HOOD RIVER GLACIER, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1905.
TELLS THE WORLD
ABOUT FINE APPLES
Jamei M. Iivine, nmuaglng editor
of tbe Western Frult-Grower of St
Joeph, Mo., visited tbe fruit growing
ncctlous of tbe North went thii sum
mer, and hag published tbe following
description of tbe Industry in Hood
Hirer valley in tbe September number
of his very excellent paper:
Nestled among the mountains along
the Columbia river Ilea the Hood Kiv
er valley one of tbe beat known fruit
suctions of all tbe northwest country
It should be said in tbe beginning
that the term "valley" is somewhat
miHleading. The fruit trees are plant'
eu in what is really a valley as con
trasted with the near-by mountains
hut as related to the Columbia river
the Hood Kiver valley is really a com
paratively level plateau several bun
dred feet higher than tbe river. We
present an illustration, giving a bird's
eye view of tbe valley with it small
farms.
Hood Kiver la noted for its apples
and its strawberries. Not many 'of
the apples grown at Hood Kiver find
their way into the ordinary markets,
for the price is usually too high to
permit of any but tbe most select
trade to handle tbe fruit. But last
year at St. Louis a wonderfully fine
exhibit of apples was made, and tbe
eyes of the middle west were opened.
Hood Kiver strawberries have long
been known on tbe markets, on ao
count of their firmness and careful
handling.
When The Fruit-Grower represen
tative arrived at Hood Kiver, it wat
after a very hot, dusty ride ; the day
had been very disagreeable. It meant
much therefoie, to reach a place pro
vided with clear, oold water, from
springs up in the mountains, and tbe
II rut impression of Hood Kiver was
most favorable.
One of the first men we met was Mr.
E. 11. Shepard, manager of the Kerry
Growers' Association, also manager
of the Apple Shippers' Union. An
appointment was made to drive out
in the country the following day. Af
ter supper The Kriut-Grower repre
sentative met Hon. E. L. Smith on
the street and reoognlzed him from
his published likeness. Mr. Smith If
president of the Oreogn State Hoard
of Horticulture president of tbe
Northwest Fruit-Urowers' Associa
tion and is one of tbe pioneer or
chanlists of Hood Kiver, It may al
so be stated that while in Portland
we learned that Mr. Smith will likely
be the Kepublican nomluee for gov
ernor of Oregou next year. If he It
we will vote for him.
We made ourselves known to Mr.
Smith, who replied:
"Well, I am certainly glad to see a
representative of The Fruit-Grower,
for 1 want to say to you, as I have
said to a great many other persons,
that The Fruit-Orower Is tbe beat
fruit paper published in this or any
other country. 1 have made this state
ment all over the northwest, and have
myself sent number of subscrip
tions." Mr. Smith took us up to his house,
to meet his wife, who explained that
she, too bad admired Tbe Fruit-Grower
very much. Mr. Smith is one ol
the first settlers of Hood Kiver, ami
when he hud opportunity to choose a
site for his home selected a block of
ground with a mnguillcent view up
and down the Columbia river and
aoross to the mountains on tbe Wash
ington Hide. He has a beautiful home
in a beautiful location. We are In
dnbted to Mr. Smith not only for a
mout cordial welcome, but for much
valuable information oouceruiug fruit
growing lu the northwest. He has
growu three orchards, which have
been sold, and now has another beau
tiful orchard just coming on. One of
our illustrations shows Mr. Smith
holding a branch of apples. He has
been iu the northwest for 14 yearc,
out is a weu-proservea man and we
hope he will lie with us long enough
10 laise several more orchards.
Mr. Smith informed us that tbe
fruit lands of what is called the Hood
Kiver valley will amount to perhaps
uu, iium aures; anoui ;i,uuu acres only
are now producing rrult for market.
We asked Mr. Smith what is the best
money crop that Is grown, and be
promptly replied :
"Newtown and Spitzeuhurg apples.
lie added mat ine strawiierrles are
an important crop, and will serve to
bring an luoouie until an orchard Is
iu bearing, but when an orchard be
gins to bear be believe that nothing
will beat It for protlt. He added, in
this connection, that he believed the
varieties named are the ones to plant.
Other apples do well at Hood Kiver,
but they succeed iu other localities
also, whereas the two varieties named
reach a high state of perfect I on there,
such as they roach at very few other
places in cne country.
