Morning Oregonian., January 01, 1909, SECTION ONE, Page 6, Image 6

THE MORNING OREG-ONIAN", FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 1909.
OREGON FRUIT KNOWN'. TMI WORLD
OVE
PEARS, PEACHES, PLUMS, PRUNES REACH
PERFECTION; BERRIES, CHERRIES AND
GRAPES ARE LARGE AND DELICIOUS
WHILE APPLES FROM THIS STATE
SET THE STANDARD IN EVERY MARKET
io 1 liTer? , . - - vs. ir v iii.'ii I7r7"i'if nv . u L n it 1 w f it t-i i r L w 11 r iviii i -f --.. ; . -
rrri , !,.!:! GRAPES ARE LARGE AND DELICIOUS W , ;
WHILE APPLES FROM THIS STATE , - f Ar
'-. . W SET THE STANDARD IN EVERY MARKET 1 W
'g-jA fpA cjrr
IF it ' iOJT : II 1 v ' . ? v - r TrCV, i 7
fewM - ? ' s-& " - '-l'- ; I t n, m n- :-4 ? ; u'r : b 3' f&J&r?. :& I
Br (liirin A. Mulboriif. DUIrirt Frri(ht
.ent Hoathma 1'aeifie ComiMuijr
THE blue ribbon industry of Oregon
is horticulture. Its growing pro- .
portions and unlimited prospect
re attracting attention from all parts
of tlio Union, from Canada and Ku-
rope, and the extensive movement f
ettlers into the state can be atrih
utd to that fart more than any other.
In ten years horticulture will be one
of the state's grreateet Industries, if not
the greatest. This statement is Justi
fied by two indisputable facts. First,
we have fully demonstrated our ability
to place on the most exacting markets
a product of the hlphest Quality, at tha
highest prices paid. in competition
with the output of the world. Second,
our fruit-producing area is of a mag
nitude to be found under like condi
tions in no other section. An orchard
as large as the states of Connecticut
and Rhode Island with their combined
surface of -"40 square milca could be
placed within a r.on serve! by our
present transportation facilities, and
still leave a territory of equal propor
tions to carry on our other pursuits.
Authorities place the extent of fruit
producing soil in this territory at about
4.O0.0O0 acres, not including those
nds which will ultimately be re
claimed by irrigation.
No influence is so responsible for the
unprecedented invest. .lent of intelli
gent capital in Oregon, and the wide
spread inquiry of contemplated Immi
gration, as the rapid and substantial
Drocrpas of horticulture. It Is the
the result of several years' intelligent
effort, and a demonstration. in the
broadest markets that the quality is
not only equal to the critical require
ments of today, but so far superior. to
the product of other competing sources
most powerful advertising medium the (o ,,aV(, orratcj a standard of ex
state possesses. Our fruit-hearing area
in J9S was 40. acres. One hundred
and twenty-five thousand acres were
planted during the past five years, and
In five yars more 2UO.UV0 acres will
have reached the bearing stage. Fifty
thousand acres will be set out during
cellence of its own.
The apples of no other locality have
ever brought sueh prices as are paid
for the Oregon Spitzcnberg and Yel
low Newtown apples grown in the
Hood Kivcr and Kogue Kiver Valleys.
The Yellow Newtowns are sold exclu-
the present Winter season alone, and ively In New York and London. New
within 10 years, at that rate. &00.M0U York alone consumes practically our
acres will be i:i full bearing, while the entire supply of Spitzenbergs. Our
total planted area should Jiave reached frUits are in equal demand In other
the cnormouw tignre of ?.. O00 acres, markets, and these are gradually being
Five million dollars is tne present an
nual valuation of our fruit crops. In
1SI9 the gross returns should be not
lc than J.10.OU0.U00.
