The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1911-05-11

apples he did not want large apples
but he wanted small apples. for the
reasons already explained. Under
normal conditions, crops of apples
averaged rs per cent four-tier and 25
per cent A tier. That the reverse of
this normal Condition was true this
year was evidenced from the fact that
| the Hood River Apple Growers Union
marketed l04, 900 boxes of Spitzen-
bergs with only 1000 boxes being
smaller than four tier In other words,
it had only four per cent of small
apples instead of the normal quantity
of 25 per cent. In view of all these
facts, it seems that we are justified in
considering the results obtained this
year as being phenomenal and in addi-
ton, ! cannot help but feel firmly con-
vinced that this years experience and
splendid results indicate future sta
bility for the fruit industry which
means much to the Northwest.
Another important factor affecting
conditions this year in Hood River is
the fact that in previous years the
crop was just about large enough to
supply New York City alone, and con-
sequently other markets were not
sought. However, this years crop
was greater than the New York mar
ket could be expected to consume at
satisfactory prices and under the
present system of reaching the con-
sumer in New York City. Plans are
already being discussed by those we'll
informed in the business, for the pur-
pose of increasing the sale and con-
sumption of Northwestern apples in
New York City, which certainly seem
feasible, and by those who are we'll in
formed it is believed that the CON
sumption of the Northwest apple in
New York City can be increased in the
near future to many times the present
volume. At the beginning of this sea
son, the Hood River Apple Growers
Union practically had no connections
outside of the New York market, yet
it had Il crop that was practically
three to four times greater than the
average quantity that is ordinarily
bought by the New York trade. The
result that has been achieved is graft
flying beyond expression to those who
are thoroughly familiar with condi-
keted from Hood River was three
times as great as in any previous year
and twice as large as the estimates
furnished by the growers. knowledge
of the increased crop of 1910 was not
obtained until the harvesting season
was nearly half over. Nevertheless,
the Hood River Apple Growers Union,
through correspondence and kilograms,
without any sales department or com
mercial representatives, succeeded in
a few weeks, in establishing connec-
tions, creating a demand, and selling
to q states, 70 cities and 81 different
buyers.
Yet we realize that as yet we know
little about the marketing problem,
but we believe we are on the road to
success. How little we know about
the fruit industry is eXemplitied by the
fact that for eight years nearly every
apple dealer in the United States has
persistently informed US that America
would not buy or consume the Yellow
Newtown Pippin, and the further
statement that England was our only
market for that variety. Notwith-
standing this united opinion on the
part of the fruit trade, the fact re-
mains that the Hood River Apple
Growers Union during March sold
more than lO,O boxes of choice New
towns, which are second grade, at
81. so box, net f. o. b. Hood River, to
be shipped to different cities in the
United States. And, by the way, this
price is higher than the English mar
lpl haun
towns during the entire season up to
April |.
1t is also said that Pajaro Valley,
California, which raised some 1900 cars
Of Newtowns, disposed of more than
one half of this crop to be consumed in
the United States, whereas in previous
years their Newtown. crop was shipped
almost exclusively to England. All of
which goes to prove and demonstrate
beyond any reasonable doubt that in
future years the United States will be
large consumers of the Newt6wn
Pippin, and that the Northwest will
not have to depend exclusively on the
English market for the sale of its
Newtowns in the future as it has in
the past.
There is another side to this over
production holler. The pessimist seems
to take great satisfaction in referring
to the extensive planting going on in
the Northwest and throughout the
United States in general. 1t is a we'll
known fact that only 10 per cent to 20
per cent of the orchards which are set
ever make commercial orchards. The
reason is clear to the men who know
something about the orchard business.
Most people are not aware of the fact
that extensive planting began in the
year 1882 and has continued for 2S
years. 1t is not everybody who knows