Not everyone who plants an apple
ore nurd win succeed, at Hood Jtlver,
any more than at other places. The
successful man must spray his trees
and cultivate the soil thoroughly.
The annual rainfall at Hood Kiver
si not heavy not heavy euoiigh to
raise strawberries without Irrigation
but the young orchards are all grown
without irriagtion, unless strawber
ries are planted among the trees, in
which ouho they will have to be
watered, and of course the trees will
recoivo a share of the water. How
ever, the best opiulous are that apple
trees should be growu without irriga
tion, at lest while they are young;
when trees get old and are bearing a
heavy load of fruit, it may be neces
sary to apply vater lute lu the season,
Hut orchards twelve to fourteen years
old, full of fruit, are enabled to ripen
their fruit without irrigation simply
cultivate the soil thoroughly and of
ten. The Hood Kiver growers are experts
on spraying, too. Notice the small
tree shown in our illustration. The
photograph from which this cut was
made plainly showed the spray mix
ture sticking to the fruit, although
this is not so clear in the reduced 11
lustration. This spraying is so thor
oughly done that some of the trees
seem as if they were whitewashed.
We asked Mr. Smith if any of the
growers contend that spraying is in
etl'ootive, uud he replied that they do
not they know better.
"I cuu spray one row of apple trees
and allow the adjoining row to go uu
spruyed. From the first I will get
nearly perfect fruit, while from the
unsprayed row there will be few per
fect apples. Codlin moth run be con
troled, and I have little sympathy for
the one who says he cannot hold the
Insect iu check. Some persons say
that the preseuoe of an unsprayed or
chard in the vicinity will iufest the
whole neighborhood, but this will not
be so if the other orchards are sprayed
as they ought to be. Tell your people
in Missouri and elsewhere to spray
tkoir trees thoroughly, and this insect
cau be coutroled. "
" As an evidence of the thorough
spraying given the Hood River or
chards, it may be aaid that when the
cpples are packed In the fall they are
wiped with a cloth to remove the
marks of the spray mixture not the
"russet" marks, of too strong a mix
ture, but the actual spray mixture
Itself.
Many of tbe trees are sprayed witb
lime, sulphur and salt indeed, in
many of tbe places visited on the trip
we found where apple trees are sprayed
while dormant with this mixture,
simply for the effect upon the vigor
of the trees. The bark is kept smooth
and vigorous, and even though there
is no danger from Han J one scale,
manv orchardists use this mixture
every winter.
We asked Mr. Smith bow one wus
to handle a large orchard where this
thorough spraying is done. That is
tbe thing wbicb troubles many of the
orchardists in the middle west, the
uettinff over a larue orchard
"That Iseasv." replied Mr. mith.
"The solution of the problem Is to
have no large orchards. We have
none here. Twenty acres is enough
for most men forty acres is enough
for even men who are capable of band
ling a large enterprise. Twenty acres
well oaied for is enough work for any
one man to look after, and many of
our growers are growing wealthy on
ten acres. Don't have a large orchard
to be neglected have a small one and
care for It."
Mr. Smith said the best orchard
land near Hood Kiver is that on which
pine and oak timber originally grew.
J?hls land is hard to clear for planting,
and Is worth URiWJ to WHO per acre in
tbe raw state. We acked Mr. Smitb
to say frankly if he thought one would
be justified in paying la JO an acre for
this laud, then clear it and plunt it
to aplpes.
"When a single crop will net the
owner more than the land cost,
don't believe the first cost of the land
diould be considered. ies s'r, 1
think you can pay even more than
that for this land, and still make good
money from apples."
Later Mr. Shepard submitted some
figures which seemed to prove the
correctness of Mr. Smith s position.
I'be writer saw a small orchard of 'Ml
trees from which the fruit sold lust
year for 2,4(X), and there wore many
other similar cases.
Next day Mr. Shepard took The
Fruit-Grower representative for a
trip through the surrounding country.
We wish every member or llie rruit-
llrower family might take thin trip,
to see the care which theso orcliardt
receive. Not being able to do this,
we present some illustrations made
from photographs.
As stated before, strawberries are
Irrigated, and apple orchards are not.
