Siiiiimcr Mcctiiv''. 75 



V5 



For your further information we herewith submit the data of the 

 apple crops ni tiie United States since and incKiding the year 1896: 



1896 '. 69,070,000 barrels 



1897 41,536,000 barrels 



1898 28,570,000 barrels 



1899 37,560,000 barrels 



1900 47,960,000 barrels 



1901 23,075,000 barrels 



1902 43,000,000 barrels 



You will notice that the crop of 1902 was about 20,000^00 barrels 

 larger than the crop of 1901, although the claim was often made dur- 

 ing the fall that it was several million barrels less. In fact, I believe 

 there were as many apples purchased last year as there were in 1896, 

 somewhat differently distributed. If the data of all the new territory pro- 

 ducing apples last year not formerly taken into account could have been 

 correctly compiled, I believe this would have been verified. The '96 crop 

 was the largest ever produced up to that time. That year during the 

 packing season, and even as late as February, prices in New York and 

 New England ranged from 50 cents to 75 cents per barrel packed F. 

 O. B. cars, this stimulated and increased consumption, and created a 

 large export demand of 2,900,000 barrels ; the largest in history of the 

 country. The apple export of the crop 1902 ranks next, of over 2,500,- 

 000 barrels with prices over double. If prices had been reasonable, say 

 75 cents to $1.00 for the fruit, during the barreling season no doubt 

 but that the export for 1902 would have exceeded 3,000,000 barrels, 

 and as times were so much better in this country last year than they were 

 in 1896 double the amount would have been consumed in the early part 

 of the season and the serious disasters that followed would have been 

 avoided. 



We are satisfied that estimates given out by many were honest, and 

 mtended for the benefit of the growers, yet we feel assured that in some 

 sections of the country information was given out not based upon facts 

 in possession of those who issued it at the time. With them this may 

 have had a twofold object at the time; first, to cause other sections to 

 hold their apples; second, by others holding they would have a better 

 chance to force prices up to their own ideas ; failing in this they stored 

 their apples and suffered by it, realizing less for their fruit than they 

 would, had they been willing to sell at what it was worth, prices based 

 upon the supply (which must always regulate prices) during barreling 

 season. The growers of the United States, especially of the middle west 

 and the Pacific Coast States, must not be unmindful of the fact that there 



