Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1913-12-18
Apples OF West Given Big
Boost BY Advertising.
Growers In Washington Aud Oregon
Spend Money To Make Fruit known
The following letter appears in the
Staunton Leader:
MOoreland. CAL, Nov. %, 1913.
Mr.. W. W. Sproul,
Middlebrooke. Va.

Mooreiand,s Cal, NOV. rs, A9l5-
Mr.. W. W. Sproul.
Middlebrooke, Va.
Dear Mr.. Sproul:-
/ have just returned from trip into
Oregon and Washington Although my
trip was primarily one ofinvestigatirg
the potato industry, could not help
but get in touch with fruit conditions
in that country. l was struck by their
method Of doing things and their actual
conditions as compared with conditions
in the east, especially Virginia. that l
thought you might be interested in
hearing about them and the way they
have made certain localities famous.
| am sending you under another cover
some of their literature which will give
you some idea of how they have
brought about the widespread idea that
there is no fruit like that grown inthe
northwest. ADVERTISE is their
watchword. and they never lose an OPP
portunity to spread the fame of their
fruit both in this country and abroad.
You, of course, have seen, their fruit
and knew how it compares with that
grown in Virginia. If Staunton adver-
tiscd half as much as Rogue River or
Hood River the apples from your local
ity would be in greater demand than
these from the northwest and the grow
ers would be getting double the price
for their fruit that they are now get
ting.
enclose a clipping taken rom the
daily par er v hich shows the prices for
viii, h they will put their apes in New
York City and ether eastern poir5ts.
1t costs the growers 80 cents per box
for sorting ard packing and 80 cents
per box for freight to New York How
much cheaper staunton could put just
as good apples therel
Ihad-tfe pleasure of attending the
National Apple Show at spoka ne.
They had a good Virginia should
have been repre- ented talked with
a party there who had been tfinl ing
of going to Virginia TO grow apples and
believe he could do better there than
here.
They believe in good, perfect fruit,
u d they compel the grower TO market
nothirg else. They do rot permit a
wormy apple to he sold on the street
in Medfo,d. If the inspectors find an
apple with worm. hole in it exposed
for sale the whole box of apples is de-
stroyed. They insist IN an apple you
can eat in the dark, y and then they
never stofA boosting it, ard never hesi
tate over the expense. 1t cost the lit
tie town of Medford thousand dol 'ars
to entertain party Of scientists who
were merely interested in the wild
plants of the region the idea being
that wherever they went they could
not hep but remember the treatment
they received there ard would speak
of Medford ard would also mention it
in their public ,tions. The county gives
scientist SIS. QUO year and l1bora
tory and two Office rooms with four in
speetors to protect the interests of the
fruit growers. They have special
levy which brings in about $4,000 a
year for this work The scientist has
weather instruments, gives f ost warn.
ingA advises as to heating, spraying,
pruning. to strictly enforce good apple
production.
Very truly yours.
Wv, SHEAR