The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1912-07-22
SAVE THE CROP At EXPENSE
OF PRIDE, IF NECESSARY
Land Values, as Well as Business,
Depends on Successful HdP-
yestIng Of Crop


lis of more than passing interest to
the public Land values, as we'll as
all business, depends on the success
ltul harvesting and marketing OF TINS
big and valuable crop.
A conservative estimate of the
value of the crop of Elberta peaches
growing in the orchards adjacent to
IGuthrie, approximates in round mum
Ibers a quarter of a million dollars
The crop Is unusually large and 10
now in perfect condition.
Some observations at this time on
the approaching Elberta peach harry
est may be of interest as well as TO
correct some erroneous statements
that have gained publicity-said "a
prominent Logan county fruit grower
today.
One average car load of packs o.
crates will ship from eight TO ten
cars of fruit owing TO size OF cars
About nine hundred four baskets
carriers or flats. live hundred six
baskets carriers or four rundred
Bushel baskets makes a car load Of
fruit. and win accommodate from 35D
to 400 bushels of peaches
On this basis orchards may be fair
ly accurately estimated.
The four basket crate or flat" IS
the most difficult pack to make as
well as the most expensive, because
the till baskets are smaller than those
OF the six basket carrier, and the
fruit more exposed Only peaches
large enough TO be packed in two lay
ers. and fll the baskets, should be
packed in the flats. for best results
The four aud six basket carriers
are usually considered by the trade
as fancy packs" and usually com
mand top prices when properly pack
ed; when not, they suffer unduly III
the market and the loss all falls on
the producer. Careful packing with
the necessary skill, is not an unreas
enable requirement by the fruit rails
er. and only such help can be proflt
ably employed. The frequent occur
renee of a bad pack damages the en-
tire car to an extent not usually
realized by the sloyenly packer, who
has only his or her wages in mind
The fancy pack" will be on trial
this season by tho growers, and In
with bulk or the bushel
basket or box. The question must
be settled. whether it is profitable
TO make the expensive fancy pack
r the orchards, or permit the retail
ars to make it for the consumer II
the grower can, with a small crew OF
pickers only, without the expensive
packs, and packing sheds realize
more for his crop, then the labor Of
making the fancy pack will be
transferred to the retailing establish
nent who place the fruit in the
hands OF the consumer, graded and
Iacked to suit the trade.
Man ygrowers have provided them
selves with hushel baskets to pro.
ect themselves against contingencies
such as bad weather conditions. or
ack of competent help at reasonable
wages and will make accurate com.
,ari5on OF returns by the two
Methods.
Many growers have provided them
ieveloping the first paying crop. and
everal years OF labor has been ex-
ended, besides large sums of money
o bring them to a paying basis, and
he farmers and horticulturists who
ave produced this crop, are justly
ntitled to a liberal reward for their
aith and persistence.
The peach crop in Logan county
lone If safely harvested and market
d should bring a return of two hun
red and fifty thousand dollars; this
um of money will reflect decided
nfluence ON every business. and es-
ecially on the value of fruit land
This is a perishable crop and must
e cared for within ten or twenty
ays, and is of paramount interest ia
he entire community, and extraor-
mary efforts should be made 10 real
fe its full value
The Chamber OF Commerce" and
Retailers Association" of the CITY
Guthrie should grange To register
very person who would volunteer in
ase OF emergency to assist IN saving
he peach crop.
Not only those who dseire the EN-.
loymenj for wages, but every per
on whether they need the wages
Z not, should arrange to take EN-
loyment it an emergency should
rise.
II the Elberta peaches rinen nor.
rally the harvest win extend over
bout three weeks but weather con
itions might shorten the time by
alf, in which case double the labor
i'll be required to save the crop.
CONTINUED op PaEe 81