The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1908-08-20
Mis- )URI HERE
| ] TO Be SHOWN
SENDS PIE men TO LEARN OF Us
Representatives Say Organization and
Cooperation will Follow IDspec-
tiOn of Orchards and Systems

1
Recent events in the,apple world in
dicste that eastern growers are awsk-
ening to the tact that they must put
forth greater effort to maintain a
foothold in the big markets. and that
they also realize they must market
fruit of greater competitive value
than they have heretofore. There is
moIe agitation this year In the apple
growing sections Of the middle west,
southwest and eastern states for better
grading, better packing and better all
around quality than ever before.
Eastern apple men are studying north
west methods of growing and market
ing fruit closely. This is particularly
so In Missouri, one OF the greatest ap-
pie raising states. There is no ques
tion that fruit growing is carried en-
there In far less scientific manner
than 1t is on the coast, but 1t Ia also
very evident that many horticultur.
lists and growers there are making a
united effort to raise the standard of
market value.
In this connection the following
will prove interesting to orchardmen
Official representatives of the horti-
cultural interests of Missouri are be-
ing "shown" this week the results OF
systematic and organized CO. opera
tion among the fruiterowers of Ore
gon, says the OIegonian. The visitors
are William p. Stark, of Louisiana,
Mo-, president of the Missouri State
Board of Horticulture. and James M.
Irvine, OF st. Joseph, Mo-, editor Of
the Fruit Grower, a publication devot-
ed to horticultural interests. They
have visited La Grande, Hood River
and The Dallss, and have planned
trip through the Willamette valley
fruitgrowing districts the latter part
of the week. Returning home they
will spend few days In Washington
and Idaho.
"The people of Missouri have learn
cd to look to Oregon sfor intelligent
information pertaining to horticult-
ure," said MIR. Stark ut the Portland
recently.
"The Missouri State BOARD Of Hor-
ticulture consists of six members and
a secretary. OF the seven. four shall
have visited the fruitgrowing sections
of your state before the fruit season
closes this year. Our secretary, W.
l.. Howard, already bas visited the
state and studied horticultural condi-
tions. Mr.. Irvine, who accompanies
me, while not member of the board,
is closely identified with the fruit in
terests OF our state. During the pick
ing season Z. II. Todd, treasurer of
the board, and j. Ii. Christian, vice.
president, will spend some time In
Oregon. Mr. Todd is an extensive
applegrower and comes to study the
methods employed by growers In Ore.
Ron with such successful results. Mr..
Christian is one of the largest fruit
shippers In Missouri and will devote
his time to studying the methods tol-
lowed by the various associations Of
the fruitgrower here.
"Undeniably Oregon Is one Of the
greatest fruit sections In the country.
Our state is interested particularly In
the growing of apples and from the
investigation we have made, coupled
with our prior knowledge of the quail
ity of this fruit produced in Oregon,
we are convinced that your state Ia
entitled to the fame II enjoys as a
truitgr owing distI ict.
"Horticulturally, Oregon has a
great many advantages over Missouri.
In the first place both climate and
soil are adapted to fruit culture and
you do not have to contend with the
unfavorable weather conditions and
numerous pests with which our state
is infested. You have practically no
apple scab, while our crop this year
is seriously affected with this blight.
Again, you have compulsory spiay-
ing law. In our state ii is optional
with the grower whether he takes this
precsution to insure good fruit.
"YouI growers are organized and
derive the benefits from systematic
methods adopted in growing the fruit,
packing, shipping and marketing the
product. The Oregon orchardist also
devotes his time and attention exolu
sively to fruitgr owing, while in Mis-
souri, fruit culture is followed only as
side issue. Lack OF organization
and co operation among the growers
completes the explanation for the po-
sition our state occupies hoiticultur-
ally.
missouri Ia long In trees but short
in fruit. There are In the state 20,-
600, 900 apple trees, probably moro
than in any other state, yet for the
reasons given, the crop will be light.
The mem bers of our bosid are making
thorough study of horticultural con-
ditions, the methods followed In grow.
ing, packing. shipping and marketing
In the states Of Oregon, Washington
and Idaho. This information will be
arranged in proper form and submit
ted for the education of Missouri or
chardists in the hope that the stsnd-
ard of our fruit may be raised.
w Kinu left Tuesday for a Wait