or
chards have shown the greater earn
ing power. In a number of Hood
River orchards single acre has been
known to yield as much as 81, 600
gross in year.
Mr.. Vanderbilt has purchased 30
acres known as the Valhalla orchard,
now in full bearing, and added 1t to
his Benlahland. This farm now con
sists of about 145 acres, and its bear
ing acreage is the largest in the val
ley. Last year the original farm
yielded between 1900 and 1000 boxes.
The ranch is cultivated to high de-
gree, bearing trees loaded with per-
fectly formed apples, the young trees
looking thrifty. Every tree is
trimmed and sprayed scrupulously.
The land ia cultivated and narrowed,
and not weed to be seen between all
the long rows of trees.
This years crop of Beulahland Is
estimated at l4,000 boxes The ap-
rles from this farm sold last year at
81. rs as the lowest and S3 the highest
price per box. These prices amaze
eastern apple growers, most of whom
get less money for barrel than HOOD
| River growers receive for a bushel of
apples. With the acreage OF young
trees that will come into bearing IN
the next two or three years the yield
of Beulahland will be increased to VI :
wards of %, 600 boxes annually. Ihe
entire farm is susceptible of irriga-
zion, and has water at hand, but irri-
, CATION is little utilized at the present
tima