Los Angeles herald., 1909-11-14
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liza MEA kane, where the National
Isl &gN Apple show opens today
III &El and in Council Bluffs,
A1NxEz where the National Horti-
cultural congress is begin
ming It's annual session. The apple Is
the most important of all American
fruits and among horticulturists is
hailed as king. The show at Spokane
is an annual affair Which exploits the
apples of the great northwest, which is
rapidly coming to the front as an APP
ple-producing section. The Council
Bluffs congress Is more national In It's
scope, and includes the representatives
of fruit-growers interested In other
crops that apples. The fruit growing
industry is perhaps the most highly
organized of rural activities. There are
dozen national organizations of fruit.
growers. The citrus fruit growers Of
California probably have the most COM
pact and effective organization exist
ing in agricultural circles in the world.
The horticulturists Of the country
face some very serious problems,
which will be discussed at the Council
Bluffs meeting. Statistics complied by
apple trade authorities show that, de-
spite increased demands and good
prices, the apple crop of the United
States is decreasing. In 1895 and 1895
the annual crop was about 6O,OOOOOO
barrels. In 1906 1t was less than 40,-
600, 900 barrels and in 1907 and 1908
the total crop fell below SO,0OO,0OO par
rels. This falling off was due In large
measure to unfavorable weather condl-
tions which in Missouri, the largest
apple growing state in the Union, re-
suited in almost a complete crop fall
ure.
1t is impossible to change the wealth
er by human effort, but 1t Is possible
to take precautions against frost ana
thus to save the apple crops. one or.
chardst in Missouri In the spring OF
this year spent $4,000 for crude Oil TO
keep fires alight in his S40-acre or
chard for several cold nights. His
neighbors laughed at his folly. He
| sold his crop In the orchard for $64,-
900. His neighbors didn't have any
! apples this year. 1t is all question
! of protecting the buds from possi-
BILE late frost. The question of the
! success or failure of an apple crop Is
often the question of one night. Heat
! ing in orchards is accomplished py
means of large lamps, resembling scut-
! ties. in which crude petroleum Is
! burned with wick. They give forth
heat md send up enough smoke to lie
as a protecting blanket over the Or
| chard.
One orchardist had eighty acres OF
| apple trees. He equipped 1t with 4OVO
heating pots and bought $4,000 gallons
! of fuel. The actual cost of the oil
used and of a tenth part of the cost
| of pots (thelr life is ten years. was
only 1875. To this was added the ex-
pense of seven nights firing. If II had
| not been for this heat the apples
would have been completely killed, as
was the case in neighboring orchards.
| with the firing the frost was driven
off and the crop amounted to 4O'OOO
| cases of apples which sold for more
than $4,000. The finland empire" of
| Washington and Idaho, whose crops
| are on exhibition in Spokane, has been
| proved to possess q more favorable
| climate for apple growing than other
sections which produce fine fruit. II Is
probable that The next census VIII
show the extreme northwest to be at
the head OF the apple producing sec
tions.
Another factor In producing the de-
cline in the yield of eastern and CEN
| trail orchards is the scourge of insect
pests and plant diseases. Intelligent
efforts are being made to combat these
enemies of King Apple, and almost
every state government has joined
hands with the federal department. of
agriculture In the war on san Jose
scale and other enemies of fruit trees.
The west does not suffer so greatly
as the older sections OF the country
for several reasons. One Is that the
new countries are not so thoroughly
infected, and another is that 1t is
easier to secure the hearty co-opera-
tion of all fruit growers in a new
country.
Fruit growers pay much attention
to the problem of marketing their pro-
duct Orchardists have established
selling agencies of their own control
to obviate the economic loss of the
commission merchants profit. From
the tree to the table" is the motto of
such organizations, and some Of them
have been remarkably successful.
Many American apples are exported
to Europe, especially to England and
| Germany. Export apples are very care
fully handled. The exporters do not
| risk the skill OF the orchardists, as a
rule, but buy the crops on the trees
and send their own carefully trained
corps of pluckers and packers into the
orchards to take care of the crop.
Progressive fruit growers add to the
keeping qualities of their fruit by pre-
cooling it before loading 1t into re-
frigerator cars. This is accomplished
in small cold storage plants In the