The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1922-07-13
OUTLOOK ON
APPLE CROP
YIELD PLACED ABOUT 1000 CARS
Tonnage Of 1922 Will Be Clean, Large
Apples COdIiHg Meth Damage
Is Feared

Estimates on the 1922 apple crop of
the Hood River valley place the ton
mage at 1900 to 1000 cars. The val
1 ley last year shipped 1853 carloads OF
apples and pears; of this number III
cars were exclusively pears, and the
lower grades of apples brought the
shipments of commercial apples down
to an approximate 2, 500 carloads.
All shippers, however, predict that
the apple harvest of this fall will be of
good size and fine quality. Shippers
and experiment station experts eX-
press the fear that codling moth may
result in more damage than last sea-
son. But growers in all sections are
guarding against such injury with
careful spraying, and the thinning of
! this year was never more scientlhc
than this year.
Estimates have been cut considerab-
ly since the bloom of last May. Trees
then were loaded with an unprecedent-
ed blossom. Cold weather and lack of
pollenization prevented the fruit from
sticking. The pear bloom was heavier
than apples, but the pear crop of this
season will be lighter than that of last
season.
Weather conditions remain good for
the production of a good crop of large
apples. All irrigation systems are fur
nishing growers with a liberal supply
Of water. and some shippers think the
extra sizing of apples this year may
bring the tonnage to greater tguTe
than now anticipated.
The harvest in Hood River will prob
ably begin about the normal time.
Gravsnsteins and Kings will be rolling
in early September. Jonathans will
follow, and the nam harvest will be
under way around the first of October.
No expression can be gained to date
on the market outlook. Buyers are
making no offers and it is not antlci-
pated that any offers will be made for
fruit before August, or until after the
annual convention of the international
Apple Shippers Association at Seattle.
One local grower last week offered his
entire crop at a straight Sl.40 cents
per box. He had no takers. Another
grower proposed to shippers to sell for
ST per box, orchard run. He had no
takers. These isolated instances are
not taken by growers as any criterion
as to what the market will develop.
Speaking on the market outlook. T. +.
Clark says:
"Fhe market outlook is very favor
able in view Of the very much better
| financial condition of the country at
large, better prices for agricultural
products. a greater number OF men
employed in all industries and a gen
eral feeling of optimism and confidence
all over the country. While 1t may be
thought that there will be a larger
production of apples in the United
States in 1922 than in 1921, there VIII
be very much increased demand for
all apples and we anticipate no difficult
tv in being able to market all OF the
apples grown in the Hood River valley.
We believe the Northwest as whole
will have a much smaller crop than
last year. With economic conditions
as they now appear there should be no
difficulty of disposIng of the crop at
fair prices.
Mr.. Clark says that Hood River val
lev crop conditions are very promising
for a high quality apple and pear pro-
duction He estimates the apple ton
mage at about 80 per cent of last year.
1--WE produce large quantities of
Spitzenburgs and Newtowns, he says,
''in fact these two varieties constitute
the greater part of the apples produced
in this section. Other varieties are
the Arkansas Black, Delicious, Craven
stein and Yellow 0rtley. This last
variety is a very superior apple and is
growing ia demand and favor. During
1921 the production Of Yellow New
towns exceeded that of any other vari-
ETY.. Indications now point to a de-
crease in Newtowns and slight IN
crease in SpitzenbuTg production for
1922.
"The Apple Growers Association,
which handles the major portion of the
tonnage in the Hood River valley, is
continuously trying to keep abreast OF
the times and keep pace with demands
for service. lt is now making inn
provements and additions to existing
warehouses and plans for additional
cold storage space in Hood River
This spring the Apple Growers AssOci-
alton purchased the cold storage plant
formerly owned by II. +. Davidson.
A large addition to the Pafkdale ware
house is being constructed. Land has
been secured and plans are being made
for construction of a new cold storage
plant at Hood River with a capacity Of
200. 600 to 100000 boxes Of apples,
while additions are contemplated that
will add $4,000 to IS. 600 boxes capacity
20 existing warehouses. At the pres
ent time the Association owns and oper-
ates every cold storage warehouse IN
the valley.
"Hood River. together with every
other apple producing section IN the
Northwest is making great prepara-
tions for the Seattle convention Of the
international Apple Shippers Associa-
ton. While no special trains will
move through Hood River, plans are
being made 70 entertain the visitors on
the way home from the convention.
We hope that al delegates to the con
vention will accept cur invitation and
come 10 Portland and be driven here
bv automobile over the wonderful Co
lumbia River Highway. There is no
trip on the North American continent
that is SO full Of interest or will give
YOU as much pleasure as this trip from
Portland 20 Hood River. When you
reach Hood River you are within p
miles Of Mount Hood. one Of the most
beautiful STOW peaks IN America.
Easily reached hy automobile. Mount
Hood stands 81 the head Of the Hood
River valley and tempers the climate
of this delightful valley. n alone is
aorfh coming from the Atlantic to
the Pacific coast % see. Therefore. a
few miles additional. after you reach
SEATTLE. should not be ailowe1 to stand
in your way. in order that you may get
81 mrse n this wonderful mountain
and fhe VALLEY at its foot.
Leroy ChiIds. Who has been follow
ing CROP conditions here for the past
SIX yearf. says the crop Of the Hood
River valley viii reach 70 20 75 per
cent cf the tonnage e last year. when
the largest commercial tonnage ever