The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1917-01-04
ENGLISH TRIBUTE TO
HOOD RIVER APPLES

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''If one would like to forget the war
for precious hour or so,a gentle stroll
along the avenues of Convent Garden
market Is q suggestion worth consider
alton. In the part generally known a.
the grand row may be seen fruit that
10 fragrant and picturesque; and to the
casual observer il seems abundant. AS
matter of fact. all fruit 10 compare
lively scarce. Huge warehouses that
In normal times were stacked with
good things are less than half full, yet
there is still q sufficiency in them to
make brave show. Amongst the most
striking objects that meet the eye are
apples 60 perfect in shape, in colour,
that one can scarce believe that they
are real. They look more like the Gre
alton of some artists brain than the
produce of trees. Much Of the sunshine
Of the glorious climate is treasured in
those graceful epples- The onlooker
with sense OF the beautiful gaaes at
the fruit. rapt in admiration. conjures
up visions Of bright sunny days, the
clearest of atmospheres. and then won-
ders in what corner Of fairylsnd such
fruit can be grown. Thoughts Of the
beautiful occupy the mind. and provide
refreshing and welcome change from
the sole absorbing topic Of the day /:
and then as one emerges into the
StraLd or Long-acre, or Bow street,
one Is again brought into contact with
the world as 1t is.
There is variety of apple known
as the Winter Banana. For the delica-
cy Of colouring and perfection of shape
il 10 unique. Why 1t has been so
named cannot be ascertained with any
degree of certainty, but the theory is
put forward that the fruit has justlthe
slightest suspicion of the favour of
tho banana. This may bess0, but IL re-
quires an extraordinarily keen palate
to reveal q similarity 10 the popular
fruit of the West Indies or the Canary
Islands. The first Winter Bananas
came from the great Wenatchee valley
some eight years ago. At that time
the wonderful perfection of the fruit
caused a sensation in trade circles. but
since that time both trade and public
have become accustomed to the best
the world can produce, and apples that
10 years ago would have been looked
upon with as much astonishment as an
aeroplane are nowadays accepted as
matter Of course.
Briefly summarized, the Pacific
coast ia sending apples Of remarkale
quality. In addition to the Winter
Banana there are the Newtown Pip
pins, Spitzenburgs, Jonathans and Wine-
saps. All have their distinctive mer-
its. and If the attractiyeness Of fruit is
partly dependent upon perfection of
appearance, combined with delicacy of
favour, the apples of Oregon take
high place.
British Columbia Cox's Orange pip
pins are especially worthy of notice.
The same may be said of Spitzenburgs
despite the Astounding name) and
other varieties from British Columbia,
Oregon and California. Importers as a
rule are especial pleaders but there Is
something in the suggestion that cases
of apples. are just as accpetable pres
ents as cases of other goods, which
give temporary exhiliration and may
sometimes leave doleful after effects.
Both. of course. are enjoyable; but
there is no.reason why apples should be
overlooked when generous donours are
selecting their gifts. One thing Is quite
certain--a case of FIRST class apples is
not only an economical. but useful pres.
ent. Furthermore. it is a profitable
investment in the home.
"Reyerling to the topic Of the ex.
traordinarily fine Oregon apples now
on the market, IL may be we'll to reveal
a little secret to the public. The best
are known as Blue Diamonds, which
distinguishing brand refers to the sign
on the cases. All fruit that is deemd
good enough TO bear the Blue Dia.
mond' Hood River mark may be &C.
cepted as the finest obtainable. That
which Is not quite perfect is known as
the Red Diamond, but even that is 80
fine that no one need cavil at its quail
ity. This year the second grade fruit
is equal to. if not better than the first
selection of last years crop; so that
all Diamond apples may honestly be
ranked as precious fruit.
Reluctantly the epicure must leave
the region of the choicest. and discuss
that, which, if not in that category. is
nevertheless good. The California Pip
pin is an apple which comes fret in the
region of all round utility. II is good,
sound and Of excellent keeping quality.
Compared with finest fruits Of British
Columbia and Oregon, 1t Is remarkably
cheap but by no means to be despised
on that account. The California New.
town Is of consistently good quality,
and only the hypercritical will find
fault with it. For many years it has
been fav0rite line with retailers who
would not have stocked it unless the
popular demand had justified action.
ITO dsecend a little further in the
scale one must mention the apples of
Nova Scotia. These are essentially the
fruit of the masses. In days gone by
Nova Scotia apples we're sold at popu-
lar prices in all parts of London and
suburbs, but under the existing condi-
lions the value of the fruit has risen in
common with that of other commodi-
lies. The present wholesale rates are
more than double those which retailers
were called on TO pay three years ago.
This must be stated in justice to shop
keepers who certainly have not doubled
their prices. They have raised them,
: is true. but not proportionately with
he increase they themselves are called
lpon to pay. This is good point
which should be emphasized, because
,f the general impression that retailers
always insist upon additional profits
whenever the initial cost of their goods
happen to be increased. So far as the
'ruit trade 10 concerned that theory
ioes not hold good. Just now the aver
lge wholesale cost of Nova Scotia ap.
lies is about 30s per barrel as COM
Jared With lbs and l5s before the war.
Retail prices have not risen in proper
ion.
Enthusiasm in regard to imported
ruits should not be allowed to inter-
ere with appreciation of those gown In |
'ur own home orchards. There Is moth |
NC to equal the English Cox's Orange |
lippin in regard to favour. II may not |
% so beautiful as others produced in |
istant climes. but for inherent worth |
I still remains alone and unrivaled.
therefore 1t is the most costly apple on |