The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1914-05-07
FOR
MANY APPLES
APPLES WILL PASS MILLION MARK
Conservative Estimates, However, Urged.
Prospects Bright for Cherries and
Pears Strawberries Ready May 20

Despite the frosts that have pre-
vailed IN the valley during the past
two weeks, there is every indication
that the district will have the largest
crop Of apples ever harvested, and
while the early blossoms of the straw
berries were uipped, delaying slightly
the marketing period, the quantity Of
the crop will not be diminished The
berry vines are heavily loaded with
buds, and commercial quantities of the
fruit will be shipped by May 20. Berry
shipments from the valley last year
amounted to approximately 80, 600
crates. The Apple Growers Associa-
tiun, however, this year expects TO
handle about 10000 crates But the
crates this year will contain the regu-
latiOn full "a pint boxes, and about
1873 per cent less fruit than the recep-
tacles used on former seasons. The
new package is more acceptable to the
general trade and the fruit will have a
wider distribution than ever before.
Although all estimates have not been
received by the Association, il is con-
sideTed that the strawberry acreage is
larger this year than on last. While a
number of tracts have been plowed un-
der, many new tracts have been set
out.
In case nothing interferes with the
apple crop, a conservative estimate
now places the apple crop for this
year at at least l,250, 600 boxes. IL the
estimates that are being received by
| the Association were to be taken as
denfnite figures the crop Of last year,
approximately zoo, 600 boxes, might be
tripled.
While the late rains delayed the
orchardists with their work to a GER
tain extent, the most of the valley
ranches are in the best of condition.
Numerous places are being seeded in
clover, and on every hand one sees the
result of the trend of the past two
years toward diversified farming. For
the first time Hood River is shipping
cream to Portland. This outflow, how.
ever, will cease as soon as the cream
cry is in operation. Many local ranch
ers are bringing eggs in daily, more
than enough to supply the local de-
mand.
}. r. Nunamaker, who has the largest
cherry orchard in the valley, states
that, while the fruit this year will bC
small and the quantity eurtailed, the
quality will be excellent. "Ihe foliage
is green and glossy" says MIR. Nuna
maker, 'and in my opinion we are 60
ing to have the finest cherries one evei
saw"
Wilmer Sieg states that the growers
want TO be careful in their estimates ot
crop conditions. Blossoms, I" says Mr.
Sieg, never designate a crop. 1t il
necessary to have proper pollenizatiol
before any claims can be made. Wat
sonvilIe has made the claim that tht
crop there would reach 4, 900 cars. Bu
the growers there are finding thai
every day material reductions must be
made in their estimates. Conservatism
III early estimates are always warrant
ed,
"The Association is making every
preparation to handle all the apple.
that the members can produce. We ar,
not going to give out statements as t(
crop conditions of any kind. The mar
ket outlook for cherries and pears are
very bright, and from indications, tht
valley will produce fair output it
both items. Strawberries, too, promis,
we'll. BY increasing the shipping ares
through the introduction of the stand
ard crate, we feel confident of a sue
cessful season. The only known los
to occur SO far is in the pruue crop
Cold rains have diminished this Outpu
seriously"
II. f. Davidson, who was in Yakim.
last Saturday, to attend a meeting o
the Distributors, is in Spokane thi
week making preparations for handling
the strawberry crop. The Association
officials are pleased with the way il
which the growers have heen signinl
the new crop contracts. While the re
cent meetings in different sections o
the valley have not been very Iargell
attended on account of the busy seasOl
with their ranches, practically all thos,
growers in attendance have signed tn
contracts. "A great many calls hav
been made at the office" says Mr.
Sieg.
The officials hope to have the con
tracts sufficiently signed by June tina
the growers may hold a meeting an
elect a board of directors. Formerl
the directors were elected by the boar
Of the Apple Growers Association. .
The Association under the method 0
reorganizations will have both ton
mage and membership representation
making it necessary for measures t
carry a majority of both tonnage an
membership vote to be successful.