122 STATE POMOl.OGICAL SOCIETY. 



ated iu market above apples from most any other part of the world. 

 This is true of all the fiuit grown in Maine. Her strawberries 

 command the respect of the Boston market-men to the degree of 

 two or three cents more a quart than those shipped hither from any 

 other quarter. 



From the recent issue of a Boston paper we cut the following : 

 "The supply of apples is large, and though asking prices are not 

 materially changed, yet $1.75 per barrel is about the top price for 

 No. 1 Maine and New Hampshire Baldwins by the car-load. Very 

 few Massachusetts Baldwins are worth over $1.50, while common 

 grades rule much lower. Without an export trade it would seem 

 that the production of apples in the country was about equal to the 

 demand for the same. There always seems, however, to be a 

 healthy demand for the choice lots of apples, whatever the year may 

 bring forth with poorer qualities." 



THE SUBSTANCE OF IT. 



There is this about it, then, Maine apples are going to sell if 

 apples from anywhere do, and at better figures ; also, the choice lots 

 will always be in health}' demand whatever the state of the market 

 for poorer sorts. 



We know a methodical orchardist who makes a specialit}' of the 

 Nodhead apple. We said to him a short time since, "You'll proba- 

 bly make your orchard net you a couple of dollars a barrel for your 

 Nodheads this winter?" "Oh, yes," said he, "I sold them right off 

 for $2.60 a barrel." Comment is unnecessary. 



To sum up, then, the orchardist in Maine who conforms his prac- 

 tice in line with the considerations we have named, has a future 

 before him full of promise and hope. 



IN THE LIGHT OF THE PRESENT. 



In this connection let us consider the outlook for the fruit grower 

 from the standpoint of orchard production and prices for the same 

 the two past seasons. Maine has been blessed two years in suc- 

 cession with bountiful crops of apples. This has also been true of 

 the apple-bearing sections of New England and New York. Foreign 

 demand has been rather limited, and prices for fruit have ruled low. 

 Orchardists, in view of this, have argued, we think, from false 

 premises. They have seen in these two years' abundant crops and 

 low prices, the dim foreboding of over-production and its direful 



