The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1922-05-04
THE APPLE nIDUSTRX

In view of the reports of recent frost
damage throughout Atlantic states, we
wonder if the northwest horticultural
experts who recently have been advis-
ing a change from apples to various
soft fruits are not little too jealous
in their urgings. If the eastern frost
visitation were rare occurrence, its
effect on commercial apple develop
ment in the Atlantic sections would be
negligible. The freezes, however, 1t
appears, are coming with such fire.
quent persistency as to cause discour-
agement to the orchardists who would
develop their tracts along the exPen-
sive lines maintained by growers of
the northwest In the face of these
disastrous attacks of the elements,
we wonder if the apple industry of the
east will not drift back to the phases
that have always marked it. Growers
will, in the main, take just enough care
of trees to grow fair quality apples
It costs lot of money to grow apples
along the scientific lines practiced in
the northwest. Those experts along
the scientific lines practiced in the
northwest. Those experts who have
had their training here, and who have
been tempted to the east, after a few
seasons such as 1921 and 1922, are go
ing to grow tired of applying this cost
ly culture to barren trees.
We would not say that the horticul- |
tural experts in their advice calling
for more cherries and pears are wrong.
But the general nationwide indica-
tions, we think, do not justify discour-
agement for the man who is planning /
an apple orchard in one of the proven
of the northwest. Climatic
conditions are, in the main, going to
eliminate the raising of apples of high
quality in the commercial eastern dis
tricts. 1t is true that new apple Sec
lions are coming into bearing in south
ern California, but the highland tracts
available there for fruit culture are
rather limited.
Here in the northwest we have an
occasional abnormality of the ele-
nents, such as the cold weather Of De-
;ember, 1919. These visitations. how
sver, judging by past history, occur
,nly about once in a generation. The
'ruit crops of the northwest are fairly
Iure, and growers can proceed to ex-
,end more in their investments.
Here in the northwest the apple
growers must contend chiefly with the
vagaries of human nature instead of
With the elements. If orchardists will
,ut put into effect general inter-dis-
rict cooperative efforts, they will reap
more of the profits from the apple
The northwestern apple ton
Rage furnishes a stupendous revenue
Tor the railway lines. A host of inter-
nediary brokers take heavy toll as
t passes on its way to the consumer.
The grower deserves a profit from his
BUSINESS that be is not now getting.
The recently launched inter-distriet CO.
perative association of growers and
hipping concerns is taking up a num- I
'er of problems that demand solution.
{ is to be hoped that it will continue
o foster sound individual cooperative
Institutions, bring about the elimina-
ion Of old prejudices and jealousies
ixisting between districts and continue
o find common fighting points. Event
Ially, if its growth continues along
old and conservative lines, it can die
ate new marketing terms and bring
bout an elimination Of some of the
resent excessive cost of putting a box
# the northwest's apples into the
lands Of the consumer.