The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1911-11-29
United States Consul Points Out
Fatal Error Made by WASH
ington Horticulturists
INDISTRIMINATE SHIPMENTS
DEMORALIZING EFFECT
Federal Government Official Re-
ports to His Department Show
ing Where Fruit Growers Have
Made a Monumental Mistake

Good advice for the Washington,
and particularly the Yakima valley
apple producer is offered by United
States Consul Albert w. Swain. who
is at Southampton in England. Ac-
cording to what he reports the grow
ers of this state have begun to de-
stroy their own foreign Market and
the story is best told in his own words
as reported to the bureau of manu-
features of the department of COM
merce and labor of The federal gov
eminent. He says:
Imports of apples in cases at
Southampton have greatly increased
in the past two years, growth to
which the orchardists of the state of
Washington have contributed largely.
Oregon wrapped and selected case
apples have been on the English mar
ket for years and have won an envi-
sble place. The Washington fruit has
closed its third season with the quail
fly all that could be desired and the
packing excellent.
Market Is Demoralized
'The financial results of the second
year of this fruit in the Southampton
market led a number of Washington
growers to do their own shipping and
consigning, with a view to direct trad
ing. The demoralizing effect of these
indiscriminate shipments can best be
shown by concrete examples The
seasons first consignment of choice
Washington Jonathans sold quickly at
SO per case at quayside. with a de-
mand booked that would have taken
the entire Jonathan crop from that
state: but between the arrival at
Southampton of the first and second
consignments one of 5000 cases of
extra fancy Jonathans was sent to
Covent Garden, in London, and sold
at auction at $3.50 to 50 per case.
thus naturally demoralizing the local
market The result was that instead
of a well-regulated sale of that apple
at good prices throughout the season.
the early buyers found themselves in
competition with dealers whose fruit
had cost them much less.
A Clear Illustration
"a consignment of Spitzenbergs
Helleu IT'S w iSiliilS tUii SIOWeI o. % {,
soon afterwards the same variety was
auctioned off at Covent Garden at SO
per case, netting the grower of the
shipment about 81. Another species
was sold at Southampton at $3.50 net,
but Covent Garden auctioned a con-
signment of the same kind of apples
at $3.50 and less. freight and commits
sion to be deducted.
"a somewhat different result was
obtained by the Washington apple
known in Southampton as the Winter
Banana Control of this variety fell
into the hands of one man. who ju-
diciously fed the consignment to the
market at constantly advancing pric-
es. the actual sales in lots beign at 81
to Sc net to the producer.
Market Is Worth Cherishing
'sEngland's purchases of apples
from the west are of vast Importance
to the American orchardist. If the
grower Is rightly advised and follows
a good business policy, he can be sure
of profitable returns in the Southamp-
of his shipments. never allowing the
Covent Garden auction to make him d
victim. The producer has an I'M
questioned right to protect himself in
the line of fair profit. To secure this
protection he must regulate his ship
ments to avoid Cutting an otherwise
profitable market"