Appendix. 19 



r> 



is the task of telling how it is done. However, thei'e are certain prin- 

 ciples that are generally applicable to all cases, and of these it is my 

 purpose to speak. In addition, I am expected to acquaint you with the 

 methods that Hood River has pursued which have been instrumental in 

 securing for Hood River apples the highest prices ever paid. To show 

 you what we have accomplished, it is but necessary for me to mention 

 the following facts: In 1902 Hood River growers as individuals sold 

 Spitzenbergs for 85 cents per box; in 1903 the Hood River Apple Grow- 

 ers' Union sold at $2; in 1904 at $2.10; in 1905 at $2.60; and already 

 the crop for 1906 has been disposed of, and it is rumored that the price 

 is around $3 per box. I regret that I can neither affirm nor deny the 

 figure, for the reason that by mutual agreement between the buyer and 

 the Hood River Apple Growers' Union the price for the present is con- 

 fidential; yet, I am permitted to say that the price is higher than last 

 year. 



To be successful in marketing any commodity, it is necessary to pro- 

 duce an article of quality. Mr. A. I. Mason, who has just preceded me 

 (and, by the way, I desire to say that no one in Hood River has a more 

 beautiful orchard than his, and no one produces a finer crop of Spitzen- 

 bergs and Newtowns, in either size or quality) , has just told you in a 

 very thorough and able manner how to select your soil, your tree, how 

 to grow your apple, and in fact, has acquainted you with every feature 

 of the business from the selection of the soil up to placing the apple on 

 the packing table. The second feature of the apple business is packing 

 properly. The third is to gain a reputation, and the fourth, to create a 

 demand. The reputation assists in creating a demand, and the demand 

 insures better prices. In Hood River we have adopted the system of 

 having the association pack all the apples of its members. The union 

 employs expert packers to do this work, and no grower is permitted to 

 pack his own apples. By this method we are enabled to put up a pack 

 that is absolutely uniform, and we are also able to guarantee that pack. 

 The grower sorts his apples to the best of his judgment and ability. 

 It is the duty of the inspector over each crew of packers to see that no 

 apple not up to the standard is packed in the box. 



We believe that if a man has one hundred boxes of good apples and 

 throws away ten boxes and only puts up ninety boxes of fancy fruit, 

 that he will realize more money for the ninety boxes than he would 

 have realized for the one hundred without any culling. Whether we are 

 right or not in this assumption is of course a matter of opinion; yet I 

 think the prices we are getting are sufl^cient proof to drive conviction 

 into the mind of any doubting orchardist. We aim to make the package 

 fancy in every respect. Each apple is wrapped with a printed wrapper, 

 the box lined with white paper, and blue layer paper is placed between 

 each layer, and on the top and bottom. The box is labeled with not only 

 an attractive, but a beautiful label, being a perfect reproduction in color 

 and size of the wonderful Hood River apple. 



HOR.— 13 