Ine former are blunted close togethei
iu rows, and no runners are allowed
to form. A runner cutter is used sim
ilar to the old-fushloned postholc
digger. One of the best we saw wus
formed of an old saw blade, which is
bent in the form of a circle, llie
lower edge Is sharpened, a handle is
attached to the top, and the cutter is
pluced over a hill of strawberries, and
the runners out on every side. These
cutters operate just us a biscuit cut
ter does, and they vary I sizes. For
uewly set plants, one eight or ten
Inches in diameter is largo enough to
cover a hill of strawberries, but for
older plants a larger one niUHt be
used.
After fruiting season the plantations
are allowed to rest a while; then the
cops of the plant-) are cut off with a
sharp hoe, a man goes along with this
cutter shaped like a biscuit cutter,
and then the wi.ter is turned on and
cultivation begins. Some ot the straw
berry patches are kept for live or six
years.and no runners are ever allowed.
It la held by some growers that to cut
off the tops and apply the water Im
mediately after the fruiting season
will Induce the plants to blussom in
the full. Early in the soring the
plants are cultivated aguiu. This
plan will not work, of con rue, in lo
ealities where theialns would splash
the soil ou the ripening berries, but
they do not count on having rains at
Hood Kiver when the fruit is ripening-
Asked as to the varieties grown at
Hood Kiver, Mr. Shepird said that
only one sort is grown Clark's Seed
ling, which originated near Portland.
"We have found that this berry is
of good size, good color, and is firm,
and it has driven out all other varie
ties," said Mr. Shepard. "We for
merly grew the Magoon, but it Is uot
o firm as Clark's Seedling, although
it is more prolific Oocasionully we
had a grower who had some Magoon
berries, which he tried to ship with
(lurk's Seedling, but the former berry
inviolably arrived In bad condition,
and Is uot grown here now."
Merry-growers generally cau learn a
lesson from these Hood Kiver grow
ers, who have put away a prollllc
berry and have planted instead a very
thy bearer, simply because it will
carry well to market, and will uot In
line the reputation for Hood Kiver
fruit. Clark's Seedliug is a very shy
bearer, but it has firmness, and that
is why It is profitable.
Mr. Shepard said the berries nro not
packed promiscuously In boxes in the
Held; Instead, they are delivered by
the ploker to the packing shed, and
the berries are thou placed in boxes
in rows and luyers, just as Hood Kiver
apples are packed later In the seusou.
Ibis requires considerable bundling,
of course but the top prices are sc
oured, and that is what counts. Small,
poorly shaped berries are not mark
eted at all, for with this system ot
grading uud packing they cannot be
placed in the boxes.
Most or the berries are bundled by
the association, and much cod it if
lue Mr. Shepard for the splendid re
turns of the past season. With a large
acreage and heavier crop than ever
before, the net returns to the growers
will be about tl.CA) cents per crate of
21 boxes. This means lots of money
to be placed iu circulation among the
strawberry men.
Mr. Shepard is also manager ot the
apple association, aud was iu position
to give us many facts concerning this
business. Last year the apple crop
was unusually heavy, and the fruil
was of very line quality. The New
town l'ippins were sold at ?1.7;" a box,
and the Spitzenbiirgs ut M. 10, f. o. b.
cars at Hood Kiver, payment being
made lu cash. This was four-tier up
Hes. tills year the crop is not so
large, and high prices are expected.
While The Fruit-Grower representa
tive was at Hood Kiver two buyers
from Europe were on the ground.
ookiug over the field with a view of
buying the fruit for export. Most of
tbe Hood Kiver apples are exported,
auyway, and these buyers were seek-
ug to get the fruit ut first hands.
All the apples are handled by the
association, aud we asked Mr. Shep
ard how the organization - could guar
antee the pack of its members.
llie association packs all of its
fruit," was the reply, "so that we
know just the churacter of the fruit.
The growers pick their fruit from the
treed and deliver to the packing tables
at their orchards, aid our expert
mckers are there to do the packing.
or this service the orchurdist is
charged a cousidertion, but as they
own the stock of t''e association it is
tbe same in the end. After "the fruit
It's a Dandy.
