REPORT OF* STATE HORTICULTURIST. 49 



lowed by warm rains during the regular picking period, com- 

 pleted a season wherein the weather played an unusually im- 

 portant part in reducing what might otherwise have been a 

 bumper yield. But for the consoling fact that conditions in 

 other fruit centers were much the same, so that the total yield, 

 was very materially reduced, the season might have been very 

 disastrous to many of the growers. 



At hand is the last account of sales from Simons, Shuttle- 

 worth & Company of Liverpool, giving prices received from 

 many Maine packed apples. The figures compare more than 

 favorably with those received for apples from other sections 

 and the following is a list of the best selling varieties from this 

 state: — Fancy Spy, $5.64; Fancy Baldwin, $5.52; No. i Rhode 

 Island Greening, $5.40; Fancy Golden Russet, $5.40; Fancy 

 Stark, $5.28; Fancy Fallawater, $5.16; Fancy Benton Red, 

 $5.04. These apples will net the shipper a handsome profit and 

 demonstrate the fact that Maine fruit when well grown and 

 packed commands a top figure on the market. 



One feature of the report is the number of "slacks" re- 

 ceived. It is difficult to pack fruit so that it will stand up on a 

 long shipment and extra care should be given to this part of the 

 work. Better grading for size, better barrels, and a clearer 

 conception of the amount of fruit to put into the barrel, are 

 controlling factors and can be greatly improved upon by our 

 packers. If there are too few apples in the barrel, they will 

 rattle about as soon as any shrinkage occurs, bruising many and 

 seriously impairing the attractiveness. If too many apples are 

 put into the barrel, they must be pressed very hard. The skm 

 of the fruit is torn, they lose their elasticity and deteriorate 

 into a mass of pulp. The middle course, putting in the right 

 amount, is the only one which will insure uniform satisfaction. 



ERUIT growers' associations. 



The work of the fruit associations has been very encouraging. 

 Two new ones were formed at Hebron and Waterboro, re- 

 spectively. The former was organized by Mr. Sweetser of the 

 State Department and is called the Indian Head Fruit Growers' 

 Association. The latter is known as the Ossipee Valley Fruit 

 Growers' Association. Both are composed of keen, up-to-date 



