28 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



at the ends of the barrel, to No. 3, in the centre. Dealers in fruit 

 are somewhat to blame in this matter, in not making more difference 

 in price between strictly fine and poorly sorted fruit. The3- should 

 also oblige the grower to brand his package, and when poor fruit is 

 found the blame could be placied where it belongs. In many cases 

 the buyer does the sorting, and not wishing to giv^e offence, hoping 

 to buy another 3'ear, will not insist on the requisite thoroughness. 



With another season of abundance, we hear the cry of ''over- 

 production" — "orcharding does not pa\'." Notwitlistanding this 

 complaint (with which we have been familiar for the last twenty 

 years), we claim that we can compete successfully wilii any section 

 of this country. Our climate enables us to raise apples that will 

 keep firm and bright until spring, and therefore are valuable for 

 shipping, after the more perislial)le western-grown fruit is out of the 

 market. Maine Baldwins are selling at the present time, in Liver- 

 pool, higher than those from an}- other section. This, with our 

 proximity to shipping points, and comparatively low freights, gives 

 us an advantage possessed by few States in the Union. 



A few years ago Michigan apple growers were despondent, and 

 thousands of bushels rotted on tiie ground — this, too, at a time when 

 American apples were selling in London for 20 to 26 shillings ster- 

 ling. Choice winter apples were sold last fall in some towns in Cen- 

 tral New York for 12| cents per bushel on the trees. In both cases, 

 distance from market and impossibility of keeping late are respon- 

 sible in part for such loss. Can any one point to the time when 

 good winter fruit, hand picked and well packed, would not sell for 

 a remunerative price in Maine? When we compare the price of 

 land here, where some of the best orchard land is almost worthless 

 for any other purpose, with the value in some of the best fruit sec- 

 tions of the country, where land is worth from $75 to $200 per acre, 

 together with the other advantages enumerated, is it not at once ap- 

 parent that Maine ought to raise ten barrels of apples where she now 

 raises one? Another question which arises in 'connection with the 

 subject, is the practicabilitj' of keeping our apples until the glut in 

 the market is over. The loss from shrinkage and decay is frequent- 

 ly so great as to discourage growers, and many apples are crowded 

 upon the market at very low prices, which could be sold to much 

 better advantage in the winter or spring. We think there would be 

 no difficulty in keeping apples, if the cellar were kept at a low, even 

 temperature, about 32° to 35° F., and they were stored in open bins. 