Twenty acres of early strawltfrry, ap
ple, cherry and vegetable land with a
fine southern slope. Only one half
mile from town of White Salmon. It
coiiiiiiuiiiIh a magniliceiit view of Mount
Hood and city of Hood River. The soil
is rich, deep and moist. Four acres
cleared and ready to plant to orchard,
balance only light brush, easy to clear,
some timber for fuel. It is all under
fence, and a line well of cool soft water.
There is no better soil and location for
an orchard or a finer site for a home
east of the Cascades. And now that we
are sure of the Northern Pacific build
idg down the north bank of the Colum
bia river it is dirt cheap at 100 per
acre. It will be worth three times that
in three years. Terms, flftOO cash, bal
ance in three years. Don t let this b
if you are looking for a home.
White Salmon Land Co.
White Salmon. Wash.
'P
is packed the orchard int delivers it at
the warehouse in town, and it is sold
witb that of other growers. Aud un
der our system we have a uniform
pack, and the association guarantees
every box of the fruit. "
We were told that the cost of tbe
box, labor of picking, packing, haul
ing to town, etc., is estimated at
about 50 cents a box.
Perhaps many of the persona have
been of the opioniou that, because
the Hood Kiver apples they have seen
have been uniform In size; that apple
there do not vary in si.e as do ours
in the middle west, lint they do,
Apples of ull sizes are growu and
iiiuny styles of pack are made, snob
us four-tier, five tier, etc., the boxes
containing from 72 to '212 apples each
lhe fruit in a given box, however,
will be all of the same size, and this
careful grading ami packing has made
a reputation for Hood Kiver fruit.
The grading is done by the eye of the
grader, who can tell at a glance
whether an apple belongs in a four-
tier or a five-tier box. This requires
careful handling of the fruit, aud this
is where the expert help Is required
All fruit must be hauled to town
in wagons with springs, so that it is
loaded on the cars in the best possi
lile condition. This all goes to help
bring the price up to ?2.(J0 per box
you see.
Air. Shepard agreed witb Mr. Smitb
Unit Newtown Pippin and Spitzouburg
are ttie two varieties to grow.
frequently one of our members
will bring in an apple mid usk how I
like it," said Mr Shepard, "it may
be t good apple, and the man will tell
ine he will plant u lot of trees. Then
1 reason with him like this:
" 'Vos, this apple is a good one, but
is it better than a Newtown?
" 'No, it is not bettor than a New
town. '
" 'Well, is it better Hum a Spitzen
burgr
'Oh, no; nollilrg is better than a
Spitzeuhurg. '
limn why not stick to these two
varieties;1 If this new apple has no
points of superiority, or if in growing
it wo will have to compete in the mur
sets with the same sort as grown else
where, why not stay with the New
town and the npitzouburg, when we
have almost a mononoply of the mar
kets for these rtsY
"All of our growers aro coming to
see that we must make our money
with these varieties, which reach suuli
a high state of perfection here."
The illustrations show some of the
typical scenes in tJio Hood Kiver fruit
country. Apples uud strawberries are
the great crops, although sweet cher
l ies do reiiiurKuiily well. Tins year
liiug cherries were shipped by express
to the city or Mexico and arrived in
good condition. Planting of cherry
trees is being increased, and in n few
years this fruit will be added to ap
pies and Hlruwbeirles, to cull utteu
t ion to Hood Kiver. Wo visited the
f rni of Mr. Chris Dethmun, one i f
tie members of The Fruit-Grower
Family, and found one of the prettiest
orchards in the vulley. One of the
orchards which were grown by Mr.
Smith Is now owned by another uieir.
her of Tho Fruit Grower I'uinilv, Mr
Vanderbilt, who showed us Newtowi
trees from which he had picked eight
boxes of apples, iu the process of
thinning the fruit. This fruit '
picked while quite small aud
thrown away.
That takes nerve, but the Hood
Kiver growers have lots of this qnal
ity. It takes nerve to pay us high us
200 per acre for land, clear it of
stumps, then plant apple trees 30 feet
apart, and give the trees the whole
occupancy of the land, with no crops
planted between ; then to add the ex
pense of cultivating this soil once a
week during the summer all this
takes nerve, but It bus demonstrated
that the expenditure of money and
labor pays.
Hood Kiver is well located for ship
plug Its apples, lieroreltio locks were
built in the river, which allowed boats
to come up that far, freight chnrg
were ten cents a box on apples from
Hood Kiver to Portland. Steamers
now stop at Hood Kiver daily, and
the rule to Portland, where competit
ive freight rates can be secured, is
only 5 cents a box.
