66 FIELD 2hOTES 02( apple CULTURE. 



CHAPTER XVII. 



PROFITS IN APPLE CULTURE. — SHALL WE PLANT 

 MORE ORCHARDS?— LOSSES FROM THEFT. 



There are several reasons why apple culture is not 

 oftener a source of profit, and these reasons fall under 

 two classes : errors in culture and errors in marketing. 

 However well adapted to apple growing the soils and sur- 

 roundings may be, the industry is bound to be a failure 

 unless uniform good culture is given the orchard. There 

 are many obstacles in the way of producing good and 

 marketable fruit, and the grower must know how to over- 

 come them. These obstacles are poor varieties, too many 

 varieties, poor cultivation, neglect and carelessness in 

 pruning, lack of thinning, insect enemies, etc. Every 

 effort must be made to secure fruit which is perfect in 

 shape and in surface, firm in texture, and free from 

 insects. But even good fruit will not demand a good 

 price if put upon the market in poor condition. It 

 must not only be sound, but it must be attractive. It is 

 safe to say that not one barrel in twenty which goes into 

 the markets of our large cities is properly packed. Peo- 

 ple must learn to sort their apples with great care before 

 putting them upon the market. They must learn to 

 pack them snugly, honestly and attractively. 



Even in years of heavy crops, good apples, nicely packed, 

 bring good returns. This is especially the case if the 

 grower has established a demand for his fruit by care in 

 growing, handling and packing. Such a demand is easily 

 secured if under the grower's name, or name and trade- 



