state: P0M0I.0G1CAI, SOCIETY. 45 



Thus by a close study of the situation, abroad the same as at 

 home, quaHty asserts its commercial importance in terms that 

 growers should no longer overlook. It is everywhere the great 

 controlling factor of value in the business of fruit growing. 



EVAPORATING FRUIT FROM A COMMERCIAL 

 STANDPOINT. 



A very important question comes to the mind of every orchard- 

 ist when he harvests his fruit, how and in w^hat form shall I 

 market the product ? In years of plenty such as we experienced 

 four years ago, and which earlier in the present season we 

 thought would be repeated, the market becomes glutted with a 

 large stock which rapidly deteriorates in quality and conse- 

 quently in selling value. 



When this condition is reached there can be but one result, low 

 prices and unsatisfactory returns to the producer. Another 

 thing that might cause a depressed condition of the market is 

 that one-third or one-half of all the apples are inferior in quality. 

 When the consumer buys a barrel of good fruit, pleasing to the 

 eye as well as the taste, it is soon gone and another barrel is 

 wanted. On the other hand the second quality is not so pleas- 

 ing, there is not so m.uch temptation to use it and as it begins to 

 decay the family will care for no more apples. This leads us to 

 consider if a better way cannot be found to market the second 

 quality fruit at a profit. 



I believe that this principle should be impressed upon the mind 

 of every fruit grower in Maine, never to place upon the city 

 market any second quality product of the orchard. These 

 second quality apples should be either evaporated or canned. 

 Canning has one advantage over evaporating to the farmer who 

 is not very extensively engaged in the production of fruit. It 

 costs but a comparatively small sum of money to provide per- 

 manent fixtures for canning. Exclusive of a suitable building, 

 fifty dollars would furnish everything necessary for the work. 



In comparing the relative merits of the two methods we find 

 that the evaporating process makes a great reduction in weight 

 and a corresponding reduction in transportation charges. A 