The situation can hardly be overesti
mated, our Ideal climate, aided by
soil of great fertility and variety,
serves to make Oregon an exclusively
favored spot for the prolific cultiva
tion of high-grade fruits. These facts
considered In connection n ith inex-
taken care of as the production in
creases. The grower Is well repaid for
his skillful work. Prices have run as
high as J3 a box of ."0 pounds at ship
ping point, or the equivalent of $!) a
barrel. The selling price to the re
taller Fast has frequently reached 4
a box. or $13 a barrel.
The Rogue River Valley pears stir-
pass any fruit of the kind ever mar
keted. At least commercial history re-
hausttble supplies of water, a growing cords the fact that the highest figure
demand for our products, and the mil
lions of acres of choice lands available
for the expansion of horticulture, of
themselves leave little room for ques
tion as to Its coming immensity.
A further analysis of Oregon's claim
for horticultural greatness is conclu
sive in Its result. foriipaHson of exist
ing conditions with those incident to
fruit culture in other localities is per
tinent. Fruit production throughout
the territory' east of the Rocky Moun
tains is decreasing and the quality de
preciating. Climatic conditions are
largely responsible for that. They are
too variable to insure regular crops.
Instructive frosts are apprehended
each year. Disease and pests have cur
tailed the apple crop and almost en
tirely destroyed the pear industry. The
unevenly balanced seasons make the
fighting of disease there difficult and
conditions generally seem adverse to
Improvement. On the other hand, the
production of fruit in Oregon Is es
tablished upon a basis of assured in
crease. It la of an experiment, but
ever paid for that kind of fruit was
for the product of the Rogue River
Valley in the last three years. The top
figure was SS.SO a 50-pound box, or
nearly IS cents a pound. The retailer
shared In further profits and the con
sumer paid not less than 20 cents a
pound for the luxury.
Oregon leads the world In high
grade cherries, and its present acreage
of that fruit is greater than the com
bined acreage of all other states in
the Union. Yet only a mere fraction
of our available lands is devoted to
cherry culture.
One reason for the perfection of
our horticultural products is their re
markable shipping and keeping qual
ities. This Is largely the result of our
peculiar climatic conditions. There are
no crop failures of serious moment
that can be attributed to any unto
ward net of nature. Official records
show there Is no other section -where
the daner of damage by frost is so
s'RStilariy remote as In Oregon. Our
orchards, properly looked after, are
kept free from disease without dif
ficulty. The dreaded pear blight which
ravaged and successively destroyed
nearly all other pear-producing sec
tions in the United States, has been
successfully combated in Oregon and
no foothold is manifest today. There
is no territory laying claim to horti
cultural ability, where greater activity
In expansion exists than here, nor
where fruit is produced under more
skillful or scientific principles.
The reason is plain. The Eastern
orchard cannot be 'depended upon to
produce regularly, while the Oregon
orchard, under reasonable circum
stances, can. The vrflue of Kastern
fruit lands hns reached the maximum
figure, and the average production to
the acre per year is small. The Ore
gon orchard, planted to the best of
apples, pears or other fruits, properly
ki pt, pays the grower each year from
$400 to $1000 per acre, and returns
greater than $1000 are ot infrequent.
Kvery kind of deciduous fruit pro
duced In temperate zones Is grown suc
cessfully in Oregon. The apple Is the
variety principally produced, and it will
always be the keystone of the Indus
try. Its present annual production is
about 2300 cars; this represents the
output of the modern orchard to a very
limited extent, however, and two or
three years will have passed before the
efTect of the latter will be appreciably
felt. About 100.000 of the 120.000 acres
of young orchards in the state are of
the better variety of apples, and under
skillful methods of cultivation will
represent, when in full bearing six
years hence, an. annual shipment of
not less than 20.000 cars at a valuation
of about $13,000,000. In point of in
creasing value, the pear will always be
a close second to the apple. Examples
are mentioned elsewhere in this article,
which index the future importance of
the pear to the fruit Industry.
