The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1908-08-06

River districts is from 100 to 1000
feet, the average elevation being S7s
feet.
Aspect. Taking the whole valley
into consideration, the gIesLer part
has an east or west slope. by far the
greater number of the places hate
slope enough for good drainage, and
are located with good exposure as to
light and air drainage.
Kinds of Fruit. The leading kind
OF fiuit grown 10 this district is ap-
piles, of which the Yellow Newtown
and Esopus Spitzen berg are the lead
ing varieties. For detailed account
of the numbers and varieties see table
No. l. Peaches, pears and cherries
are becoming quite popular, but are
grown in very small quantities as
compared with the acreage of straw
berries and apples. Apples hold first
place In point of area and strawher-
ries come second, while the other
kinds are grown in considerably less
areas.
From ten to twelve years ago great
many varieties of apples were planted
In Hood River, in some cases as many
as ftfty varieties in single orchard,
but 1t was found to be Improbable to
plant an orchard of so many varieties.
aud large PERCENTAGE of the plant
ings the past few years is Of Newtown
and SpitZen bergs. at the same time
there is an indication that the market
is swinging back to a certain degree,
and the Union the past two seasons
has had call for more varieties. Ii
does not mean that mixed orchards
will ever again Ee resorted to, for the
average orchard will contain only two
to four varieties, as is the case today |;
other than Newtown and SIitzenbeTg,
when we'll grown, can command a
good price, aud that the orchardist
will grow those commercial varieties
that succeed best in his soil Thus,
in the Upper Valley, we find the Bald
win coming to be recognized as the
leading variety In that region. In ia
BILE l 1t can be seen that the probable
order of popularity of varieties will
change somewhat. The Newtown will
undoubtedly keep the lead for some
time to come ;the Spitzen berg second /;
while Ben Davis will undoubtedly fall
from third place we'll down the line,
giving place to the Ortley or the Ar
kansas Black. Both these varieties
are considered to be good pollenizers.
Both are very handsome apples. The
former is a splendid cooking apple,
while the latter is the last good "show
stand" apple in the spring. Jonathan
still has good following and will
probably hold fifth place for time at
least. Baldwin, because Of its popu-
larity in the Upper Valley, will still
find place. Unless the remaining
varieties are increased somewhat the
next few years, they will be relatively
unimportant. The Winter Banana,
which has caused such furry, will
probably be planted In limited guam
titles. Although very attractive, 1t
lacks in intrinsic quality and shows
Indications of being poor shipper
and keeper. 1t takes from five to
seven years for variety to exert an
influence in the market. A glance at
table will show that the past two sea.
sons In Hood River have indicated a
strong tendency to plant more varie-
ties. Several varieties that were Plant
ed from six to eight years ago again
found place, their appearance being
accounted for, In some cases, by the
fact that the growers believe them to
Ee good pollenizers. There are still a
good many trees planted in mixed Or
chards, although the percentage of
such Is on the decrease.
Total number of apple trees In Hood