The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1908-09-02
The Hood River
Apple Orchards
Large Returns From Small
Orchards.

River Apples:
Taking Hood River we lind an agri.
cultural community where the average
orchard Is only 16 acres In area and
where the returns have reached q
mark as high as $500 per acre, while
the average net returns through the
entire valley was not far from $500 per
acre for bearing orchards. Here we
find many men located 10 years ago,
with few hundred dollars, who now
have young orchards that are selling
as high as $1,000 per acre and who
count their wealth from forty to sixty
thousand dollars Any community
that will support family on Is acres
Is indeed interesting. What will be
its future be? That Is an interesting
study for the sociologist, for this re.
gion promises to develop into ideal
agricultural community
From 10 to IL years ago a great
many varieties OF apples we're planted
In Hood River, 10 some cases as many
as SO varieties In single orchard, but
1t was found to be Improbable to
plant an orchard Of so many varieties,
and a large percentage OF the plant.
ings the past few years Is Of Newtown
and Spitzenberg. At the same time
there IL an indication that the market
is swinging back 10 a certain degree,
and the Union the past two seasons
has had call for more varieties. 1t
does not mean that mixed orchards
will ever again be resorted>to, for the
average orchard will contain only two
to four varieties, as is the case today;
but it does mean that more varieties,
other than Newtown and Spitzenberg,
when we'll grown, can command a
good price, and that the orchardist
will grow those commercial varieties
that succeed best in his soil. Thus
10 the upper Valley, we find the Bald.
win coming to be recognized as the
leading variety In that region. The
Newtown will undoubtedly keep the
lead for some time to come; the
Spitzenberg second; while Ben Davis
will undoubtedly fall from third place
we'll down the line, giving place tc
to the Ortley or the Arkansas Black
Both these varieties are considered
to be good pollenizers. Both are very
handsome apples. The former Is q
splendid cooking apple, while the lat.
ter Is the last good "show stand" ap
pie in the spring. Jonathan still ha.
a good following and will probably
hold 9Th place for time at least
Baldwin, because Of its popularity In
the upper valley, will still find place
Unless the remaining varieties are
increased somewhat the next few
years, they will be relatively unim'
portant. The Winter Banana which
has caused such furry, will prob
ably be planted 10 limited quantities
Although very attractive, It lacks il
intrinsic quality and shows indication
Of being poor shipper and keeper
1t takes from five to seven years fol
a variety to exert an influence 10 tn,
market.
Pollinati0n Is a subject of grea,
anterest to Hood River growers
Realizing the Importance of this sub
ject to growers Of the state, we hav,
started a series Of experiments ant
Investigations The problem has 81
many phases to investigate and WI
have so little to obtain from expert
ences OF experiment stations ant
growers, that we are not prepared a
this time to say much on this subject
We hope, however, by another fall t,
be able to have some results that W,
can publish that will be OF interest
All we care to say at the presen
time Is that we consider 1t wise pol
icy to plant several varietits in al
orchard, giving preference to com
mercial varieties having the sam,
blooming period. It's generally con
sidered at this time In Hood Rive
that the Arkansas Black and tn,
Ortley are good ppllenizers for TIN
Spitzenberg, although 1t doubtful J.
accurate experiments have actual.
thio NAT ANr,.. -