The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1906-02-15


mentioned two varieties, the question
does arise now and then, what is the
next best variety to planty The
Baldwin which is one of the main
commercial apples of the east, does
not seem to be very desirable for Hood
River valley; it is not a good keeper
with us, and the trouble we have had
In the past marketing them convinces
us that 1t is variety that we should
plant very sparingly.
The Nj. b. Twig is another variety
that seems 20 be bound to make us
trouble; they apparently are as sound
as a dollar, but closer inspection will
show peculiar dry brown spots under
the skin, which seems to be common
thing with this variety. We also
notice that the larger M. B. Twig
showed good deal of water core this
season, therefore | say don't plant 1t.
Our old friend the Ben Davis is quite
a favorite In most all apple sections,
and the price realized for 1t year In
and year out, considering the good
bearing quality and the hsalthiness of
the tree, is not the worst apple on
earth to plant.
The Orient Is consuming more and
more American apples every year, but
whether or not Hood River Is will
ing to compete with the always cheap
or fruit uf the fruit raising sections
west aud north of us, is matter to
be considered. We shipped one car
load of our large Ben DAVIS to China
this season at HI advance of 5O cents
per box over Bens shipped from other
sections to that market, and accord
ing to an article that saw in the
Oregonian some time ago, 1t seems
that even Chinaman can tell Hood
River Ben Davis when he claps his
almond eyes on IL, aud II he should
be willing in the future to pay us
what our fruit Is worth in comparison
to the other fruit shipped to those
markets now, the Ben Davis apple may
be considered a fair money maker
Missouri, Kansas and other sections
raise a better Ben Davis than we 40,
SO for us to figure on the Eastern
markets would be useless.
The Jonathan has brought good
yes, fancy prices in Chicago, and par.
tioularly in New York the past sea.
son, but that was not for the kind OF
Jonathans that we can produce in
Hood River valley. That was for
highly colored, firm, good sized and
we'll keeping fruit. 1t is generally
claimed and admitted by some
that Colorado can produce better
Jonathan than we can. j understand
the hot dry days in Colorado will grow
better colored and better keeping Jon
athans than we can In Hood River,
and for Hood Riverites TO play second
fiddle, simply doesn't go down; so /
say, don't plant them.
The Red Cheek ia q very good apple
and has always brought fair price,
but the tree does not seem To be OF
very long life, and the fruit is not
particularly desi<-Jie for the high
priced markets.
| think | have dwet long enough on
the varieties, that for some reason OF
other it might perhaps be advisable
not to plant, 80 lot us see what we
might plant: The Arkansas Black has
been tried long enough in this valley
to convince us that it attairs perfect
color. is an excellent keeper, a heal
thy tree, good bearer and has
brought good prices for years, this
year selling for 50. 05 per box I. o. b.
Hood River. its deep red color, fine
shaLe aud good keeping quality will
aIwu,s make it good seller on the
Eastern market, aud, therefore, could
perhaps be considered a variety that
We might plant.
The Ortley is another variety which
think will be "a moneymaker In tht
future, We have tried sample ship
ments this season to different mar
kets, and while we as yet have no'
heard very definitely just what thu
opinion of the trade Is of this variety
the pI ices they netted back Is an in
dication that 1t will be a winner. Tht
tree is healthy, u thrifty grower viii
bear a good crop every year. The ap
Die is a good keeper, fine locker,
! good eater and an excellent cooker
, and is bound to be favorite with tn
! trade, after it once knows its goo'
qualities. The only thing that nigh
, be lid against the Ortley is that it
i waxy, yellow, transparent skin WI
/ show blemishes very easily, therefor
i will have to be handled and packs
. with much care. The Winter Banan
il quite favorite with some Of ou
growers, but when you consider tina
q the Ortley is equally as good In ever
. respect and has in its favor the fac
: that it is a much iuicier apple, 1t
+ advisable to Investigate thorough
y before setting out many trees OF tn
o Winter Banana variety.
n The Delicious is good looking all
: very fine favored apple, but AS Ion
as we don't know what 1t will do con
y mercially, and whether the tree Is
y ;. vigorous and healthy grower or no
y or whether it is good bearer or no
D . it il hardly advisable to plant it, br
q every grower ought to have at least
u few trees for his own use.
u In concluding, / wish to say that
J. il advisable not to plant too mar
10 different varieties. The more yC
b. have of lust three or four varietl
D. the easier it will be to put them
D. ., the market at the top figure. II yc
Y have. for instance, % carloads
AZ Newtowns or Spitzenbergs, the buy
III can affor TO come to Hood River
- DQY ana bGCbpI bhohA Al6hN HSA~'
w the buyers don't want to give us VIII
.o we know our fruit is worth, We ha
u, quantity enough so that we can Sol
Is a man right to the markets where o
!, apples are consumed, and by dol
ly that we are assured of getting all the
~, is in it.
es The troubles between grover al
" shipper has in nearly every lnstan
se come over few boxes of some varie
'ts that is not worth whoop. In mark'
z in. our Spitzenbergs we have enou
nc of them now so that il the growers
IL Hood River valley would pull togetf
's' they could afford to station one IN
e in one of the Eastern cities and
ay him take care of the different shi
We ments as they cIme in. When do
IT. River can do that then we wont ha
Is, to worry any more about cars OF
an fine fruit being refused at the oil
OK end for some fault that does not exi
an That. of course, will not be necesst