36 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



to make a good jelly, and we have the substance called pectin, 

 which causes the fruit juice to jell. We should can apples in 

 order to utilize the products which would otherwise be wasted. 

 We can peaches and pears. We pay a large sum of money for 

 the fruits which are canned in the western states ; and we might 

 well utilize our own products here in this state by canning them 

 and using them in place of the others. 



In conclusion, the apple is a staple article of diet. It should 

 be so considered. It should not be utilized simply for flavor ami 

 variety, but it has a true food value in that it supplies the sugar 

 which is an energy producer, that it supplies the minerals and 

 the acids which regulate body processes, together with the cellu- 

 lose, and it is an economical food. 



PROPOSED PLANS FOR ESTIMATING THE APPLE 



CROP. 



V. A. Sanders, Field Agent, Bureau of Crop Estimates, U. S. 

 Department of Agriculture. 



The conditions and methods are much the same for estimating 

 all crops, hence, I shall describe briefly the whole service, then 

 speak of the apple crop in particular. 



Dealers see the need of reliable information on crops and have 

 developed private crop reporting services. Sometimes such 

 reports are given out to producers. They need such informa- 

 tion just as much as do the dealers, if they are to obtain for 

 their crops a fair price. 



The crop reporting service was one of the first lines of work 

 undertaken in the interest of agriculture. Its purpose is to give 

 to all alike — producers, dealers and consumers — the most reliable 

 information available. 



The Bureau of Crop Estimates furnishes the agency for gath- 

 ering, compiling and disseminating the information. Growers, 

 and handlers of the crops, are those who have the necessary 

 information. They must cooperate generously with the service 

 in furnishing reports. In return, they receive reports for the 

 entire country. At present, some 150,000 persons are thus co- 



