RF.PORT OF STATE HORTICULTURIST. II3 



Total $113.20 



A. A. Conant for use of machine iio.oo 



W. H. Conant, salary 44.00 



Total expenses $267.20 



CONCLUSIONS. 



The contest demonstrates fully the adaptability of Maine in 

 its different counties to the production of the various varieties 

 of apples and to their early and profitable bearing. 



Careful attention to proper orchard practices was a much 

 greater factor with the successful contestants than natural con- 

 ditions. 



We believe that the contest has done much to advance the 

 standard of^rcharding in the state and that growers who were 

 not contestants have benefited materially. 



We feel that the contest should be continued for better fruit 

 for Maine. 



Apple Shipments 1913 and 1914. 



In pursuance of the policy started last year relative to esti- 

 mates of our commercial production, the various transportation 

 companies were asked to supply a statement showing the actual 

 number of barrels of apples accepted by their roads from Au- 

 gust, 19x3, to August, 1914. 



By taking out the barrels transferred from one road to an- 

 other, it was found that the actual commercial shipment was 

 three hundred and forty thousand nine hundred and eighty 

 (340,980) barrels. This was forty thousand (40,000) barrels 

 in excess of the estimate made by the Bureau of Horticulture 

 in the last report, due to the scarcity of fruit throughout the 

 country and the active demand for salable fruit of all grades. 

 It would appear at this time that the 1914 production was in 

 excess of that of 1912, when six hundred and eighteen thousand 

 (618,000) barrels were shipped ; however, the unsettled market 

 conditions and the failure of buvers to make an active canvass 

 of the state will keep the commercial output down to about six 

 hundred thousand (600,000) barrels. Such will probably be 

 the case, notwithstanding the fact that the fruit this year is of 

 higher quahty and better grade than for many seasons. Of the 



8 



