The Apple Situation in the United States. 95 



not then as common as now. In the early days there was a local de- 

 mand for all the fruit that could be grown, so that freight charges 

 and the peculiar, if not desirable, experience with commission men had 

 not arisen to disturb the temper and curtail the profits of the orchardist. 

 Thus, new problems have arisen, and, some of them promise to be as 

 hard to solve as were some of the older ones, that, at one time, were 

 supposed to be the only ones that would arise to vex the apple grower. 



When we visit different states and localities, we find that each has 

 its troubles — its hopes and fears, but it is also noticeable that wherever 

 you may go that there are brave hearts that do not become discouraged, 

 and, no difference how many failures, they look forward hopefully. 

 Should untimely frosts destroy prospective crops, yet hope steps in and 

 says, "perhaps you will have all the more if you wait but until next 

 year." So, when the cold winter destroys many trees, some orchardists 

 say, well there will be more demand for the fruit of the trees that are 

 left. It is beautiful to see this confidence and to know that hope seems, 

 to be an evergreen, that neither cold can chill nor blight kill. 



In Kansas the watchword seems to be, "Watch and Spray;" in 

 Missouri it seems to be, "Spray, Spray, Spray;" while Iowa and Illi- 

 nois seem to have changed places with Missouri and they seem to say, 

 "You will have to show us;" while the west, the far west, with the hope 

 of youth and — possibly with the inexperience of combatting evils, that 

 they may have later, say, "We have the only place to grow apples and 

 other fruit," for we do not have winter-killing; blight is almost .un- 

 known; land is cheap, and our peculiar weather will permit us ta 

 successfully control insect enemies, fungus diseases and all other dis- 

 advantages that others must meet and fight less successfully. This, 

 may be true, but it will require time to demonstrate whether it is true 

 or not. 



From a general view, and from conclusions formed from reading 

 and contact with people from diiferent localities, it is safe to assume 

 that during the last few years, plantings have not been such as to keep 

 pace with the losses, the growth of population and with the constantly 

 increasing demand per capita. A few years ago it would have been 

 considered as almost unheard of extravagance for a laboring man, or 

 one drawing low wages or living on a small salary, to buy fruit at 

 prices that have ruled during the last few months, and yet we find 

 fruit in the homes and on the tables of the classes named, and if pres- 

 ent tendencies continue, it will require twice the fruit per capita of 

 but a few years ago. Then, high prices almost or entirely cut off the 

 purchases from the people under consideration, but now, no difference 

 how high the price, purchases do not cease, and, many of the so-called 



