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half a million dollars worth of business was transacted. The annual statement 

 shows a surplus of assets of over $25,000. No member is allowed more than 

 15 shares, and all members are allowed one vote and no more. No dividends 

 are paid on the stock, profits being pro-rated in accordance with the quantity 

 of fruit delivered to the company. A large canning factory has been established 

 for the purpose of taking care of any fruit that may not be suitable for shipping 

 or which might meet a glutted market. As the berries are delivered at the 

 warehouse they are graded as to their suitability for long or medium distance 

 shipment, or canning factory purposes. Very many cars of red raspberries 

 and blackberries are shipped to a variety of points in the middle west and even 

 as far east as the city of Winnipeg. A very considerable demand has also been 

 created for both red raspberries and blackberries put up in gallon cans. No 

 difficulty has been experienced in securing help, as the district is situated between 

 the two large cities of Seattle and Tacoma, and during the picking season large 

 numbers go out to the berry fields for an outing, and at the same time to secure 

 profitable work. 



The berry industry has grown from very small and insignificant proportions 

 until it has become the chief occupation of the people. The company above 

 referred to has had a varied experience, but is now firmly established and is an 

 outstanding example of what can be accomplished by united effort under com- 

 petent management. 



On the grounds of the Western Washington Experiment Station at Puyallup, 

 the Bing, Black Republican and Royal Anne cherries are proving profitable. 

 Mr. John A. Stahl, the horticulturist, considers the small fruit industry the 

 most satisfactory for the section. The Evergreen blackberry, of local origin, 

 bears extraordinary crops, nine and ten hundred crates per acre having been 

 produced on occasion. This berry is s milar to the dewberry in growth and 

 habit, and requires to be trained upon trellises. When properly looked after 

 it is very profitable, and a large acreage is devoted to its culture. This berry 

 is well worthy of a trial by Canadian growers in sections where the blackberry 

 is hardy and successful. 



At the city of Portland Mr. H. M. Williamson, Secretary of the State Board 

 of Horticulture, supplied us with considerable information regarding the history 

 of fruitgrowing in the State of Oregon. About 1853 a few boxes of apples were 

 produced and sold at the extraordinary price of $1.50 to $2 per pound. For 

 some years thereafter they were worth as high as $50 to $75 a bushel. These 

 prices induced a very large planting, so that about 1865 a very considerable 

 supply was available with very few people to consume it, there being no railroads 

 by which the fruit could be shipped to outside points. In consequence orchards 

 began to be neglected and became infested with the apple scab and codling 

 moth, and the fruit became practically worthless. During recent years, however, 

 attention has again turned to the renovation of these old orchards and the 

 extensive planting of new ones, so that in 1910, from the district of Hood River 

 alone, something like 500,000 boxes were shipped to outside points. 



This district and other valleys in Oregon and Washington, owe their distinc- 

 tion largely to the fact, that those engaged in the cultivation of fruit, early 

 recognized the necessity for and the value of establishing a reputation for their 

 product by exercising the utmost care in every detail of their business. 



A very important organization, known as the Northwest Fruit Exchange, 

 has its headquarters at Portland. This concern has been organized for the pur- 

 pose of effecting an even distribution of the fruit produced in the States of 

 Washington and Oregon. Last season, although the first since the company 

 was organized, 700 cars of fruit were distributed in 125 markets. A moderate 

 charge per box is made for handling and distributing, and the company believes 

 that its policy will net the grower from 25 to 50 cents a box more than he would 

 get by handling his own goods. Mr. W. F. Gwin, General Manager, has had 

 a wide experience in the wholesale fruit trade, and is very sanguine that, with 



