Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-09-16
Written for the Oxford Democrat.
FRUIT CULTURE.
Number ?.
ITS PROFITS.
Nuu,ber 2

are too well assured, by well known eX-
amples in every part of the country, TO
REQUIRE the citation Of Individual cases.
In some of the most advantageous regions
of Michigan, according to the reports OF
the South Haven Pathological Society,
some of the leading fruit growers have
averaged a net proti, of over two hundred
and forty dollars per acre, and this has
been frequently equaled in many other
sections of the country, where the local
ity Is equally favorable and the same care
Is bestowed
Some make large fortunes, Others indie
pendent incomes, and multitude receive
ample returns for the outlay invested IN
their orchards. Some cultivate a general
variety Of fruits, Others devote themselves
principally to specialties. One man raiS-
es nothing but plums or peaches while
another devotes his attention to small
fruits alone. In either case the same
general characteristics and energy are
essential 10 success.
If one makes fruit growing business
for the acquisition of wealth, Of course.
reference should De made TO localities most
favorable 70 the production Of the desired
varieties: and he that dcvoteS his atten-
ton 20 several kinds vii, be more likely
to receive yearly income than he who
has only one variety; for If one sort Is
cut off. as Is frequently the case. he has
Others upon which he can fall back. The
availability Of ready market, too, should
b considered in the growers selection,
distance and ease Of reaching 1t coming
into account.
But i, docs not follow that All may
succeed in this business Like all other
industries, j, requires tact and good buS,-
ness capacity for the return o; large prof
lis. ore should be Intelligent relative
to the sale Of his products, and be able
% market as well As 20 raise successfully.
Success in marketing depends largely
upon the quality offered and the manner
in which it Is put up. Never send a poor
article 20 market unless an inferior price
Is expected Frequently the return VIII
no; pay the expense Of packing and ship
ping, and the shipper reputation among
marketmeu Is not enhanced. Nice, select
ed fruit, neatly packed in clean boxes,
baskets or barrels, viii always attract the
attention Of BUYERS and sell for good
price, while tina; Of an opposite character
i stunned til i, becomes entirely Uusal-
able
The advantages OF selling good fruit
only. are well illustrated in recent state
men; Of Mr.. J. y. StearnS, prominent
pomoloSiSt He one season sold one hun
drcd quarts Of >,rawbcrric, for twenty
I'VE dollars a, d time when there was an
abundan, supply IL the marAe; d; eight
cents per quart.
l; mas been frequently argued tina; cN-
tensivc planting %; fruit trees results in
oycr-produc,ion; and d prolific year VIII
confirm this mode OF reasoning IN the
minds OF many. \ New York farmer
some twenty-five wear, ago ca; down "a
teu-acrc orchard, under che impression
that tree planting had become So extern
siye ;ha, apples would soon be worthless 4,
but he afterwards became convinced ot
his error. and planted twenty-five acres,
which. with prudent management, are
returning him good profits
There Is little danger of ovcr-produc-
ton. Say all we may in favor OF tree
planting, the number who VIII take the
trouble 70 carry It 20 success VIII always
be comparatively small.
1; IS only now and then that the crop
j. abundant enough 20 create a stagnation
in the market, and even then 1t may gen
orally be turned 20 some profitable ac-
count, Surplus apples may always be-
converted into vinegar, which never goes
begging in the market.
At a recent meeting of the New York
Horticultural Society, The members were
Of the unanimous opinion, based on cX-
penence, that apples are profitable for
feed 10 cattle. horses, sheep and swine, II
judiciously fed OF the profit Of good
sweet apples for this purpose there can
be no doubt;
In years Of great abundance few sur
plus apples can be made 20 yield a pleas
ure and moral prof; in the fields Of char
ity, the only medium through which thou
sands Of poor people In our large cities
can receive them. During the great crop
OF 1878. thousands Of bushels were con-
tIibUted by the farmers Of New England
20 the city missionary OF Boston, VINO
made them a blessing among the poor.
With an increasing supply Of fruit
comes an increasing demand New uses
and methods Of preservation have been
introduced, It has become an essential
feature IN our sanitary supplies, and the
shipments Of American fruits 10 foreign
markets has, Of late, become successful
and prominent branch Of our commerce.
In 1861 the expectation Of fruit 70 for
eign parts amounted 70 only S269, 600;
while in the year ending June, 1917, 1t
amounted TO nearly 100000 and
every year indicates an increasing trade
It is doubtful if the frui, crop Of this
country, as a whole, was ever so large
that it was Improbable An extensive
grower Of western New York, whose large
farm Is classed as one Of the best grain
farms in that section, assured me that,
BY keeping an accurate account Of the
expense and returns OF his various farm
products, he was able to state that when
his apples would bring him one dollar Der