Evening star., 1923-06-21
APPLE MEN PLAN
/ DRIVE FOR TRADE
Eastern Growers Out to
Hold Own Markets Against
Capture by West.
BY j. c. ROYLE.

NEW YORK, June 21.-Apple
growers of the eastern states have
started d determined campa gn to
contest the markets of the east with
the producers of California and the
northwest. Fruit growers of New
York, Massachusetts, Connecticut,
Vermont, New Hampshire, Maryland,
North Carolina and Pennsylvania
have banded together in a permanent
organization for that purpose.
Feeling that better packing and
grading have been largely RESPONSE
BILE for the success of western grow
ers. this organization is using every
effort to secure Improvement in those
respects, and to that end will hold
d big apple exposition in this city
next fall, not to show fancy fruit
or plates of prize apples, but to in
dlcate to buyers and consumers just
what the eastern orchards have to
o1er In commercial quantities.
whether the growers of Washing
ton get SLIPS for choice boxed apples,
or twice that sum, depends on what
happens in the competing states i'm
New England. the south, and the
middle west" H. G. Fletcher, manager
or the Northwestern Fruit Exchange
sald today. In 1921, Washington
keepfng commercial apple output of
tne country, because of the spring
blizzards, which destroyed the crops
OF some other states. In 1922, there
wa was terrihcally big crop of apples
all over the country. Combined with
a car shortage in the Pacific north
west, that put all the growers back,
ana caused serious condition. This
year. because the crop outlook of the
competing states OF the east south
jS
mere Is reason TO believe the Wash
lngton growers will recover the
Sround lost last year.
Heavy Apple Crop Seen.
The fruit is finely set. weather con-
oltlons are ideal and given a sufficient
supply Uf cars next fall, there should
pc turnover of apples amounting
10 S3o,O00,000 at the very least from
tne districts which produced a 500
$4,000 crop in 1921"
u y Ray, representative of the di-
vision of crop and live stock estimate
or the Department of Agriculture
with HEADQUARTERS in Spokane estf-
mated today that Washington would
produce one-fourth of the CONNER
clai WInter-keeping apples of the
country and that Washington, Oregon
ana Idaho combined will produce one
third OF the whole crop of the coun-
try.
Frost damage and other conditions
In New York. Illinois. Missouri and
Aolorado have greatly reduced the
prospects for crops in these states.''
ne said. He estimated that Washing
ton would produce 23g9l 900 boxes
ork estimates, he asserted showed
drop from 100000 barrels last
year TO 5,ioi,OO0. barrel being equiv
aren't to about three boxes. If his
nsureS prove correct Washington
growers will receive approximately
SSo,966.50O for tneir product, figuring
at an average price of 81 50 box.
Hard to Fix Wheat Prices.
The prices of wheat in the markets
or the country continued to f1uctuate
as usual today and traders here and
in Chicago eXpi essed the belief thai
measures decided on by the national
wheat conference to stabilize and ad-
vance the price of that commodity
would not be effective for many
weeks TO come, even ii fully carried
out.
Delegates to the conference them
selves admitted today that there could
pe no solution of the economic situ-
alton with regard to the production
Of American wheat until the price
control rested within the United States
The problem they added, was not en-
tlrely within the control of the farmer
but must be worked out through co-op-
Grafton with labor, railroad and banking
interests and the consumer
Both producers and traders admitted
that measures by the national wheat
conference to increase domestic con-
sumption would be a helpful factor
IN raising prices. but doubt was ex-
pressed as to whether the results
could be made apparent in time to
arect this years crop. 1t also was
pointed out that any investigation by
the Interstate Commerce Commission
of existing freight rates could not be
completed in time 10 affect the 1923
crop movement.
Northwestern farmers. however ex-
pcct financial aid in handling this
years crops through the opening to-
day of the new Federal Intermediate
Credit Bank at St Paul. Action on
applications for loans will begin this
week.