38 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



the result would then be as follows: Sold at ><1.35, cost ^1,10, leaving for 

 aj)j)les and profit 25 cents per barrel. 



Now let us apply the proposed remedy for these unremunerative prices. 



1st. We propose withholding one-half the cruj) from the market, so as not to 

 break it down, and thereby gain fifty cents per barrel in price, but possibly we 

 sliall gain only half that, say ^l.GO, cost ^1.10, net 50 cents per barrel. We 

 should probably gain the 50 cents claimed, that would be 81.75, cost 81.10, 

 net 75 cents per barrel. 



2d. We propose to select the fruit, take one-half only, and that the very 

 choicest, and this we believe would add at least fifty cents per barrel to the 

 value on account of the extra quality. This fifty cents added would make the 

 price 82.35, cost 81.10, net 81.25. 



Is the estimated gain from the causes assigned too large? I hardly think 

 they will be considered so. Summary, 81.35 average jjrice, net 25 cents; one- 

 half only on market, 81.85, 75 cents; one-half only of those extra, 82.35, net 

 81.25. I am sure that some will probably consider these estimates visionary 

 and the re-ults claimed fallacious, for no one can fully appreciate the real dif- 

 ference in sorting and packing fruit, unless he has studied the subject thor- 

 oughly and observed closely for a long time. 



Here lies buried the great secret of success. Men have sought for it patiently 

 and i)erseveringly by studying how to grow more fruit and in other ways, but 

 they have only partially succeeded, because they have overlooked the impor- 

 tance of one of the greatest essentials of success, the proportion of expenses 

 as compared with the net receipts. Men can appreciate the per cent in inter- 

 est but tiiey ignore it in fruit selling. As I am anxious that this -part of my 

 subject sliall be thorouglily understood, I will try to make it clear by an 

 illustration. 



We averaged the sale of our apple crop at 81.35, cost 81.10, net 25 cents. 

 The exi)CMise was over 80 per cent of the sales, and the net less than 20 per 

 cent. Tlie apples sold for 82.35, cost 81.10, left 81.25 net, the expenses being 

 only about 47 pev cent and the net 53 per cent. The first sales required 5 

 barrels to net 81.25, the second sale required 1 barrel to net 81.25. First sale, 

 gross receipts, 86.75; second sale, gross receipts, 82. 3G, only a fraction over 

 one-third of gross receipts of first sale. 



L3t us now close up our apple account. As they were sold they brought 

 25c. net, but as we proposed to sell only half wo must count the price of two 

 barrels in the first sales against one in the latter case. Two bbls. at 25c per 

 bbl. net — 50 cents; and one bbl. at 81.25 net, a gain of 75 cents, gives a clear 

 profit of 150 per cent, and one half the crop still on hand. Let us now dis- 

 pose of that. 



If the best results are to be realized by fruit growers, every neighborhood 

 engaged in the business needs a good drier. Last fall apples were dried on 

 sliares, the farmer receiving one-half the dried fruit, which pays 15 to 30 cents 

 per bushel. I saw an article a short time ago of one company that had bought 

 for drying 25,000 bushels, and I think the price paid was 25 cents per bushel. 

 Suppose this half of our crop which we are now considering had brought us 

 20 cents per bushel, and they were certainly worth that for drying, it would 

 add about 60 cents per bbl. to our pric3 already realized, making our net re- 

 ceipts 81.76 per bbl. instead of 81.25 as heretofore reckoned. As the crop is 

 now disposed of let us strike the balance. 



