The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1911-08-16
FRUIT TREE
STATISTICS
Manager J. II. Robbins Gives Idea
of Number and Value at
$35,OoO,oOo

a broader idea of the value Of tho
truit trees in the Yakima valley was
oo'alned Friday by conversation
with j, II. Robbins. general manager
| or the Yakima Valley Fruit Growers
association BY Yakima valley il
meant all the fruit grovinS country
IN the eastern part of kittitas coun-
~, and all Of the fruit lands of Yak.
ma and Benton counties Mr. Rob
pms places the mum Der o. fruit treas
IN the above region at 100000, and
their value at $40 per tree He sc-
knowlodscs that the number Of trees
probably much greater than he
mentioned and that their value is
much more. Those figures we're given
merely as a rough basis IN show no
now valuable the fruit industry has
become in this part of the state. while
other statistics can easily be obtained
to show that it is growing by leaps
and bounds
From figures compiled and read at
the meeting Of the state horticultural
society held at Prosser last January.
the number of fruit trees in the first
mentioned region was placed at b.
SS0,126. NO person who is well in
formed will dispute that there we're
not more trees set out in this region
last spring than would swell the mum.
her to more than $500, 600. for the
records of the nurseries will verify
the additional number
From the foregoing it would an
pear that Ny. Robbins estimates the
value of tho fruit trees alone IT sc5.-
moo, 600 M number of acres in orr
chards last January was placed At
1850. which has been increased 10
nearly 30. oo0 acres ny this tiiae.
Adding tho value Of the land t. that
of tho trees would make Il stup~ndous
Total
To handle the selling and trauspor.
tation business of such an immense
business az that or fruit raising on
q Sigantlc scale. such AS partially OUT
lined above. requires a strong COM
pany. RiEht here is where MI Rob-
bins gave out some Information that
may he Of profit to those who read
It, and it may he Of interest To many
who have never given the subject
much thought
The Yakima Valley Fruit CirowerR'
association has at the present tins
fourteen district associations. Broad
way having been added within the
past few weeks There are apppox.
imatek four hundred horticultur,sts
who are signed up members If their
different local associations The CEN
trial body is composed of two dale
gates from each local There IL moth
| Ing new or original in the plan OF
! organization, 1t is trying no expert
ment ON fruit growers It Is based
on the unit system. the same as that
governing some of tho California or
sanl2atious. which have been in glc-
cessfui operation for more than twen-
lty years.
The local organizations thre.h out
their own problems at home and no
single association can cover whole dis
tricts and keep It's members In mar
mony.
The orchardsts Of the spokane dis
trict paid the Yakima VALLEY Fruit
Growers association compliment
last week by resolving to orrsnisa
along similar lines. They are to hold
another meeting today saturday, to
proceed with their organization. In
asmuch as it will he i'm possible FOR
them to get into shape to handle their
own fruit this year il is believed that
they will turn it over to the assocla-
ton here to sell for them. thus he
coming for purposes Of protection
members Of this body during the time
that will necessarily elapee While they
are getting ready for business
In addition TO tho members who ra-
side In Washington, the local organ
ization has been asked to handle the
crops for fruit growers Of both Idaho
and oregon. The Idaho fruit men who
have come In will FORM district az.
soc lstlon as soon as they possibly can
incorporate, and will then he rezu-
lar members Of the association the
same as though they were located in
the Yakima valley.
One feature of the plan 81 operat-
ing the Yakima Valley Fruit Crow
ers' association. a. emphasized ny
Manager Robbins is that the work
Is divided into departments. the head
OF each OF which is master Of the
work in that line e. G. Whine has
charge NJ the sales, with title Of aal.s
manager j. T Roman is traffic man
ager. Both of these gentlemen have
had wears of experience and know
their business Mr. Roman handled
$4,000 cars Of fruit last season. 49,
900 Of which were Of the cold stor-
age variety.
AS Robert f. Strahorn, vice-presi-
dent and manager Of the O.-W. r. h
n company. predicts that within the
next five or six years this region will
be turning out not less than from
$4,000 to 30, 900 carloads OF fruit an
nually in normal years. It IL easy to
be seen that 1t will require consider
able ability and a great deal OF laber
to satisfactorily handle the marketing
of the fruit, including the transporta-
tion and selling features