The Oregon dried prune is a staple
in the markets of North America and
large quantities are annually exported
for English consumption. The annual
output is about 20.000, 000 pounds and
the valuation In 1!07 was more than
$1,000,000. Other fruits grow to an
equal state of perfection. Strong de
mand exists for our cherries and
peaches, which command the highest
prices wherever marketed, and there
is much room for expanding this
branch of horticulture. The walnut
Industry alon has great possibilities.
Already 2000 ficres have been set out.
and the crops already produced are of
a quality which even surpasses the
famous walnut of Southern France.
More than 8000 acres have been sold
for planting this season, and the "Wil
lamette Valley is destined to be one
of the greatest walnut regions.
The majority of orchards planted In
Oregon during the past six years are
of the modern type, where the land is
not only judiciously selected, suitably
prepared and cultivated, but the growth
and character of every tree closely
guarded by the grower In the dif
ferent respects necessary to keep it in
a state of healthful perfection. Too
much credit cannot be assigned to the
Oregon Agricultural College, and Ex
periment Station, and the State Board
of Horticulture in assisting to bring
about the present satisfactory state of
affairs.
A careful review of the general fruit
situation clearly shows there is no
danger of over-production in Oregon,
provided the present standard of qual
ity is maintained. The Pacific Coast
cannot compete with the East except
upon the basis of superiority, and this
is a factor which will always have to
be borne in mind by the horticulturist
here. A perfect article, representing
not only appearance, palatableness, but
keeping and shipping qualities, is a
strict necessity. In addition to thiV.
up-to-date packing Is essential. No
method of advertisement brought the
Hood River fruit into such prominence
in the East, aside from Its superior
quality, as the perfection of Its pack
ing; and the years of experiment and
study which brougftt about the present
uniform style of wrapping and pack
ing, was one of the greatest boons the
industry ever received from any source.
Mention has been made of the grow
ing decrease in the apple crops of the
East. The production of the entire
United States has steadily decreased
since 1S!6 from S30.O00 cars to 120.000
"cars In 1307, while the average for that
period was 200,000 Practically no
state east of the Rocky Mountains is
showing any increase in its output,
while tlie reduction is more pronounced
in the states which were formerly the
greatest producers. There is a uni
versal increasing demand for high
grade fruits, and the East is unable to
meet that situation. Their production
is not adequate to supply the demand
for canning fruits, and Oregon must,
in the natural order of events, be
called upon to help take care of the
deficiency.
These several facts should reason
ably remove any existing fear-of pos
sible over-production in this state. "We
have only to consider that to equal the
United States' apple production of
1S9S, as compared with the crop of
1907. the Pacific Coast could market
not less than 230.000 cars of-apples per
year, or about 100 times the present
annual shipments of Oregon, and with
out allowing for the natural increase
In population and corresponding- in
crease in demand, or the creation of
new markets as developed- by com
mercial civilization.
What is true with respect to the
apple applies to the pear as well. This
natural pear-producing section must
also be looked to to supply the demand.
The pear acreage in Oregon in bear
ing today is. less than 20)0. while the
newly-set orchards represent about 10.
000 acres. The increasing call for this
fruit, which brought to Oregon In
100S, 1907 and 1908 the highest prices
ever paid for pears, of itself should
justify the assurance that its outlook
for the future is almost without limit.
Tho fear of over-production in dried
fruit, peaches, cherries, walnuts and
small fruits may be treated in the same
light and under the same suggestion
of a continued high standard. There
Is no question as to the increasing de
mand for our dried fruits anil walnuts.
The limited acreage of peaches and
berries of all kinds now in bearing has
admitted of but little movement of
these commodities, in carload ship
mnts beyond our 'local markets, and
yet those markets have always paid
greater figures for them than for the
product of other Pacific Coast States.
