July, 19 19 



BETTER FRUIT 



Page II 



Big Shortage Indicated in 1919 Apple Crop 



THE Bureau of Crop Estimates, which 

 recently issued its first 1919 apple- 

 crop report, secured through its fruit- 

 crop specialists based on the conditions 

 June 1, states that indications are that 

 the apple output in the United States 

 will be considerably less than last year. 

 The report says only the condition fig- 

 ures are given, as conditions are so 

 changeable at this time that any quan- 

 tity estimates is certain to be very tem- 

 porary. The salient features of the re- 

 port are the prospect of a record crop 

 in the Western States, and a crop for 

 Western New York which will prob- 

 ably not exceed much more than one- 

 half of last year's crop. The indications 

 from Virginia, West Virginia and the 

 heavy production centers in the Middle 

 Atlantic States promise only slightly 

 better than one-half a full crop. Much 

 of the Middle Western crop was se- 

 verely damaged by frost and conditions 

 throughout the Ohio Valley particularly 

 are very low. Arkansas and Southwest 

 Missouri indicate about three-fourths of 

 a crop, while the same may be said of 

 New Jersey and Delaware. All indica- 

 tions in New England point to a much 

 better crop than last year, while Michi- 

 gan will have less than two-thirds of 

 a crop. 



The condition of the crop for the 

 United States June 1 was indicated at 

 61.4 per cent as compared with 68.6 per 



cent as an average ten-year condition 

 on June 1, and a condition of 69.8 per 

 cent June 1 last year. The final condi- 

 tion figure last year was 55.9 per cent. 

 It should be remembered that the con- 

 dition figure on June 1 will usually 

 average around 15 points higher than at 

 the end of the season. 



The Northwest boxed - apple crop 

 promises to be the largest ever pro- 

 duced, according to conditions the first 

 week in June. Production for Wash- 

 ington, Oregon and Idaho is estimated 

 at about 27,500 cars of 756 boxes each 

 as compared with about 20,000 cars in 

 1918 and 25,000 cars in 1917. 



\VASHINGTON.— Approximately 20,500 cars 

 are forecasted for Washington this year as 

 compared with ahove 17,000 cars last year. 

 Winesaps, which were exceedingly heavy last 

 year, are reported light in places, although all 

 varieties seem well set, and particularly Jon- 

 athan, which were light last year. A heavy 

 June drop is reported in progress in the Yaki- 

 ma Valley. Up until this time crop prospects 

 were excellent, and it now seems that the entire 

 Yakima Valley, including Y'akima and Benton 

 Counties, may ship approximately 9,000 cars, 

 or about 1,500 cars more than last year. With 

 the exception of limited sections affected by 

 frost the Wenatchee North Central Washington 

 district promises an excellent crop, and there 

 are prospects at this time for about 9,000 cars 

 of 756 boxes as compared with 8,300 cars last 

 year. The Walla Walla district, which last 

 year shipped only 130 cars, has prospects for 

 nearly 1,000 cars in 1919, of which half will be 

 Rome Beauties. Reports from Spokane em- 

 phasize the frost damage and June drop, and 

 the crop now promises to be between 600 and 

 800 cars. Taking Washington state as a whole. 



it seems this state may ship its largest apple 

 crop. 



OREGON.— The Hood River district will ship 

 from 2,000,000 to 2,250,000 boxes of apples, 

 according to present prospects, as compared 

 with about 1,350,000 boxes last year. Hood 

 River promises by far its largest crop. Other 

 districts in Oregon are equally promising and 

 promise bumper crops. The Rogue River is 

 now estimated at 755 cars, the Mosier and 

 Dufur section at 300 cars, and the Milton- 

 Freewater section at 500 cars, as compared to 

 250 last year. The state as a whole has 

 prospects for nearly twice as many apples as 

 in 1918. 



IDAHO. — Definite estimates are diilicult for 

 this state on account of June drop. Various 

 reports give state at from 75 to 100 per cent of 

 the record 3,500-car of 1917. The Lewiston 

 district will have better than 400 cars. 



COLORADO. — A heavy freeze reduced pros- 

 pects in Delta and Montrose Counties on June 

 1. The Grande Valley escaped, however, and 

 now has prospects for approximately 2,000 

 cars, or double the 1918 crop. Delta County is 

 estimated at 600 cars, Montrose at 50 cars and 

 Canyon City at 600 cars. The state as a whole 

 may ship 40 per cent more apples than in 

 1918. 



UTAH. — Prospects throughout the state are 

 generally good, showing a 10 per cent increase 

 over last year. The state as a whole will ship 

 approximately 800 cars; Weber and Davis 

 Counties 200 cars each and the Prove district 

 250 cars. 



MONTANA. — Montana is now estimated at 

 450 cars from the Bitter Root Valley. 



CALIFORNIA. — The Watsonville district, 

 which shipped nearly 2,500,000 boxes in 1918, 

 has prospects for a 10 per cent heavier crop 

 than last year. Newtowns, the principal vari- 

 ety, are about the same as last year, while 

 Belleflowers are considerably heavier. The 

 Sebastopol section is now estimated at about 

 750 cars, of which approximately 500 cars will 

 be Gravensteins. It is too early to forecast 

 dried-apple production, although the Watson- 

 ville district is now forecasted at about 5,000 

 tons of dried apples and Sebastopol at from 

 3,500 to 4,000 tons, which is almost equal to 

 the very heavy production of 1918. 



CANADA, — Reports from Canada promise a 



T. 



MU."^.. a' 



^K 





l^^"' 



v<- 





■*.'> ' 





'v. ^'■? 





I 





'f 



w 



English walnut orchard near Dundee, Oregon. Seven-year-old tree in the foreground. Walnut growing is proving remarkably successful in 

 this section of Oregon, which includes Salem and a large surrounding territory. It is now estimated that there arc 8,000 acres set to English 



walnuts in Oregon. 



