192 Stafe Horticultural Societij. 



There are, however, certain basic tenets which admit of uni- 

 versal application: If an apple tree is hungry, it should be fed; 

 if its top has grown into a brush heap, it should be pruned ; if it 

 is attacked by bugs and fungi and the fruit is endangered by in- 

 sects and disease, it should be sprayed, or treated otherwise, as the 

 nature of the malady demands. Granted a good location and suit- 

 able varieties, successful fruit growing, as it appeals to me, hinges 

 on the proper feeding and the judicious pruning of the tress and 

 the control of insect pests and fungous diseases. But the great 

 questions are, how and when and what with? Each operation pre- 

 sents an endless number of problems, and there are yet perhaps 

 more difficult ones to be solved than have yet been solved. In 

 some directions we are only just "fishing along the borders of the 

 stream," so to speak, but the solution of each problem contributes 

 something to the growing of better fruit at a commensurate cost 

 of production. Better fruit; then better grading and packing 

 readily follow, and this means better markets. 



The things that are only ordinary are the things that glut the 

 markets. The majority of the fruit that is placed upon the market 

 is not above that grade. I quote from good authority:* "There is 

 not enough fruit of any kind raised in this country at the present 

 time which is actually placed upon the market in the grade of 

 first quality, or better, that is produced in sufficient quantity to 

 meet the wants of consumers at a moderate price. The city family 

 that has bought first-grade apples in almost any recent year has 

 paid a luxury price. This is true, also, of pears, plums, peaches and 

 oranges, and it is true of the small fruits, such as cherries and 

 grapes. The assertion may easily be extended to most, if not all, 

 of the commercial berries — strawberries, currants, blackberries and 

 raspberries." Note that the grade mentioned is "first quality or 

 better" and the price is a "moderate," not a "luxury," sum. It may 

 be true, and probably is, that in case of some of the more perish- 

 able fruits there is often an under distribution which causes gluts 

 at times, but this does not affect the truth of the above asser- 

 tion. 



Even this season, when you have been getting disappointingly 

 low prices for your apples, the city consumer is not talking about 

 cheap fruit. In New York City, early in October, Jonathans grown 

 in the Mississippi Valley were quoted to me at $1.75 and $2.00 per 

 bushel box; the fruit was not No. 1 either, and the packing was 

 faulty. By the side of some of this fruit was a well packed box 



•Year book, U. S. Dept. of Agr. p. 516. 



