FRUIT CROP REPORTS — 1914 169 



horticulture, experiment stations, etc., in every apple producing state 

 in the United States and Canada indicate that the apple crop this year 

 will be several million barrels short of the crop of 1912. The crop of 

 1912 was in round numbers 4 million barrels and the biggest crop that 

 the United States has produced was in 1896 when over 

 63 million barrels was the production. The crop of 1896 

 was disposed of at good prices to the grower and the 

 consumer paid only a reasonable price for the fruit. The 

 crop of 1912 in Nebraska was estimated at about three and one-half 

 million bushels of apples, and the crop this year will not exceed one- 

 fourth the crop of that year. It is doing the grower an injustice for 

 reports of large crops to go out when in reality the crop is small. Not 

 only is the grower being done an injustice but the consumer is wronged 

 as well. The grower must take what he can get for his fruit in competi- 

 tion with other growers. If the reports indicate a big crop he may be 

 forced to take a price less than the cost of production. If this low price 

 could be passed on to the consumer the grower would not feel so bad 

 about his loss after he finds the reports of big crops have been inflated. 

 But no, the consumer is asked to pay as much as if the crop was exceed- 

 ingly scarce. Consumption of apples must be increased if the 

 orchardist of the future is to stay in the business. The grower must 

 get a price for his apple that will bring him a legitimate return for his 

 labor and investment. On the other hand apples must be sold to the 

 consumer at a price that will put apples within the reach of the working 

 man as well as the wealthy. 



This fall the crop of apples in the United States will not be as large 

 as 1912 but a good deal larger than in 1913. As a consequence here 

 in Nebraska and the middle west where the crop is light and there is 

 a large home market to supply, the grower may expect to receive a good 

 price for his fruit. The consumer can expect to buy his apples at a 

 reasonable price. However, much depends on the middle men. If 

 the dealer is satisfied with a reasonable profit there is no 

 reason why he can not sell ten barrels of apples as against one 

 barrel with an exorbitant profit. If al Iwork together the grower 

 can get a better price, the dealer can have a reasonable rate of profit 

 and the consumer get his fruit for a good deal less money. Information 

 received at this office indicates that practically all the apples which 

 will be harvested in the state this fall will be marketed in Nebraska 

 towns this fall and winter. As apples are one of the best medicines 

 procurable every home should be supplied with a plentiful supply. 

 Every consumer should insist that they be supplied as far as possible 

 with Nebraska apples. Apples grown in Nebraskahave the repuation 

 in the best markets of the country as being the best keeping, highest 

 quality and finest in texture of any apples grown in the United States. 

 Encourage your dealer to handle more of them by buying liberally. Thus 

 you encourage more apples to be grown and better care to be given the 

 orchards. Only the well cared for orchards have produced any fruit 



