1 66 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE, 



turns because of unfavorable conditions at marketing time or 

 because of improper methods of handling. Usually the apple 

 crop is sold on the trees on the basis of so much per barrel de- 

 livered at the railroad station, the grower to furnish the barrel 

 and do the picking and packing under the supervision of the 

 buyer or his representative. This simplifies marketing very 

 much and the fact that this method has become a general prac- 

 tice is an indication that it has been found at least a fairly satis- 

 factory system. Winter apples at harvesting time are not in 

 condition to be put on the market for immediate use. The 

 grov^er must either store his fruit and hold it until ready for 

 consumption or sell to some buyer who stores for later market- 

 ing. Usually the grower needs the money for paying his pack- 

 age and labor bills and prefers to realize at once by selling his 

 crop at harvesting time. He generally feels also that he does 

 not wish to take chances on a rise in the market during the win- 

 ter months and does not like to face cold storage and repacking 

 charges incidental to storing the crop. However, if prices are 

 low at harvesting time or if for other reasons the grower con- 

 cludes to handle and market his own crop his problems are 

 greatly multiplied. He must pack for the needs of a retail trade, 

 he must be prepared to meet competition, he must advertise, he 

 must know when to sell, he must collect his bills from a number 

 of individuals and firms instead of from one firm. This system 

 of marketing, while it is more taxing on the grower, usually 

 secures wider distribution of the crop and better prices and if 

 . practiced to any considerable extent redounds to the benefit of 

 the whole apple industry. Wider distribution and the supply- 

 ing of small towns not accustomed to securing a regular supply 

 of apples will aid in solving the problem of over production in 

 full crop years. 



The future of apple growing is a matter of no small concern 

 at the present time to practical orchardists in this country. 

 Overproduction, the ghost which at times haunts the minds of 

 many fruit growers, looms up big in the hazy future. With 

 thousands of acres recently planted in all parts of the country 

 and millions of young apple trees developing, it would at first 

 thought seem impossible ever to market at a profit to the grower, 

 the great quantities of apples which seem hkely to be produced 

 within the next ten years. However, it should be borne in mind 



