66 FIELD NOTES ON avPLin 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, 
hring 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 ademand is easily 
secured if under the grower’s name, or name and trade- 
