REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER. 7 



less potatoes and more hay, corn and grain fed to high class 

 animals, producing milk, cream, butter, cheese, mutton and pork, 

 for which there is always a good demand at fair prices. 



ORCHARD CROPS. 



GovernmeiTit estimates make the apple crop larger than in 

 1 91 2, but we do not think this is so. It was, however, very much 

 larger than the crop of 191 3. Many orchardists are giving 

 their trees better care, pruning them more, and handling, grad- 

 ing and packing the fruit more in accordance with the demands 

 of the market and so are securing more profitable returns than 

 formerly. At time of harvesting the outlook for a market 

 seemed gloomy indeed, owing to the European war and to the 

 very large crop in the country. In fact, many apples were left 

 on the trees, owners fearing it would not pay to pick them. 

 Dealers, not having definite knowledge of market conditions in 

 Europe, were slow^ to establish a price and commence shipping. 

 Many apples were bought for $1.00 and $1.25 per barrel. How- 

 ever, it soon appeared that England would take a good many 

 apples, and the price rallied, so that some growers shipping 

 their own fruit realized $2.00 to $2.50 a barrel. Apple growers, 

 as well as potato growers, need larger storage facilities on their 

 farms. Also, farmers should combine and own storage houses 

 near shipping stations. Under pressure of brown-tail moths, 

 tent caterpillars and codling moths, spraying has become a com- 

 mon practice, lessening very largely the percentage of defective 

 apples. Growers are beginning to realize that profit in orchard- 

 ing is in direct ratio to the intelligent attention given to the 

 business. 



VEGETABLES AND SMALL FRUITS. 



Again we call attention to the fact that too many of the small 

 fruits and vegetables consumed by our own people are grown 

 outside of the state. There is good money in the raising of 

 these crops if handled understandingly. Taken in connection 

 with a moderate number of hens and a few cows, one can sup- 

 port a family on a few acres of land. How much better off 

 many men in the city, dependent upon others for their daily 

 bread, would be, had they bought a small farm, developed it and 

 made it a source of income that would not fail even in hard 

 times. 



