Connecticut western news., 1880-09-22
PLENTY OF APPLES.
An Abundant Supply in the Markets
 of America!

The Boston Herald says The apple crop of this country is a singular one, inasmuch as no man can tell when it will come. In former years it was cal culated that each alternate season would bring a full crop of apples, but of late years even this rule cannot be depended upon. The abundant crops of apples come now and then and they are apt to come in flood. The question always is, in the years of plenty, what to do with the apples, and, in the years of scarcity, how to do without them. A gentleman remarked the other day that were he to begin his homestead over again he would not plant more than dozen apple trees, for in the apple years these trees would give him enough, and he should not be obliged to see any go to waste, while on the off years of the crop a greater num- Der of trees would be of no benefit. His idea was partially correct, so far as the quantity of fruit is concerned. When apples are plenty it is almost impossible for farmers to dispose of them at any price. On the other hand when they are fcarce and dear, the farmers con- plain that they have no apples to sell. It may be considered that this is the apple year. They are plenty in all the apple growing States. They are plenty in Western New York, in Ohio, in Indiana, in Michigan, and these States comprise four of the leading apple sec- tions of the West. They are plenty in Maine, though reports vary somewhat from that State. New Hampshire has large crop, and Massachusetts the great l est abundance for several years. Great quantities are beginning to reach this market, and the summer and early fall | fruit has been somewhat of 8 drug. What shall be done with so many apples? Farmers are already feeding them to stock with satisfactory results. Then there is the great alternative-the cider mill. To be sure it will be hardly pos sible to dispose of or drink up such vast quantities of cider as might be manufac- tured this year, but the farmers are not obliged to dispose of it all at once. If | the farmer stores his cider in 8 warm, l dry cellar for several months, he can roll it out as first class vinegar, for which he is always sure of @ remunerative price. Apples in the years of plenty can thus be turned into vinegar against the years of scarcity, and thu much of the worse than worthless manufactured vinegar l l, 0f4 41,o, 1-a+ nT,n tyuN of the lines of ocean steamers are pre- pairing to enter largely into the carrying of apples. The Leyland Line proposes to carry fewer live cattle this fall, and to devote it's attention to freighting apples. Each steamer can take from 2,0O0 to 2,5OO barrels at cargo, and it will not be singular if, during .ethe season fol shipping winter fruit, from 5000 to 1O,- 900 barrels per week should leave this port for Europe. When the experiment of exporting apples was first being tried, an extensive apple grower in Maine, who always raised the best fruit to be found in the market, and also took great pains in picking and packing it, sent 20 or 30 barrels of his best fruit, through a commission house here, to Liverpool.
 On the top of each barrel he put his name and residence, and desired if the consumer of the barrel was satisfied, tc
 hear from him. The farmers request
 brought several replies direct, besides
 several to the Liverpool commission
 house which handled the fruit. The
 replies expressed great deal of pleasure
 and satisfaction with Lthe fine American
 fruit and desiring more of it next year
 But that year the crop was total fail
 ure, and our farmer, Suddenly grow1
 famous in the markets of the Old World , could not supply his customers. Flo , one or two seasons since, however, h.
 has forwarded his apples to Europe, ant his name has become brand which al , ways sells. It will pay to hand-pick anC pack with great care all apples intended for export, especially this year, whel , they are so plenty that it will not pay t.
 cheat.