27 



orchardists can make money, and good money, at three dol- 

 lars per barrel in Boston, so that we are in a position to- 

 make orcharding pay, and pay well, on a price that would 

 just cover expenses for the western grower, 



(2) That our apples are better in quality than the 

 western apples. Of course the westerner won't admit this,^ 

 and even some easterners doubt it, but I cannot believe- 

 that the impression would be so general among consumers- 

 if it were not backed up by fact. I am not prepared to say 

 that the western apple is not as good as the eastern when 

 it is picked. Perhaps it is. Perhaps the long journey affects 

 the quality. But I do believe that you would not find so- 

 many complaints of the lack of flavor in the western apples 

 if there were not something in the charge. And I believe- 

 that the better prices this year of the barrel fruit and the- 

 lower price of the box fruit means simply that the consumer- 

 is coming to realize that he gets quality here. 



Now, if I were pleading this case as a lawyer before a. 

 jury, I should be perfectly willing to rest my case on these 

 two points. If we can grow fruit of better quality and can 

 market it at a good profit at prices which will only bring 

 the western man out whole, what more do you want if you- 

 are going into orcharding at all to convince you that New 

 England is the right place? 



But there are certainly other advantages for the East. 

 To keep up the scheme of numbering, these are : 



(3) That land is cheaper with us, much cheaper! Good 

 land can be bought for $25 an acre. 



(4) It is easier to get labor. I cannot see how such 

 isolated fruit valleys as Wenatchee are going to escape 

 trouble on the labor problem. 



(5) We have a better market for our poorer grades. 

 I know we don't market them in the right way and I know 

 we have too many of this grade ; and I know that our west- 

 ern friends, if I were to make that statement, would laugh 

 at it, and say we were welcome to that advantage. But 

 when I think of that big pile of beautiful apples which my" 

 friend Mike Horan showed me, I can't help feeling that a 

 good market for it, if it were marketed in the right way, 

 would be a valuable asset. 



(6) We have better markets for our perishable fruits 

 like berries and plums and peaches. Of course they do ship' 

 plums and even strawberries to the eastern markets, but they 



