The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1907-06-13
WHY SUCH HEAVY
APPLE SHORTAGE

Commenting on the recent chip
ment of apples from Australia to New
York city the Springfield Republican
says editor Iiaally:
klhere arrived at New York a con-
signment OF l0l0 cases OF apples, or
about $40 barrels, from Australia and
tasmania, :aid to be the tirst import
of the kind on the records OF that
port which Is possible, since the
United States is recognized the world
over as the principal surplus producer
of apples. For many years this ooun-
try has been large exporter OF the
fruit-shipments In recent years aver
aging nearly loo, 600 barrels annually
and sometimes reaching ., 2,0O0, 900 bar
rel or over. During the current fiscal
year exports of apples have been well
above the yearly averge, amounting
to above the 1000, 600 barrels for the
nine months ending with March, last
seasons yield having been uncom
money large. So 1t is more surprising
that any OF the fruit should come here
from other countries and especially
from the antipodes on an 49, mile
voyage. The importers, however, say
that the crop of last year has been
practically all consumed or exported.
They assert that there are not over
10000 barrels left In the, whole ooun
try, and as good apples are selling In
New York at So a barrel it must be
that the scarcity is nearly as great as
represented.
The apples brought heie from Aus.
tralia are described as superior, In
appearance at least, to the American
fruit, which is no doubt the case.
They are grown in a warmer climate
than prevails In the great apple iais-
ing sections Of the northern United
States, and it is easy to produce hne
looking apples in warm climate, but
not SO easy to grow apples as fine in
quality and solid In substance as are
grown In our in temperate regions.
Fruit of this kind has lately come to
Springfield from Oregon and Wash
ington, where it was grown under the
damp, warm influence Of the Japanese
ocean current, and splendid appear.
ing fruit 1t is; but the nice, warm
quality of the apple OF the northeast
ern states seems to be lacking and 1t
fails to satisfy the cultivated taste OF
the easterner who still regards the ap-
pie as the superior Of all fruits, even
as against the aggressive claims OF the
orange and the peach which, especial
ly. in the case of the orange, have be-
come so abundantly and cheaply
available In recent years, where be-
fore they we're rare and costly.
But tthose who are fond Of apples
have some questions to ask. Why is
it becoming more and more difficult
to obtain good ones Why is 1t that
the fruit commonly available in our
MAI kets Is defective and scrsggy, I'm
perfect without IL not lumpy within?
Last years yield was large. but
really good fruit has been nearly as
hard to obtain and as costly as dur
ing the lean years of apple produc.
tion. The New York importers Of
Australian apples account for the
present scarcity by saying that good
wages last fall made everybody eat
apples. Nonsense. The fact rather
is that the fruit commonly offered in
market has been Of an appear anoe and
price to repel consumers, and present
scarcity more probably arises from
the large proportion Of defective
fruit, which was left to spoil In gro-
GERS hands or has been turned into
cider. Is the apple running out
through neglect in cultivation Of Or
ohards, or what Is the matterY POSI-
bly, the export trade is more than ever
getting the first pick OF the yearly
American yield, and the home consul
mer has the leavings at export prioes.
But, however this may be, 1t is mat.
ter for consideration whether apple
production In the older American
states Is not deteriorating under the
old method of letting an apple or
chard take care of itself-giving 1t no
more cultivation Oh soil enrichment
than is deemed necessary for shade
traaa marplv