HORTICULTURAL PRACTICES IN OREGON 131 



he must go about it right, care for his trees, properly and produce a 

 quality of fruit that is marketable, if he would produce any at all. 



We know that it is not the disease and worms found in the fruit, 

 which sells that fruit. Soundness and attractiveness are big points In 

 this consideration. During the recent short course at Ames, this fact 

 was emphasized strongly. Apples were on sale — some of tliem fine 

 large, perfect and well colored apples. Others wore there of an inferior 

 grade — poor in size, color and in condition. The most attractive fruit, 

 which also possessed good flavor, went as fast as it was put up and the 

 people repeatedly came for more of the same kind. Others, a highly 

 colored apple but very hard, not yet being in season, were next in order 

 of demand — but the return call for these was not so great. And last, 

 tlie poorer colored apples of the inferior condition was taken when the 

 ether grades could not be obtained. It merely went to show what 

 appearance and condition combined, with quality will do. If fruit is 

 going to be produced it pays to produce a good grade, either in appear- 

 ance or quality. 



Oregon horticulturists are handicapped a matter of some fifty cents 

 a box when it comes to putting their fruit on the markets of the central 

 and eastern sections of the United States. There is that handicap of 

 freight charges to overcome. And yet they do put in their fruit and 

 pull down the top prices. There is a demand for that kind of fruit. 

 Hood River has probably done most to create that demand and the 

 demand up-to-date has come about because the fruit was put up as 

 Number One, Choice, or Fancy fruit, and lived up to specifications. Of 

 course, there has been a few exceptions as in cases where the owners 

 packed their own fruit. 



It would be impossible to take up all the points connected with 

 fiuit production in Oregon. Each point as spraying, pruning, culti- 

 vation, harvesting, and so forth, is enough in itself for a long dis- 

 cussion. Sections of Oregon have won reputations for good fruit. 

 Other sections of our country have won reputations for other products 

 — corn for instance. But no crop is going to do the best in every respect 

 unless it receives the care necessary. You cultivate and care for your 

 other crops, and expect big returns perhaps. With your fruit trees, 

 in many cases, you expect returns without giving the trees even a very 

 small proportion of the care you give other crops and then decide that 

 jours is not a fruit section. Tlie Hood River grower has cared for 

 his trees and has produced fruit in proportion. His orchard has 

 required his attention perhaps, every month of the year. He has 

 planted, pruned, sprayed, harvested, graded and packed in a thorough 

 and systematic manner. He has liad practically all the pests which 

 we have in this country and if anything, tliey are harder to combat 

 there. He has had the added disadvantages of dry summers — making 

 irrigation necessary in many fruit regions or tillage methods whicli 

 would end toward the conservation of moisture. His region has no 



