The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1910-02-03
Sunday Oregonian)

One OF the most interesting ad
dresses delivered before the Portland
Apple Growers Assoc iation was given
last night by A. |. Mason, a promi.
nent Hocd River orchardist in the
Young Mems Christian Association
auditorium. The subject was "Tbe
Apple From Start to Finish" the
speaker giving the large audience
production from the practical stand
point.
Perhaps the most interesting part
Of MIR. Mason's address was that
In which be gave exact figures on the
proceeds from an Oregon apple
orchard. In his Hood River orchard
he has just two varieties, Newtown
Pippin and Spitzenber In 1906 his
receipts from the Spitzen bergs we're
1886 an acre and from the Newtowns,
$3.50 an acre, making an average of
about $500 an acre. This was the
only year, he said, in which the
Sp'tzenbergs brought larger returns
than the other variety, lu 1907 the
average returns we're $3.50 an acre, in
1908 1900 an acre; and in 1909, $50
an acre. This year his trees are IL
years old, and better prospect was
never in sight.
"Those figures are exact and not
colored in any particular" said Mr..
Mason. at will be seen that my
orchard has brought me In gross
receipts of $700 an acre as an average
for FIVE years. Ali expenses OF main
tenance amounted to about $500 an
acre, leaving a net profit of $500 an
hers.
"This, of course, is paying 10
per cent on valuation OF $1,000 an
acre. Ii looks big, but 1t is nothing
III ore than any young man who gets
hold OF good piece OF Oregon
apple land can do, II you will
only select the right land, plant the
best varieties and give them proper
attention.
"You will notics that my orchard
brought In unly $50 an acre last
year. This, believe, was beoRuse
the crop was so heavy the year before.
The extraoIdina cold snap OF last
winter also contributed to 1t. But
want to say right now that this year
of the best that Hood River has ever
experienced. believe confidently
that my orhard will again bling In
at least $1,000 an acre.
lin raising apples it must be borne
In mind that 1t takes time before the
trees begin to pay. You will get a
small crop In five years, and better
yield each subsequent year. But all
that time you will have been paying
out with nothing coming in. 1t will
take the crops of the seventh and
eight years to bring you out even.
Then you are In clover. It's all
velvet after that.
at Ia just the life for man to
get into Why, when was a mail
carrier in Portland, didn't dare to
say my soul was my own for teal some
one would tell the postal authorities.
Nwo IN free. can even talk In the
assembly, / t want to. 10 any man
who wants to lead healthfui, indie.
pendent life, can recommend fruit
raising.
"But man ought to make busi-
ness of It, or have some one whom
he can depend ION to take care of his
trees. He ought TO make a study of
apples An orchard will not run
itself any more than Portland mer.
chant can 20 to New York to live and
say to bis CLERKS, 'GO ahead boys,
run the store.
MIR. Mason advocated planting not
more than three varieties in one
orchard, and said two are better, If
the right two are selected. He also
declared that in Oregon he does not
consider the slope OF the ground as
maxim a great deal OF difference,
Just so tire soil Ia of the right quality.
he advocated pruning from July 10
to the end Of that month and said he
begins thinning Gust ss soon as he
can Hud the apples, sometimes before
the blossoms are all Oft the trees.
Ibis. he said, conflicts with the
method used by many other growers,
who wait until the apples are as big
as walnuts.
"lt's logical that we ought to thin
the apples at the earliest possible
moment" he concluded. 1.-The
strength that would be necessary to
develop the ones picked off Is then
directed to the fruit remaining on
the tree