The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1922-06-15
FRUIT CROP PROS
PECTS ARE GOOD

Fruit prospects this year in Oregon
are, on the whole, favorable, though
the estimated yield of apples is less
than last year, according to CONNER
cial fruit estimate just issued by F. l..
Kent, agricultural statistician of the
department of agriculture, which fol-
lows:
Railroad reports of carload ship
ments of apples and pears to June j,
1922, show that the 1921 Oregon apple
crop was considerably larger than was
generally estimated at harvest time.
The general fruit situation at the
present time seems to indicate, for the
1922tcrop, considerable reduction in
apples and some increase in pears over
1921. The prune crop promises big
| increase over 1921. Peaches promise
about an average crop. Cherries will
probably be about the same as last
year. which was year of light pro-
duction. Strawberries appear to be
fully up to the average except in a
few localities where there was rather
severe frost damage. Loganberries
indicate considerable less yield per
acre, but new bearing acreage will
probably bring the total production
close to that of last year. Raspberries
and blackberries promise about an av-
erage crop.
Carload shipments as reported for
the 1921 apple and pear crop and esti-
mates of the probable 1922 carload
production of these two fruits, by dis
tricts, are as follows:
willamette valley, shipped
1921, 235, estimated 1922. $50; Rogue
and Umpqua valleys, 1921, 775; Hood
River, Wasco counties, 1870, $500;
Umatilla county, 100. S25; Union, Ba-
ker, Malheur counties. 766, 665; totals,
6,652, 5.645
Pears-Williamette valley, 16, 90;
Rogue and Umpqua valleys. 8l7, 900
Hood River, Wasco counties. 1872; 40;
Umatilla county, 10, d Union, Baker,
Malheur counties, IL, 10; totals, 1856,
LOLA.
Early indications were that the pear
crop would be very heavy in 1922, the
first estimates in the Medford district
placing the crop at double that of 1921,
but there was a very heavy drop dur
ing the latter part of May in all of the
heavy producing sections. Both the
apple and pear crops must yet go
through the "June Drop" hence may
be considerably reduced from the
above estimates. 1t is not believed
that the actual state production will be
much in excess of the above estimates,
even with favorable growing condi-
tions.
Apples-In the Willamette valley the
apple crop prospect is variously esti-
mated at 60 to rs per cent of normal
crop.
Some young orchards are expected to
produce considerably in excess of last |
year. The bloom was unusually light |
on some varieties and the blooming |
period was unusually short. In the |
Rogue River and Umpqua district the |
crop prospect appears to be about 60 |
per cent of normal. The Hood River |
and Wasco district has prospect of |
practically as many apples as last
year, according to well-informed orch
ardists. Umatilla county had the
worst spring frost in 15 years." and
the Milton-Freewater apple crop is
now estimated at about 40 per cent of
last year. Union county will probably
have somewhat smaller crop than the
heavy one of last year. Baker and
Malheur promise about the same apple
crop as last year.
Pears-Pear bloom was generally
heavy and the early prospect was for a
bumper crop for the state as whole
The fruit seemed to be set very well,
Dut did not ''stick" in the principal
pear sections. While the state crop as
a whole promises to be somewhat be-
low normal one, there is prospect of
4 slight increase over last year in all
districts except Umatilla county, where
he crop was hard hit by the early May
Frost, |.