STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 31 



shipping, while ordinary fall apples were hardl}' worth gathering. 

 I hope we shall not be slow to see that if we would compete suc- 

 cessfully with other fruit sections, we must take advantage of the 

 better keeping qualities of our apples and plant those varieties largely 

 that will keep until the more perishable fruit is disposed of. After 

 another 3-ear's experience we are more than ever convinced that it 

 is for our interest to take more pains in keeping our apples for late 

 shipment. "We think it would be a paying investment for some party 

 to put up a building for cold storage in Portland, where those who 

 have not facilities at home could send their apples in the fall, to be 

 kept until wanted for shipment. There would be the advantage of 

 lower freight, no danger from freezing in transportation, and the 

 apples could be kept in better condition than in a house cellar, where 

 it is almost impossible to keep a cool, even temperature. 



With the increase of our orchard products the time will soon come 

 when we shall not be able to obtain second-hand barrels in which to 

 pack our apples, nor do we consider this a cause for regret. As soon 

 HS there is an established demand some parties will be ready to 

 manufacture good barrels at a fair price. The gain will more than 

 compensate for the extra cost. First in the improved appearance of 

 the apples when the barrels are opened, for a small quantity of flour 

 will remain between the staves of the old barrels even when carefully 

 cleaned, which will be dusted over the apples when moved to mould 

 and thus injure the appearance and sale of the fruit. The gain in 

 having the heads all made to fit will be appreciated by those who 

 have ever had experience in trying to head old barrels, when the top 

 hoops were gone and a head to be made from odd pieces. Now is 

 the time for us to see what measures should be taken to establish a 

 uniform size for the apple barrel and avoid the trouble which some 

 of the fruit growers have had in other States. There should be a 

 uniform size throughout the United States and then there could be 

 no trouble between buyer and seller on that point. 



Our best orchardists have become convinced that a seedling tree 

 is the best, all things considered, from which to start an orchard. 

 For a few years past the call for good seedling apple trees has been 

 larger than the visible supply. Thousands of trees would be set the 

 coming spring could they be obtained. Here is a chance for some 

 man to engage in a paying business. But a man without experience 

 would be likely to lose money in the attempt. 



