The Daily Missoulian., 1909-06-22
WILL IMPROVE PACK
OF APPLES
GENERAL MANAGER KIRBY OF
BITTER ROOT ASSOCIATION
TALKS OF CONDITIONS.

| w. II Kirby, general manager of the
| Bitter Root Fruit Growers association,
| was in the city yesterday in connec-
| ton with the conduct of his business.
| Mr. Kirby gave OUT several facts
| which he considers important for the
| fruit growers of the valley to know. He
| says that the men of the Hood River,
| Wcnatcllee and Yakima associations
| have adopted a uniform standard of
packing, which is recognized by deal
ers all over the east, so that
the northwest apples are easily rec
ognizable from their appearance.
"Packs." ~
Within the last three years there
have been several methods of packing,
| or ''paclls,' as they are known in
fruit growing parlancc. The two i'm
portant ones are the diamond and the
straight pack, with a combination of
both, There will soon be u meeting
of the managers of the northwest as
sociations, to be held in some city of
this section of the country, and at this
meeting a standard pack and method
Of grading win be adopted.
Increase Price.
The values received for the apples
in the Bitter Root valley We're lower
than those obtained in the other we'll
known fruit-growing districts, such as
the Hood River country, the Wenat
chee and the Yakima countries, due
mainly to the poor methods of grad
ing and packing. But this year all
n u IA,
meeting Of the managers is very likely
to form and establish q uniform
method Another trouble with the
growers of the valley was the poor
market. The purpose of the associa-
tiohs is to establish the proper grade
and pack, and to look after the proper
marketing places. The advantages Of
such associations has been proven. In
many places, before the establishment
of the organizations, the growers re-
ceived from 20 to SO cents less per
box for their apples, and We're aston
ished at the quick results obtained
afterNorganizing.
These associations aim to assist the
members of the organizations, as we'll
as outside growers, and the efforts Of
the managers are devoted to that end.
The Bitter Root Fruit Growers asso-
citation has about 300 members, COM
prising most of the growers in the
valley, and has accomplished splendid
results, although not as we'll as viii
be the case la the future.
Valley Fruits. ...5
In speaking of the varieties adapted
to the Bitter Root valley, Mr. Kirby
says that it is a hard matter to dis
cuss, Some of the varieties, the Nc
lntosh Red,9 for instance, thrive bet
ter in the valley than they do in the
Wenatchee country, and others, such
as the Winesap, are inferior to those
of Washington and Oregon. When
asked which was the better of the two
sections, from a fruit-groWing stand
point, Mr. Kirby saids THE Bitter
Root is as good a fruit rgrowing Sec
ton as there is in the northwest for
the varieties adapted to local condi-
tions." One of the best growers in
the Bitter Root is the Mcintosh Red,
of which there are none better in the
| northwest, He says: The Bitter
Root can really, as it is said, be called
the nome OF the Mcintosh Red"
Market Conditions.
The conditions for marketing the
Bitter Root products will be improved
this year. In the first place there will
be an ironclad clause in all sales that
all fruit will be sold I. o. b., to be
paid for before shipment. Another
matter that is important is the fact
that the eastern buyers, who formerly
sent inspectors to the northwest to look
over all shipments, now rely solely on
| the local work of that kind, as the
members of the associations, through
| the managers, look after each lot
| placed on the cars and see that it is
| OF the best both in grade and pack;
the classes will not be mixed and there
VIII be no favoritism or partiality
Mr. Kirby viii remain in Missoula. a.
| day or two and will then return to his
neufIull1rtprs in