76 State Horticultural Society. 



has been a great expansion of the apple industry in the last decade, as 

 shown by the United States census for 1900. From 1890 to 1900 there 

 was added 75,000,000 apple trees of bearing age, therefore, 35 per cent. 

 of a crop in 1902 would afford as many barrels as 100 per cent, of a 

 crop would, or did produce ten years ago, or in 1892. The apple in- 

 dustry of the United States having reached such large proportions has 

 become one of the staple products, and requires the same business methods 

 as the handling of the cereal or cotton crop, consequently, for the pro- 

 tection of both the growers and dealers, statistical reports should be 

 carefully collected and based upon fact as near as possible. In this con- 

 nection we would recommend the suggestion made by some writer, that 

 estimates should be made in barrels and not on a per cent, basis. Statis- 

 tical correspondents should be required to give the number and age of 

 trees, reported upon when furnishing crop estimates. It is a question 

 whether or not by voluntarv reports, data can be secured upon wh-'ch 

 the grower can fully rely. The Apple Packers' Association of America 

 through their organized efforts are making some advancement along 

 this line of work, yet the heaviest buyers do not take these reports en- 

 tirely, but spends lots of money traveling over the different apple states 

 making their own observations. We know one man who spent one 

 thousand dollars last year looking over the apple crop, and then de- 

 cided not to buy any apples. Many others did likewise, still the impres- 

 sion was abroad that the buyers were trying to bear the prices, which im- 

 pression really grew out of wrong ideas as to the size of the crop. 



The growers will be better protected and in a position to act safer 

 and more intelligently when in possession of the facts. We believe the 

 organization of the Commercial Apple growers should be encouraged for 

 mutual benefits along these and other lines. One or two other points 

 before we close. These we have referred to in a former paper on this 

 subject, but think them of sufficient importance to justify your attention 

 again. Our apples should be gathered and barreled at the proper stage 

 of ripening, the same as peaches, strawberries and others fruits. A 

 very large per cent, of the shrinkage in the apple crop 1902 was due to 

 the packing of over ripe stock. Apples should never be on the trees 

 when the trees begin to shed their foliage. Again, always remember 

 that it never pays to pack poor stock, especially when we have as large 

 a crop as that of 1902. 



