The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1891-06-26
ADVICE TO FRUIT GROWERS.
Cultivator.

Every wear Ille lIu1I fldfkelS s
appear 10 be so 0verSupplied that
growers become discouraged III
their work and conclude that the
business is no longer profitable.
The cause and remedy OF this de
preston in prIces cannot always
be ascertalned, but there are mary
features Of the trade which The
growers know little or nothing
about. There are annually thuus,
ands Of quarts Of berries. tons oil
unripe and poor giapeS, thousands
Of barrels o. apples and ounces
thrown away or destroyed in the
large cities becau-e they are unfit
for consumption, and hence can
not find purchaser The fruit
grower should occasionally iuke
glimpse Of the other end of his
business transaction and learn a
lesson from the markets before the
season for fruits fairly opens.
The greatest mistake made by
growers is that of shipping unripe
grapes to The city early III The sea-
son, when other fruits are plenti-
ful. Very few will buy grapes
then unless they are in perfect
condition, and the tons Of unripe
ones, in measure, depresses the
prices Of the others. The spirit
which prompts the grower TO send
these nnrlpe fruits 10 market is the
true one, for each Nies with the
other to gel his grapes to market
first. But unless they are ripe and
in good condition, the ruling high
prices will not be obtained. In
the case Of strawberries it is the
same thing-ioor, small and hall
grown fruit, carelessly packed and
hopeleS,ly mixed up. Many deal
ers buy their berries from the large
cities and ship them on 10 The
smaller ones, aud IN this trade they
need only fine, solid fruit.
While thousands of crates OF
strawberries cannot be sold at all,
yet it is frequently The case that
these dealers cannot Get enough
desirable fruit to fill their orders.
The markets, however, are glutted
with inferior grades, which become
annually more difficult TO dispose
of Premature, wOrmy and i'm
perfect apples and pears likewise
glut the market and make IT hard
TO keep up The prices for good
frui. Reliable growers are be-
coming more careful in their Sc
lection of fruit for the markets,
but there is still a large number of
ignorant growers who send tons Of
their poor fruit to the cities with
the idea that they will get some
thing at least for il. Fruit culture
is extended over Too wide an area,
and The greatest thing it needs is
less number Of acres devoted to it
and better cultivation of superior
varieties.
From The time The fruit is pack
ed until it reaches the commission
the grower should see
that it is properly handled. Good,
careful grading and packing are
essential, and then good transport.
ing facilities. Frequently fruit is
greatly injured by careless driv-
pr who takes it 10 The station or
city. Growers would do well to
be on hand at the station and eX-
anime the fruit before il is shipped.
The top tier OF fruit when il reach
as the market is thus often nearly
and if a purchaser .judg-
I'd a whole crate by this layer, he
voull give a very small price for
he whole lot. Those living some
distance from large cities should ,
examine The methods of grading
md packing fruits and vegetables ,
Idopted by The Long Island and
Jersey growers, who carry their
tuif to Tie market in their wagons.
# you examine a barrel of APP
lies, pears or potatoes you will be
Wiling TO swear that there is not
IA inch of difference in diameter
'stween The different specimens.
he berries are perfect III size and
ipeness. and packed so neatly
hat it seems like shame to dis I
urb them. The celery is blanch-
d to the very tips of their leaves, I
MI The turnips look as If they had {
,een washed and scrubbed. Such '
.rowers get the cream of prices. {
be cause of this is that farmers {
ave 10 pay big rental fol their
and, and they cultivate only so
much as they can do justice to.
A great deal in lruit growing de-
,ends on establishing a name for
Ionest fruit aud measure. 10 do :
his the packing should not be en- {
rusted to another. Another point '
; 10 have a reliable commission
merchant TO deal with, and not
esitate 10 communicate with him
requenlly. Keep we'll informed
bout The stale OF the market, and
lways advise with The merchant
rhen about to ship a quantity of ]
ruit. Probably he can save you G
many dollars by advising YOU to C
gait a few DAYS or a week before {
licking it. The grower, as a rule, s
emands daily reports of sales,
ut he seldom ventures 10 inform
is agent in advance how much c
ruit he is going 10 send him. This c
where the grower shows his lack !
business II fruit growing is 20 9
e made profitable, all of these :