Across the Columbia from Hood
Khor is another fruit section, which
is ix'ing developed rapidly. This is
the White Salmon cou.itry, iu Wash
liigton. White Salmon berries have
the advantage of un curlier locution,
and t he beriT s rroni taut point are
ou the market a week or ten days
ahead or Itood Kiver rrult. Flue ap
plea are ulso growu over there, am
orcharding is on the increase.
I he 1' in it C rower is under many
obliagttons to Mr. nmith and to Mr.
Shepard and to Mr. W. F. Ijaraway.
Mr. Shepard has one of the finest lo
cutions in all tho valley, his farm con
sisting ot 10 acres. Eight acres of
strawberries last spring were very
profitable, and he is now growing a
tine young orchard. We re;ret we
could not use ell the photographs se
cured in the Hood Kiver valley, but
wo privent a number, which will give
one an idea of the conditions which
exist there. We believe that nowhere
else in this country aie orchards un
iformly better caied for, nor is the
fruit crop more carefully graded and
packed. This has something to do
with too high prices obtained for the
fruit.
CHOICE RESIDENCE LOTS FOR SALE IN-
-o
Rivcrview Park
AND
Idlewilde Additions
Easy Grades, Fine View and Good Water
ALSO MANUFACTURING SITES FRONTING ON 0 R.
& N. TRACK WITH DEVELOPED WATER POWER
Cheap lots for building: Small Houses near Flour Mill
FRUIT LAND FOR SALE IN TRACTS TO SUIT
HOOD RIVER DEVELOPMENT CO.
Office next to Waucoma Hotel
HOOD RIVER
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School commences Sept. 4th. The
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SLOCOM'S
SNOW & UPSON
Blacksmiths and Wagon flak ers
The most completely equipped power plant in Oregon.
Contract work a specialty. Grubbing supplies and Log
gers' tools always on hand.
The care Of the horse's hoof is essential. We are
experts in that line and cure corns and interferes.
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Carries everything in the line, including
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ngrains, Varnished Tiles, 8 anks, etc.
Up-to-date Paper Hanging, Sign,
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DAVIDSON FRUIT CO
FRUIT DEALERS
and Manufacturers of all kinds of
Fruit
oxes
Highest Trices Paid for High Grade Fruit.
A. J. FLOOD,
GENERAL CONTRACTOR FOR ALL KINDS OF
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Work
llOIH
Estimates given on short notice.
Building Work a specialty.
!o 1. Hood River, Oregon.
HOOD RIVER TRANSFER
& LIVERY CO.
TICLET OFFICE FOR THE REGULATOR LINE OF STEAMERS.
Hauling, Draying, Baggage Transferred, First
Class Livery Turnouts Always Ready.
Phone 131.
Square Deal Store
lo not
forget
monev everv time
that you will jret
von trade with me.
full value for your
When in need of
Groceries, Flour and Feed
Call and see me. You will find it pays to trade here.
Plows, Harrows, Cultivators ami
an kinds of Agricultural Implements
Alfalfa, Clover and All Kinds of Field Seeds.
I have just added a stock of PAINTS and am pre-
in red to guarantee price and xualiry.
Come in and make your wants known, and
1 1 will pay you. . . i A K
Yonrs for business,
R. D. GOULD,
PLUMBING
Steam and Hot Water Heating
All jobbing promptly attended to.
Dealer in
Building Material,
Doors, Windows,
Lath, Mouldings,
AND ALL GRADES OF
AQENCY TROY LAUNDRY
R. E. WITHROW
Has accepted the Hood River agency for the Troy Laun
dry Co. of Portland, with an office in the 0. K. Barber
Shop. He will call for laundry Wednesday and Thursday,
delivering Tuesday. These dates will hold for a few weeks,
owing to the rush of work in Portland. Dates will be
changed later and notice given. Wagon will collect and
deliver goods. Phone Main 1143.
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Hood Bier, Ore.
Send four cents for our Lewis and Clark Rooklet,
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Yellowstone Park Literature
can be had for the asking.
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A. D. CHARLTON,
Assistant General Passenger Agent,
Portland, Oregon. -