Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-11-12
DaiIu Krnntber 3ournal.
The Distribution of Fruit Pro-

uuCIS.
At the seventh annual session of the
American Horticultural Society held at
Cleveland. Ohio, in September last, Hon.
Parker Earle the President of the Society,
delivered most admirable address en-
bracing consideration of many impor-
tant points in American horticulture. In
one place he rejoices that through the per-
sistence and devotion of our horticultur-
lists. this great country has become ''full
of fruits They are within reach of all.
and "few tables" he says. "need go with
out Them. or few mouths hunger for them
long, Tor they have become cheaper than
bread and meat in most OF our markets. :"
He then goes on to say that the difficulties
of production have been 50 far overcome
that most branches OF the business seem
to be suffering from 0rer-production. And
looking at it from this stand point Presi-
dent Earle says that one OF the chief
problems for the commercial grower OF
fruits to solve is that of the cheap, perfect
and rapid distribution OF fruit products, or
in other words, ''how to reach wider mar
kets.'' Upon this point he makes these
very sensible and timely suggestions:
ITO reach wider markets involves su-
perior methods Of handling, sorting and
packing our fruits, together with superior
means of transportation. There is, as
yet, no absolute over production of good
fruits but there is defective distribution.
There were not too many apples grown in
New York and Michigan and Missouri last
year. although apples sold in many Of our
large markets for prices far below the
possibilities Of profit; but our system of
distribution left half of the families in
America with tew or no apples to eat all
Of last winter. When one or more barrels
of apples 90 into each farm house and Ia
borer's cottage all over the South,
to each miners cabin among the
mountains. and to all the new homes
building on the wide plains OF the West,
the supply of apples will not be found too
large. There have not been too many
oranges grown in Florida and California
for the last few years, though many orange
growers have got little profit from their
crops; for three quarters of the people
within practicable commercial distance
of these orange orchards have eaten al
most no oranges in these years. If all the
American people were to eat apples and
oranges daily in their season. the quantity
produced would not supply their wants
A more thorough system of distribution
with the improved transportation.f facilities
now at command will render this approx
imately possible. There is no fruit pro-
duced in our country so tender or persha-
BILE but that it can be carried and market
ed half way, if not all the way across the
continent, when the best facilities are
used while our most important fruits can
successfully be placed in the great mar
kets OF Europe.
Hence It appears to me that we are not
producing TOO much, but are marketing
too poorly, aud that the question of the
distribution of our horticultural products
is The one most important to the CONNER
cial grower. Its successful solution will
result in infinite benefits to the people
who consume. and in living profits to the
often discouraged class who produce.
This problem, together with those relating
to the difficulties of production, will keep
every fruit-grower wide awake and on
the alert, who attempts with some spirit
to master the business which he has
adopted There is no obstacle in the way
which energy-irtelligent energy-car-
not overcome, and confidently expect to
see the schemes of distribution, preserva-
ton and marketing now in progress so
far perfected that every worthy fruit
grower will be constantly challenged by
the profits within his reach to do better
work and to master the difficulties of his
situation"