A large part of the strawberry crop
goes East in carload shipments from
the Hood River district, and between
S000 and 10.000 tons are harvested each
year. Our cherries yVo extensively
shipped in small lots throughout the
country, and the Increasing demand
will justify the shipment in carload lots
in the Immediate future. As a matter
of fact, Krrangemenls have already
been made to do so in 1909. Pickled
cherries are shipped in considerable
volume to California and the East and
a large business lias been worked up
in that line. The establishment of the
fruit canning iii..us-y upon an ex
tensive scale ill Oregon now taking
place, tlistinctlv marks the future of
the smaller fruits. The present ca
pacity of those in operation is SitO, 00
cases per annum, while t lie output
should be not less than ten times that
figure.
The essential avenue of distribution
of small fruits is the cannery, and its
support is the more Important to horti
culture as a whole in view of its ability
to take care of all varieties, and under
ordinary conditions at all times. The
recognition of canned fruit as a staple
article of consumption in every market
is sufficient evidence of what further
may be expected of Oregon in its dif
ferent branches of horticuitui e.
OREGON IS FAMED AS APPLE STATE
Leading Product of Its Orchards Commands Top Prices and Returns Large Profits to Growers.
ALTHOUGH other Oregon products
are of greater value, none is
more widely known or' sets n
higher standard of quality than the
apple. The Oregon apple is famous
from one end of the United States to
the other; It is familiar in the markets
of all large Eastern cities and even in
1-ondon and other European capitals it
sets the standard and commands prices
to which the apples of all other states
and countiies take second place.
The apple has been raised in Oregon
from the days of the early pioneers,
but it is only within recent years that
this, the most important branch of
horticulture, has been put on a scien
tific basis. "When apple trees were first
set out in the Willamette Valley, it was
found that they would grow and yield
with but little attention, so rich was
the soil and so well adapted the cli
mate. Markets, too, were lacking to
stimulate the orchardist to take care of
his trees. Imperfect trees and imper
fect fruit were the result and many
years had not passed before pests be
gan to infest the trees. Only a few
years ago, tlicse old and unkempt or-.
chards were very numerous throughout
the Valley, but now they are fast dis
appearing. Young, clean and well-kept
trees have taken their places anil where
old trees are left standing they have
been sprayed and . pruned under the
direction of keen-eyed inspectors.
To the growers of Hood River, un
doubtedly belongs much of the credit
for Introducing modern methods in the
care of apple orchards and the picking
and packing of the product. Growers in
that valley were not content with per
fect conditions of soil and climate for
the production of the apple, but went
about aiding Nature by making a study
of the requirements of their orchards.
Their reward came in the form of high
grade apples that called forth admira
tion wherever they were shipped, and It
was not long until Eastern buyers
were flocking to Hood River eager to
contract for the output at the highest
market prices.
Hood River growers never allowed
their apples to fall below the high
standard they have set and the up-to-date
methods followed there have
spread to the other apple-growing dis
tricts of the state. In no section is
more, attention . being paid to the im
provement of orchards and better meth
ods of packing and shipping than In
the Willamette Valley. Rogue Kiver
and Grand Ronde Valleys. Lincoln
Counjy and other sections where the
apple is an important product have
joined in this campaign for better frviit.
Between the various apple-growing
sections a strong rivalry exists. This
is especially true of tho Wilanutle
Valley and Hood River and this rivalry
has helped in raising the standard of
the product. Growers of both sections
claim superiority for their output hut
agree that the Oregon apple, no matter
in what part of the state it is raised,
ran win out in competition with apples
of the entire world.
All varieties of apples thrive in Ore
gon, but orchardists by long experi
menting have selected those kinds that
are best adapted to commercial uses.
The Spitzenbcrg and Y'ellow Newtown
are probably the most successful va
rieties. They not only stand shipment
well, but possess qualities that com
mand for them the highest prices both
in this country and abroad. The Pahl
wln and the Ren Davis are also popular
for conrthercfal purposes and a dozen
more varieties arc largely grown.
r