The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-02-01
Idaho Fruit the Best

able information the subject of fruit which repre-
sents one of the most important industries in the
state
Mr. Field related in his contribution that he had
been following the reputation of Idaho fruit in the
eastern market visiting Kansas City, Chicago New
York and Washington in pursuit of information
What he learned will be entirely satisfactory to the
fruit growers of this state
In his paper, Mr. Field said:
At this season of the year the only fruit from
Idaho the apple as the season for the pr11ne
our leading fruit, had gone by. 1t is however hard
y necessary to say that is universally acknow-
lodged that the Idaho Italian prune is superior in
keeping quality, appearance and flavor to those
grown in any other section. In the production of
Italian prunes we can claim unchallenged suprem-
acy.
I may safely say that the western box apples have
captured the fancy apple trade of the east In no
case did handler for the fancy trade either whole
saler or retailer, desire anything else if they could
secure the box apples at price at all in comparison
with barrel apples By this [ that buyers,
whether dealers or consumers do not wish to pay
more than three times much per bushel for box
apples as they would for eastern barreled fruit Let
the significance of this remark come home to you-
three times as much for western apples for east
ern. There must be a reason for this. The rea-
son is not hard to find In Idaho, in properly
cared for orchard, the grower should be able to
pack three-fourths of the crop in the fancy grade
In the east while it is possible to produce
apples as fine as ours, it IS not possible to produce
fore, is is probably economical for the eastern
grower to follow the present methods of packing.
While with us, we should grade very closely and
pack uniform apples in each box with proper dis
tinguishing marks upon the package, that the con-
sumner may always be able to depend absolutely upon
every box being as represented.
Among western apples found Idaho apples rank
ing with those from any other state and in equal
demand at equal prices Fancy Idaho apples
only exceled in price obtained by the Spitzenburg
from Oregon TO the Oregon Sptzenburg we shall
To r6 The I'm Of heinz The bjohec
apple in the markets. speaking generally and not of
a few particular boxes.
visited the largest cold storage house in New
York IN company with one OF the large dealers of
that city, and there apples of all var1tieS from
all sections of the west and [ can unhestatingy say
that Idaho fruit was the peer of and superior to
the major portion.
While l found many varities in the market, only
few really desired and I had again thoroughly
impressed upon. my mind the necessity of growing
only those kinds which particularly desirable
1ere The Jonathan Grimes Golden, Rome Beauty
and Winesap the only Idaho varieties whose
equation is established, and other varieties only
20 under Sufferance.
The apple industry in the states of Idaho, Oregon
md Washington is growing Mr.. Field be-
ieves that the production will be increased ten fold
within the next decade. In view of the large future
upply he urges the cultivation of the best varieties
# apples, contending that the market will never be
with the fancy grades that are now IN
reat demand, while the less desirable varieties must
ecessarily, in time be crowded out sold for low
rices
The same care that is bestowed on inferior trees
ill, create orchards of superior trees and the advant
ge to be gained by growing only the best is at once
on the market. Surrounding fruit grow
lg states are giving close attention to grade and
uality and Idaho, yet rather new in the industry,
ill find it to its advantage to start right and keep
ght
I'M he
relation to other kinds of fruit, for Idaho is not
,,Grad the ofa annie growing IT excels