The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-05-03
NORTHWEST Crops
ARE NOT INJURED
Fruit Crop in Fact, Will Be
This Year the Largest
for That Country.
LATE FREEZE NOT FEARED
BUT IF UNEXPECTED SHOULD
HAPPEN, FROST WILL BE
FOUGHT WITH HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS or FIRE POTS.
palladium Specially


palladium Specially
Spokane, WASH, May 3.-Officers OF
the state horticultural associations and
commercial organizations in Washing
ton. Oregon, Idaho and Montana say
In reports to the Spokane chamber of
commerce there is every indication
that the fruit crop this year will be
the largest and most profitable in the
history of the four states. Private
advices from growers in the province
OF British Columbia are that the out
look is good for apples and other
fruits. There ia no danger of a late
freeze. but should the unexpected hap
pen the owners OF commercial tracts
are ready to do battle with hundreds of
thousands of smudge pots or orchard
heaters. 1t Is predicted that higher
prices will prevail as a result of the
heavy damage to the fruit crop in the
middle western states.
+. A. Huntley, state horticultural
commissioner. says that growers in
Washington will produce twice as
much fruit this season as in 1908. the
year Of the record crop. Including
peaches, apricots, cherries, berries and
other soft fruits the yield will be at
least doubled owing to the increased
acreage, he adds, while the apple crop
will show an increase OF about % per
cent. Oregon, Idaho. Montana and
British Columbia will have equally
large yields as the result of increased
acreage and trees coming into bearing
this season.
Practice Dry Farming.
With increased transportation facili.
ties and the steady influx of settlers,
the early attempts in the valleys and
uplands have become more pretentious
sustained and systematic. Dry farm
ing Is practiced extensively and irri-
cation plants have been established by
private individuals and corporations.
also by the United States government,
which IL expanding enormous sums in
retaining the volcanic wastes so won
derfully rich and fertile and so pecu-
liarly adapted to raising fruits un.
blemished and perfect in size and COL
or. More than 100000 acres Of lands
are devoted to orchards in the four
states and pomologists estimate that
the value Of . full crop would un-
doubtedly equal $175.OOO,OOO.
Northwestern apples are in demand
in the eastern. middle western and
southern states and In Europe and Au-
stralia, and the markets are being ex.
tended year by year. American and
foreign experts. who have studied con.
ditions in the northwest. refer to the
Pacific northwest as ''the worlds fruit
basket" adding there has been estab-
lished in q comparatively short time q
domain where the first foot Of soil
properly cultivated, eventually will be
worth more than all the mines from
Alaska to Mexico, and all the forests
from the United States boundary to the
Arctic sea.
Apple substltutss Gold.
As gold was, the strong magnet which
sent the first Americans across the un.
known wastes of this continent to the
California coast In 1910. so today the
apple, the emperor of fruit, Is attract
ing thousands to the western orchard
belts. Millions of dollars have been
invested in apple lands west OF the
Rockies during the last decade and
beautiful orchards of young trees today
mark the spots where but yesterday
was waste of brown, sage-brush-cov.
cred desert.
Romance never played such part in
the world as In the fruit growing dis
tricts of the Northwest today. There
Is the romance of development, of com
merce and OF life that rivals the stories
OF centuries ago, when new empires
were suddenly uncovered by people
who never dreamed Of their existence
Just as the mystery and danger faded
from the far west when once 1t was
discovered" so has that vast stretch
OF territory come into its own.
Reports from nurseries and growers
are that between 1000. 900 and 5000,
C0O one and two year saplings will b.
planted in the four states and prov
inces before the close OF 1910. Thi:
means that more than 10000 acres Of
land will be added to the area alread,
under cultivation, thus giving tota