The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1907-08-08
The 1907 APPLE CrOp.


last issue Of the Chicago Packer, in
dicate that with favorable conditions
fIom this on there will not be the ap.
pie famine for the coming winter sea-
son that has teen so generally talked.
The present outlook is for bumper
crop In New York, state all Of New
England, Canada, Washington state,
Arkansas, and an excellent crop In
Oregon, California and Idaho. The
promise tor New York, New England,
Washington and Canada is far above
the average fer the last ten years, and
away above last years crop prospects
at this time.
In the states lying east of the Mis-
sissippi river and west of Pennsyl.
Sania in the Mississippi and Ohio val
leys the outlook lie not particularly
tlattering, but there is lots of fruit
ranging from fancy stock to indiffer.
ent quality. In this entire section ie-
tered to the home crop will go long
way towards taking care of the do.
nestle trade with some to ship.
Michigan promises an average crop,
and there will be considerable fruit In
Iowa.
The states of Missouri and Kansas
Jared worst OF all Ghis year and In
both instances fruit grown outside
will have to supply most OF the de-
mand.
Summing the situation up from the
standpoint of all North America, the
crop may fall short OF that of last
year as much as thirty per cent, but
it is more likely that 1t will not ex-
ceed shortage beyond twenty FIVE
per cent.
Reports during the last month have
been flying thick and fast, practically
to the effect that this year is going to
see famine In apples. These reports
have had tendency to cause opera
tors to go wild and some prices, al
most fabulous in their nature for
truit in the orchards, are reported TO
have been made.
OF course, no one doubts that ap
pies this year will be higher than last.
On the other hand the operat or
should he fairly eonsel vative and
should take into consideration all the
elements that contribute to make q
market. For example last season, on
account of the very low prices that
prevailed at the gathering time hun
dreds of thousands of bushels In some
sections we're either not picked from
the trees or we're not taken care Of In
cold storage but we're put away In an
Indifferent fashion and allowed to ret.
There is no indication that this thing
will occur in connection with the 1907
crop. The fruit will all be saved.
Another thing that should not be
lost sight of Ia that there Is limit
beyond which driers will not go in
purchasing apples to make evaporated
fruit. If it 1, too high they will sim
ply evaporate from hand to mouth
basis. Then there 10 the export ele
ment In the deal and high prices will
undoubtedly materially ourtail that
branch of the business. Last year we
exported from the United States l,
655, 452 barrels and 741,637 barrels
went to European points from Canad-
ian territory. High prices will also cut
down home consumption.
Some unconfirmed reports indicate
that as high az 50 has been paid for
the run of orchards In York state,
which means, probably, that when
properly sorted the number l or fan
cy fruit will stand the purchasers
from "a to S. barrel. Such prices
are RISKY If not exceedingly danger
| GUS
A reasonable amount of apples will
go into consumption at almost any
price, no matter how high, but the
higher the price the more likely is the
consumer to turn to the fruits like
oranges. bananas, etc.
The Packer does not favor bearing
the market but excessively high prices
are likely to prove disastrous this
year both 10 great majority of the
growers and especially to apple oper
ators.
Fruit that costs Si barreled and or
top of that has to stand the storag,
charge is, to say the least, we'll pait
for almost any season, and 1t is likel!
to prove questionable investment a
that or even at much lower figur,
this season. There is more danger II
starting apples too high than too loV
this year.