The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1911-07-13
EXPRESSES HOPE
in NEW ENGLAND

orchard districts Of Oregon will not be
Jealous of a movement now under way
in New England to revive interest IN
apple culture in that locality. Rather
it will be a source Of pride TO know
that the New Englanders have to come
West to learn methods that are sue
cessful in producing and marketing
high grade fruit, says the Portland
Oregonian. The peculiar climatic con-
ditons in Oregon will always result IN
the growing of produet Of different
type from that grown IN New England
and maintain the Oregon apple as the
highest standard IN the worlds mar
k5ts.
Fasteners who have visited Hood
River have absorbed some of the en-
thusiasm OF that district. and this
coupled with their own local enthusi-
asm probably accounts for the glowing
promises held out 10 New England or
chardists If they will but adopt Oregon
methods. At a recent apple show IN
Bostoi j. Lewis Ellsworth, secretary
of the Massachusetts state board of
agriculture asserted according to the
Boston Herald, that New England
presents better opportunities for apple
growing than does Hood River because
land is cheaper in New England. Mr..
Ellsworth loses sight of the fact that
the price of Oregon apple lands is
ruled by proved returns. Fifty-doliar
land will not be available long In New
England If it is ever demonstrated
that that district will produce apples
even approaching in flavor and color
ing those of Hood River But here is
what Mr.. Ellwsorh says:
Last summer ! went out to Hood
River valley, Oregon, as a delegate
TO the American association of far
mers' institute workers. 1t is land
where they think apples, eat apples,
sleep apples and dream apples. They
ship their fruit 5000 miles across the
continent. The uit that you find on
the Boston and New York apple stands
come from the far West. Oregon even
send its apples to Europe, where the
demand for them is growing greater
every year. But this great industry
has been built up by New England
men, New England hustle and New
England money. We are trying to get
the New England money to get busy
in New England.
"But we must follow the methods of
the West, - Secretary Ellsworth con-
tinued with emphasis. ''The resources
Of New England are fully as good as
those of the model apple country. |
What we need is scientific orchardry. |
"Here and there in Massachusetts
have found apple men handling their
crops along scientific lines, and reap
ing the reward of their industry. On
the other hand, greater part OF the |
apples produced in Massachusetts, were
handled still along the old lines. The |
result was that a great bulk of our
apples were put on the market in a |
condition to repel purchasers. For one
thing, we must pack our apples with
great care. In the Hood River valley |
of Oregon fully 80 per cent of the
apple men send theirs to fruit asso-
ciatio that has entire charge of the
packing and shipping. All of the
packing is done by experts. DO you
wonder that they are able to complete
with the less scientific Eastern indus
try? On the other hand, after my
in the West, reached the
conclusion that New England on the
whole presents better opportunities. |
One reason is that land is cheaper |
here. found that in Hood River
valley raw land is held at $50 to $500 |
an acre. Land with apple trees five |
and six years old will bring $1,000 to
$4,000 an acre. | was shown one farm
Of 10 acres for which they wanted
$50, 600. Moreover, this land is either |
without buildings, or provided with |
of very little value.
''Now take look at New England.
There are many thousands of acres to
be bought with good, comfortable
buildings upon them, at $50 or less an
acre. Then why do the Western apples
oursmarkes you ask? Well,
the reason is this: II may be hard tor |
our New England pride to look the
facts in the face, but better have done |
with it and find remedy. The west |
ern apple growers have been able to |
send their fruit 5000 miles at the aver
age cost of $i.25 box, and drive our
farmers out of the trade simply be- |
cause they have been business men,
hustlers, scientific workers, and, above
ALL honest with their customers. Do
you know there are men in Hood River |
valley who literally think apples. eat
apples, sleep apples and dream apples2
In other words, their entire time and |
attention is centered in apple raising. |
Yet am convinced that we scan win
back our best markets by the quality |
of our fruit. Ii is has been said that |
because of their sunshiny days the
West can produce a better appearing
apple, but after this exhibition am
not so sure of it, Look at the Bald
win apples that are out there on ex-
hibition. Better than that, taste
them.
Not at all Respondent is Secretary
Ellsworth over the conditions in New
England. We are not going to the
dogs. Far from il. Massachusetts
apple men are beginning to show an
air of prosperity. More than that
their many accounts are increasing
visibly. MIR Ellsworth continued.
"A new wave of interest has swept
over the state in the last year. The
New England farmer used TO think
that his apple crop was gift from
heaven. Now he gets to work ON
spraying his trees and fertiilizng his
ihnu. Moit spraying hdS bSVil uolt
this year than ever before, and the
result has been that the crop has been
more valuable than many large crops
harvested in previous years. A few
days ago visited the farms of Bos-
ton man. located in Hopkinton. Be-
fore their present owner took possess
sion the farms showed evidence of ne
gleet. They were the typical ahan-
doned New England farms. On them
we're several hundred apple trees from
20 to 30 years old Because they had
been neglected, they had never shown
a.creditable crop Of fruit.
This man decided TO get money out
of these apple trees and he procured
expert advice and assistance. He be-
gan a course of fertilizing, pruning
and spraying, which resulted this year
in crop of splendid fruit. He has
marketed part Of the crop and he
estimates that he will secure at least
1000 barrels. So far prices have aver