The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1909-08-01
clip from the Fruit Trade Journal as
follows.
e Seeking Western Apples
jacksonville, Cal, July

what reports are made of additional
apple crop purchases in various Sec
tons of the valley by different Aus
trian packing house firms. Never be-
fore in the history of the valley, this
early in the season, has such a large
percentage of the apple crop been
purchased in advance by packing
houses and on an average at such sat
isfactory prices to sellers. Right now
it is conservatively estimated that
close to 70 per cent of the 19O9-10
Pajaro valley apple crop has been pur
chased and either paid for outright or
payment guaranteed. The prices paid
this year for orchards are in excess
of year ago.
although many keen local observ-
ers of apple crop conditions in the
United States are positive that this
years total apple crop will be in ex-
cess of that of last year, others are
predicting a big shortage. The OBJ
jectionable feature to many such pre-
dictions is that they are generally
based upon information received from
parties who are either interested in
quilting" or bearing" the market
prices The bulls and bears in this
game operate mainly from Liverpool,
New York, Kansas City, Denver and
Chicago.
"The 'Pajaronian' is inclined to the
belief that the figures furnished for
the country's apple crop by the u. S.
Agricultural Department will be
found correct in the long run and for
this year it is five points less than last
year and ten points below the average
production for the last ten years.
1 could make further clippings from
the Fruit Trade Journal of July 10,
from which the above clippings have
been made, showing a shortage of the
apple crop in Massachusetts and
serious damage to the apple crop in
parts of New York by drouth, but I
will not further burden our columns
from this source. I may say in pass
ing that the paper is one of the re-
liable journals, but is conducted large
ly in the interest of the dealers as it's
name implies.
wish now to make quite a liberal
quotation from the Fruit Grower of
st. Joseph, Mo. In my judgment, no
other paper in the country takes so
much pains to get the conditions of
the fruit crops from all parts of the
United States and Canada as this jour-
nal. 1t is .eminently fair in it's treat
ment of this subject. I cannot find
space to give it's reports from the
field, but the summing up by the edi-
tor I shall give in full and give it my
unqualified endorsement:
prospects For Fruit Crops
"Since the June reports were re-
ceived by The Fruit-Grower there have
been important changes in the condi-
ton of fruit crops throughout the
country. The apple crop has gener-
ally deteriorated, and now promises
lighter YIELD taking the country as a
whole, than the crop of year ago.
The United States governments esti-
mate for June gave the condition of
the crop little below last years con-
dition at this time, and we believe the
governments report is nearer correct
than for long time.
"Throughout the Middle West, even
where the fruit is set, the drop has
been very heavy and apple scab is
quite bad in many sections, on account
of hot, muggy weather Unsprayed
orchards, especially, have suffered
from this disease. In the Eastern
states the weather has been hot and
dry, and this condition has not i'm
proved fruit prospects.
Colorado has perhaps the largest
apple crop in it's history. In nearly
every fruit district in that state the
trees are full and severe thinning will
be practised. Grand Junction saved
it's crop by using the orchard heaters,
and it is evident that the reward of
the growers will be very great.