The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1913-02-06
SIEG RETURNS
FROM THE EAST
OPTIMISTIC OVER APPLE FUTURE
Local Pack Has Maintained Reputation
''Plaut Standard Varieties" Is
Advice Given

D
attended, " says Wilmer Sieg, manager
Of the Apple Growers Union, who with
Mrs. Sieg returned last Saturday from
tour Of the eastern market centers.
Mr. and Mrs. Sieg left Hood River
about Christmas time. The gatherings /
referred 20 were the convention of the I
National League Of Commission men,
of which MIR. Sieg is past president, !
and the Western Confederation of Fruit |
Jobbers. The meeting place of the
former organization was at Cincinnati |
and that of the latter at New Orleans.
The gatherings brought 1900 Of the
principal merchants together, says
MIR. Sieg, "and the majority of the
market men Of California and many
/ from the northwest.
MIR. and Mrs. Sieg returned TO Hood
River through California. He states
that the freeze in southern California
has been the most disastrous known
to the citrus industry. "Of course, -
says the Union manager, this year.
crop is ruined. While it will not affect
next years crop, that is. of old trees,
the product of orange groves will not
increase materially for the next four
years; for the young trees have been
so injured that il will take them four
years to get over it. While the freeze
has been a disaster TO the orange men,
it has not affected the apple situation,
/ eXcept that il will enable the apple
market men to clean up their stock
without disaster there, too. The freeze
has caused the fruit to move and thus
the large holdings will be cleaned up.
However, the price of good stuff is not
going to be affected to any great eX-
tent.
Nobody can Just explain the woe
ful manner of handling fruit that has
prevailed this year. The market men
of all sections have been at sea. They
have all bad their problems and stua-
tions that have been depressing.
However, Hood River has been better
off than any other district because of
the excellent storage facilities in she
valley. While we hear of many sales
of apples at auction this fruit has not
been consumed 1t has been bought
and placed back in storage. Somebody
has expected to make killing, having
bought it cheap with the expectation
of selling again at a great increase.
Yet the way the situation now stands,
it seems to me that normal varieties
! of the better grades are going to fare
1 reasonably we'll. However, the poorer
| grades and off varieties are going t
meet with disoouraging results"
/ Mr.. S;eg declares that since his TIL
be is more than ever impressed witt
the necessity of discontinuing tn,
| planting of of grades. "Ihe fact hal
4 .as,d - ht
| says, that we must grow such vari
| cites as the Ortley, Spitzenburg, Ar
kansas Black and Yellow Newtowr
here. We must cut out this Heinz
pickle business and grow those fruit
that nature tells us we can grow here
| Hood River Badwins can never com
pete with the Baldwins that are growI
back in New York. Men from different
parts of the country will tell you tina
| they want certain kinds of apples, The
kind that have been grown for years II
their communities, but here in Hoot
River nature decries that we mus
raise tn Spitzenburg, the Ortley, The
Arkansas Black and the Newtown. Nc
section of the world can beat Us ol
these varieties.
1--WE may raise a good many King
| to supply our early coast trade. If ou
| Gravensteins were a little earlier WI
could realize good returns from then
for the coast trade and the soutl
III African demand. The day of the Bel
| Davis is done. 1t is true that 1t hal
been life saver for some, bDt here
after the grower should plant onl.
those standard varieties that will TAX
| the lead in any market of the world.
Il am very optimistic over the tu
| ture prospects for the Valley since m.
trip. | have found that our grade ha
u met with favor in all markets. We hav
= maintained our reputation for the bes
- of packs despite the adverse coudl
III tions, and while we have Jared poorl
II in conjunction with the other district
II as to price, we have made good grount
II to do business upon in the future.
II Mr. Sieg says that it was very no
II for the season Of the year all throug
II the East. Il had a very heavy over
II coat with me, he says, but did no
II wear it once. Indeed, they have hat
II no winter at all in the East. They fee
II they are going to have 1t yet ana IN
II fruit crop will be affected no DOUBT 10
iii it is well advanced at present. I'M
II hot weather has hurt the apple market
II 1t has created an unusual condition !
Il all lines and egg and apple dealers haV
II been suffering alike. | predict tina
II the eastern apple crop will be serlousl
II damaged by late frosts and that mex
II wears crop will be one of the lightes
III in the history of the country. 1t vii
II mean that we here on the Northwes
II coast will be helped just that much. -
II Z MIR. Sieg, because Of the many pota
HI toes that have been grown in the vale
ii during the past year, has been investl
III eating the potato market during hl
III travels. "Never in the history OF thl
III country has the potato market been
III demoralized, be says. AT Stockton
III Calf. they have been selling at 80 t
HI 40 cents per hundred. They tell m
HI that a million and half bags renal
Hi undug.
HI MIR. Sieg thinks that the coast
Ill going to offer better market opening
HI for local apples IN the future. At tn
Ill present time the better varieties ar
HI bringing better money in the wester
iii cities than in the east. San Francisco
II with its million boxes of stored stu
II from Watsonville and other nesrb
| apple producing sections is in poe
III way"