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The Hood River Glacier, Hood River, OR., July 2, 1903, page 3

FAR FAMED HOOD RIVER
By D.A. Hanna in Chicago Packer

Hood River, Oregon, June 15 - As a fruit growing district, this valley has become famous for its Yellow Newton Pippen apples and strawberries. The apples are almost all exported, while the strawberries are shipped to the Middle West, and on account of their fine color and keeping qualities command the very highest market price of any shipped to the Eastern markets.
Last season there were 95 cars of berries shipped East. The crop this season is estimated at 125 cars. They are now being shipped East at the rate of 10 cars per day.

Apple Acreage Increasing

There are estimated to be 125 cars of export apples. The new acreage constantly coming in will cause the crop to increase each year. The Spitzenburg apple is also a great favorite here as one of the export apples. The packing is done by the Davidson Fruit company and the Hood River Fruit Growers' union. The latter now has 175 members, mostly berry growers and handles about one-half the crop.

Ideal Fruit Country

Hood River has about 1200 people and is located on the hills of the Columbia river at the junction of the Hood river. It has fine climate and good water. The success of the fruit business is partly credited to the fact that the farms are all small, in some cases three or four acres. There are no large farms or orchards here.

Famous Hood River Berry

The Hood River strawberry has become famous on account of its firmness, high color and keeping qualities, which enables it to be shipped long distances without loss. During the past season there was shipped from Hood River about 90 cars, bringing the net returns of over $125,000 to growers. The usual average net to growers has been for two years about $2 per crate.
Remarkable success has been obtained in realizing large returns from small piece of ground. F.G. Church from a space of 1½ acres received gross for his crop $802. D.S. Crapper has harvested from 4 1/8 acres 1,350 crates, worth about $2 per crate. H.C. Hengst from 1¾ acres, 400 crates. Mr. Trenor of White Salmon, realized $600 from a little over 1¼ acres in strawberries, without irrigation. S.C. Ziegler, of White Salmon, 700 crates from 3½ acres - his receipts were $1,736. D.E. Miller in one day shipped 190 crates from 10 acres, and for the season 2,220 crates. William Davidson from ½ acres 169 crates, worth about $2 per crate. Markley Bros. gathered 200 crates from 1 acre set the previous July. A.N. Rahm cleared $1400 from 7½ acres in 1901. In 1902 he gathered 1,325 crates worth $2 each. Aaron Butts on 15 acres, 2,500 crates. E.D. Eatinger on 14½ acres, 1,978 crates. C.G. Metcalf, 185 crates of fine berries from 2-3 of an acre.

Success In Apples

The apples of Hood River have become as famous as its berries. There is a very long growing season, freedom from extreme heat and cold, and abundance of rain or water for irrigation. The apples are remarkable for size, quality, color and long keeping qualities. The highest prices are obtained for these apples of any raised in any portion of the United States. It is one of the few sections of the United States where the Newton Pippen and Spitzenburg meet with perfect success.
Sufficient acreage has been planted to yield in a few years 500 carloads of this fruit annually. H. Prigge from 1½ acres of apples, several varieties, sold $735 worth. Sears & Porter gathered from 2¾ acres in 1901, 1,414 boxes of apples worth 98½ cents a box, and from same trees in 1902, 2,700 boxes. From 19 Red cheek Pippen trees, 7 years old, sold 203 boxes at $1.35 for $253.75. From 8 Baldwin trees gathered 104 packed boxes, sold for $104 -- this is at the rate of $1,200 per acre. C. Dethman from 5 acres in 1901 sold $1,500 worth, in 1902 his crop was 2,300 boxes, worth $2,000.

And Cherries Too.

Cherries of all kinds are very successful and profitable. Are used also extensively for canning. Growers realized from 5 to 7 cents per pound net. From one tree of the Royal Ann H.T. Williams realizes 400 pounds annually, which he sells for $20. From 4 trees, same variety, Robert Rand realizes $80. E. Locke has trees producing still more abundantly. One hundred trees can be planted per acre. The cherry is exempt here from bursting.

Other Fruits.

The pear is an unqualified success. No blight is known, and every variety can be grown with certain assurance of health. W.J. Baker in 1901 gathered 10 tons of Bartlett pears from about 2 acres; in 1902 nearly 20 tons. E. Locke from Beurre D' Anjou trees, an average of 15 boxes per tree. This is over 1500 personal bushels per acre.
Mr. Byrkett of White Salmon gathered, in 1902, from 2 pear trees, 75 bushel boxes of pears. M. Stranahan has gathered over ½ ton of prunes, from one tree. Alfred Boorman gathered over 100 crates of the blackberries from less than ¼ of an acre. Mr. Bailey, jr., realized $90 from ¼acre of blackberries.
Tomatoes are successful and in great demand by canners at $10 per ton. A conservative estimate gives a yield of 18 or more tons per acre.