QUALITY OF NERRASKA APPLES. 107 



the same variety grown in Colorado and Idaho, and would stand up longer 

 on the market after coming from storage. 



In answer to the question which referred to the comparison of flavor 

 and texture of Missouri river apples and the same varieties from Colo- 

 rado and Idaho these men were unanimous m the opinion that apples 

 grown along the Missouri river were much superior to these others in 

 these respects. ^ 



One commission merchant from Lincoln who has had long experience 

 in handling apples in all parts of the United States gave it as his opinion 

 that the reason why Nebraska apples excelled in flavor was because the 

 apples in this section of the state grew and developed under more natural 

 conditions. That irrigation was a forcing process, and interfered with the 

 function of the tree in the proper development of quality in the apples. 



A commission merchant from St. Joseph, Missouri, was of the opinion 

 that the soil was the greatest factor in determining quality in apples. 

 These statements serve to verify the assertions of the writer. While it 

 would be interesting for us to know just what factors present in Nebras- 

 ka's soil and climatic conditions enabled the production of apples of bet- 

 ter quality than can be grown in many of the far-famed fruit sections of 

 the West, we are more interested in the fact that we have these ideal 

 conditions and that it is up to apple growers of Nebraska to put our state 

 on the map as one of the greatest apple-producing sections of the world. 



Now all that is necessary to accomplish this end is for more people 

 to become interested in commercial apple growing, that we may be able 

 to supply not only the markets of onr state but to treat our friends in 

 other states to some of the good apples Nebraska can produce. 



DISCUSSION. 



E. M. Pollard: I do not feel that this matter should be passed over 

 in this form. Every member of this Society who has been growing Ne- 

 braska fruit on a commercial scale knows that every bit that Mr. Keyser 

 has said is the absolute gospel truth so far as the quality of Nebraska ap- 

 ples is concerned. And it seems to me — this thought occurred to me 

 while Mr. Keyser was on the floor — that it is a shame that there are so 

 many apples coming into Nebraska from states that do not and can not 

 produce fruit that will rank in quality with our own, and the thought 

 occurred to me that possibly something might be done by this Society 

 in the way of spreading information as to the real quality of our fruit 

 among our own people. 



Now I do not just know how that should be gotten at, and I do not 

 know just what methods should be followed, but that thought occurred 

 to me, and it seems to me it is one of the most important things we have 

 before us, that is, those of us that are engaged in raising fruit on a com- 

 mercial scale. It is important to us, and I am going to move you, Mr. 

 President, that a committee of three be appointed by the president to 

 take up this matter and investigate it, and report tomorrow if they 



