STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 9I 



So in any discussion of markets we must deal with thein from 

 the standpoint of the progressive, critical purchaser. Perhaps 

 the greatest stumbling block in the pathway of progress is the 

 standard of the producer, for unless this conforms critically to 

 that of the purchaser there is loss. Our conception of quality, 

 variety, pertection, manner of packing and shipping must be 

 directed by the critical buyer in the large centres, or w^e lose. 

 If we realize iliis we shall go beyond the point where emphasis 

 is laid upon clean packages, careful picking, critical sorting, etc., 

 and shall ask only what the consumer wants. 



First of all it is safe to assert that the markets call for fewer 

 varieties of apples, not more, and if it be true that color domi- 

 nates yet this must be backed by quality in order for the trade 

 to be held. Varieties must be selected, not with any thought of 

 their value in other sections of the countrv, but with sole refer- 

 ence to soil and climatic conditions here. The Newtown Pippin 

 is one of the most profitable varieties in central New York, but 

 hardly up to the standard in Maine. While columns have been 

 written in condemnation of the Ben Davis, simply from the 

 superficial outlook of our own small orchards, if we could grow^ 

 the Ben Davis of Missouri this condemnation would disappear 

 in a large degree. 



Instead of multiplying varieties let us multiply the steps lead- 

 ing to better color, size, shape and quality of those now grown 

 and to the increase of these wherever practicable. The State 

 of Maine is not today producing a fraction of the apples which 

 would be harvested yearly, if color and quality were the only 

 objective points sought by growers. Orchards are being left to 

 run to waste simply because the varieties are so many and unde- 

 sirable that the owners have become discouraged, and yet the 

 agent's picture books are larger and more attractive than ever, 

 and the wonderful stories of this and that new variety, told by 

 persistent solicitors, still secure orders for future delivery. All 

 this time they who have been reaping the harvest of profit have 

 been those who have clung to the Gravensteins, Bellflowers, Rus- 

 sets, Greenings and Baldwins. 



Dealing with this subject of markets, the first step to consider 

 is the production of the fruit, and here the rules and practices 

 followed bv the most successful orchardists, those who touch the 



