White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1926-02-26
BETTER OUTLOOK FOR.
APPLE and PEACH GROWERS

Under the heading, Agricultural
Outlook fer 1926" the United States
Department of Agriculture, under date
/ of February II, has issued bulletin
covering survey of various crops
that is Of much interest to farmers.
Regarding the apple and peach situa-
ton the bulletin says:
From long time viewpoint, apple
growers appear to have turned the
corner, even though the present price
situation is not particularly satisfac-
tory. With the decrease in bearing
trees, as shown by the last census
figures, growers can expect market
ing conditions to be reasonably salts
factory during the next tenfor IS
years. In the eastern and central
states it appears that if the CONNER
cial producing acreage is held at the
present level reasonably satisfactory
returns may be expected over a
period of years. In the Northwest
where trees reach bearing age more
quickly, there seems to be little rea-
son for increasing the bearing acre
age at present, though apples probab-
ly will continue to be profitable in
most sections now yielding adequate
returns.
Sin considering the present situa-
ton it should be remembered that
profits from apples since 1913 have
not been sufficiently great to stimuli
late paintings. The number Of bear
ing trees is steadily decreasing, the
10 leading apple producing states
showing decrease of 6.500,000 trees,
or approximately per cent, during
the past five years, according TO pre-
liminary census figures. III eastern
and central states, most of the de-
crease has been in scattered orchards
that are either outside of the main
commercial sections or are too small
or too reproductive to justify the
use of efficient spraying equipment.
Some unproductive orchards also
have been abandoned in the box apple
states, and the tendency has been to
replace the poorer varieties in the old
or orchards. For the country as a
whole, the number of trees not yet
bearing is about the same as five
years ago and is not sufficient to main
tain the present number in bearing.
so far as commercial production
is concerned, the decrease in the num-
Der of bearing trees in the scattered
farm orchards has been more than Off
set by increased production in the
commercial sections. The rate OF in
crease in the commercial sections
seems, however, to be slowing up, and
in the boxed apple states the point of
maximum production seems to have
been nearly reached.
Looking ahead, it, seems that the
yearly increase in population will be
sufficient to take care of such increase
in production of commercial apples
as is to be expected from present or
chards.
"The peach industry is confronted
with a problem of profitably disposing
of rapidly increasing production due
to extensive paintings of young Or
chards in recent years. This expan-
SIGN has occurred principally in the
South Atlantic States. in certain sec
tons of the Middle West and in Cali
fornia, and in these areas new plant
ngs should not be made at present.
In Colorado and Utah there was soma
injury due to winter killing last year.
For the entire country. commercial
production, as measured by carload
shipments, has practically doubled
during the last 8 years.
"The selection of proper varieties is
important in planting new orchards.
The liberia is the leading commercial
fresh peach variety and is adapted to
practically all sections Of the country.
AS it begins to ripen in the South, it
is found OH practically all the import
ant markets during the remainder OF
the season. Unless satisfactory local
market seems assured such CONNER
cial paintings as are made should in
clude only few standard varieties.
There is an opportunity for improve
mcnt in peach marketing conditions
in many sections in the use of accept
ed standards of grade and pack"