The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1906-10-25
CAPT. SHAW TALKS
Big APPLE EXHIBIT

The Irrigation Congress, of which
the writer, among others, was an &C
credited delegate, closed its sessions
at Hood River on Friday last. While
the attendance was not so large, the
enthusiasm and interest manifested
by those present, made up for the
paucity of numbers. 1t was voted to
hold the next session at Grants Pass.
The congress was held during the
Seventh Biennial fruit fair of the ia
nous Hood River valley, and Of this,
particularly wish to speak.
The attendance from Clackamas
county was fair, and yet as an object
lesson-for it certainly is an object
lesson to visit these fruit fairs-the
attendance ought to have been great
er.
| have attended a number of these
fairs, and at no time have been so
impressed with the possibilities of .ap-
pie culture in Clackamas county as
was brought to mind at this exhibit.
As is pretty we'll known, the fame
of the Hood River apple is world
wide, and justly so, therefore, it WAS
expected that the attendance would
be large, and from all parts of the
county. Buyers plenty we're there
to snap up the exhibits, which sold
at co siderabl more than So box.
The red on the Hood River apples
is deeper red, and the yellow on
Newtown is richer golden color than
is found elsewhere. Rub your hand
over Hood River apple and you get
vsrnish like appearance to the skin
that is marvellous. Nowhere else has
the apple reached such perfection as
in the Hood River valley.
The climate in this little gem of a
paradise is all that might be desired.
The air comes from the mountains
laden with sweet smelling fragrance
of fir and pine, giving health to the
Inhabitants as it spreads out over the
little valley below.
The precipitation, much of which
is in the form of snow, is somewhat
less than that of Clackamas, the aver
age being AZ inches. his, ho ever,
is being augmented by irrigation
which is carried ON by tie growers
throughout the valley. Public owner
ship being the rule, and has solved
Tue Wdtbl pEUUitu w tuS SutllC cdbis-
faction of every body Interested. The
exhibits of apples we're superlative
grand more than one thousand box
es, artistically arranged in a canvass
pavilion $50 feet long by 30 wide, was
a sight worth while TO go to see, and
while | have not talked to any of my
fellow delegates. | venture to say thBt
the display was pleasing sight, if
not revelation to them. Our genial
neighhor from Milwaukee, Mr. Rich
ard Scott, was there, and to show his
loyalty to old Clackamas. brought an
exhibit with him.
Yes, "Dick" was there all right
and had a fine display of pears and
apples just to show what Clackamai
could do, when once she takes up
fruit culture as a business. "Dick's"
exhibits occupied prominent place
among Hood Rivers famous red
checked beauties that we're only rival
ed by the bloom on the cheeks of the
equally famou3 Hood River girls, and
this is saying great deal, fol- Clack-
amas can boast of goodly number of
maidens with the peach blow on their
cheeks.
Our fellow townsamn, Judge Ryan,
was there viewing the ''Big Red APP
ples,n and occasionally casting fur
tive glances on the fair maidens as
they paraded through the pavilion.
Owing to prev GUS engagement, the
Judge remained but one day, much to
his regret, as he was denied 10 mile
drive through the valley to see the or
chards, which are just now laden with
fruits, and joy to behold.
If the Courier will grant the neces-
sary space for more extended article
on the Hood River apple, the reasons
why it has reached it's present state
of perfection, and what can be done
along these lines in Clackamas coun-
ty, i will avail myself of the oppor--
tunity to point out few facts, and
offer some suggestions to the farmers
and others why the growing of fruits
and especially apples should be taken
up as a business in Clackames coun-
ty.-Jas. P. Shaw in Oregon City
Courier.