Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1913-06-27
SUNSHINE O|SPELS
FEARS Of GROWERS
or STRAWBERRIES
First Pickings Spoiled by Recent
Rains, but Fair Weather
Is Great Help.
CROP NOW AT ITS HEIGHT.
Ranchers See Chance to Recoup
Early Losses-Bean Crop in
Excellent Condition.


The sunshine which broke over
Thurston county Thursday after about
ten days of almost steady rain right
at the start of the strawberry season,
brought JOY to many rancher's heart
for he saw probabilities of saving the
crop which continued rains would
have ruined.
For the next three weeks the straw
berry crop in this county will be at its
height and continued fair weather
means that the strawberry growers Of
this section, whose first pickings have
been more or less spoiled by the re-
cent rains, will be able to recoup in a
great degree the losses of the first
part of the season. The heavy rains
this month have been unusual and,
coming as they did right when the ber-
ries were ripening on the plants, made
them so soft that shipment for any
great distance was next to impossible.
Much of the crop in this section is
shipped east of the mountains, fre.
quently If the berries are firm and in
good shape, quite distance into the
Eastern states, and shipments like
these keep the local markets from be.
ing flooded. The recent rains, how
ever, so softened the berries that ship
ments Of this character were impossi-
BILE and as result the local markets
have been flooded with more berries
than they could handle.
One indication Of this was seen in
the report that 10000 crates Of straw
berries, too soft to be kept longer,
were dumped in the bay at Seattle one
this week. At "a boxes to the crate,
2SS,000 boxes of berries were thrown
in this one instance, loss occasioned
solely by the recent rains.
The fair weather Of the last couple
Of days, however, has put more hope
full aspect on the situation and tho
prospects that this section will now
receive the favorable climatic condi-
tions customary at this time Of the
year and so long delayed has helped to
relieve the situation considerably.
Given this fair weather the strawberry
crop can be handled to good advantage
even yet.
More than 1000 crates day-24, 900
boxes of strawberries are being re-
ceived and handled at the cannery.
where about 100 workers are busy as
bees. giving the cannery q daily out
put Of about 10000 cans of berries, ac-
cording to Manager Mark Ewald. The
plant Is being run day and night to
handle the crop, for the work must be
done swiftly and before the berries
spoil.
While little bit discouraged over
the unfavorable conditions under
which the season started off, Manager
Ewald smiled little more happily
yesterday as the sunshine became evi.
dent again and is hoping that these
next three weeks will be sunshiny
enough so the crop can be handled TO
good advantage. Naturally, owing to
the condition Of the berries, the can
merry pack has not been quite as good
as it otherwise would have been and
Manager Ewald is just as anxious that
conditions improve as is any grower in
the county.
Much the same trouble that has been
encountered with Strawberries has been
found with the cherries throughout
this section, for the continued rains
have cracked this fruit, too, as 1t was
ripening on the trees, and the picking
will be far less than usual, if it can
be handled to any advantage at all.
AS far as apples and pears are con-
cerned the outlook is little more
hopeful.
OF all the crops in which the can
merry is particularly interested-and
the ranchers as well-the beans seem
to have thrived during the recent bad
weather and bumper crop is ex-
pected. While this crop will not be
reaoy for some weeks yet, still the out
! look is unusually good and the fair
weather which should fall to the lot
OF THIS section from now on will ba
OF great benefit 10 IL.
/ -.