The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1895-08-27

looking barrel and when we'll shakoD
down and pressed holding three bushels
of apples. In some sections of the
West the barrel now in use is smaller
than this in siz9, but these barrels are
invariably Disseminated against in
price by the better class of traders. In
fact they are generally spoken of as
1.-The snide barrels" In a good apple
year like the pre- sent the difference of
peck of apples in barrel will mean
to the grower not more than five cents
in the orchard, but when the apple
comes to sell in the market the small
barrel will bring on an average at least
25 cents less. Besides the trade is so
generally convinced that a package
''snlde" in size generally contains fruit
''snlde" IN quality that they avoid it
as far as possible. even at fair differ
ence in price an as a consequence IN
times of over supply they are the ones
neglected while the more honest look
ing, if not really more honest package
are given more prominence and conse-
quently better sale.
2nd. 1t is not so easy to arrive at a
proper standard for size and quality of
fruit for the req S IN that siz g and quail,
ties of the same varieties vary consid
erabIy in different sections and in diff
ferent seasons. The standard adopted
by the Association will come as near
to properly covering the ground as is
possible without naming all varieties
of apples and it is recommended to
your favorable attention. THAT the
grade No 1 shall be divided into two
classes A and B. That the standard
for siz9 for class A shall be not less
than d inches in diameter and shall
include such varieties as the Ben Davis,
Willow TWig, Baldwin, Greening and
other varieties kindred in size. That
the standard for class B shall be not
less than inches in diameter and shall
include such varieties as r mantle,
Russets, Winesap, Jonathan, Missouri,
Pippin and other varieties kindred in
s ze. And further, that No. 1 apples
shall be at time of packing practically
free from the action of worms, or de-
facement of surface or breaking of
skin, and shall be hand picked from
the tree.
This Standard does not prevent any
grower who may have good apples be
low the standard of siz3 in either class
from marketing them for what they
are. Occasionally, some really choice
fruit might run below this standard,
but the exceptions are 50 rare that
there can be little objection to the
standard as fixed.
These suggestions are to the interest
of every intelligent, capable apple
grower 1t may not S lit his shiftless
when he fiods that his neg
lected fruit will not grade as No. l.
But that class has no legitimate place
in the industry. To increase the con-
sumption of apple S, the consumer must
be pleased, and nothing will tend to
with q better, rather than poorer
apple than he expected when he made
his purchase. Let the barrel branded
No. 1 be not only No. 1, but fine; and
let the purchaser find the barrel branded
No. 2, not cider apples, but good fruit.
Zach barrel sold under this plan will
make a customer for two more, and a
crop of apples cannot be raised in this
country too large to sell at fair prices,
and that without going to Earope for
a market for the surplus
Il may be too much to hope that all
that is outlined can be accomplished
this year, but by cooperation long
step can be made toward it. One thing
is sure in this big crop year, the grower
who most closely follows the sugges
tions will be the man best satisfied with
the results of his years work.
The Association is especially anxious
to have growers understand that the
prosperity Of both growers and legiti-
mate dealers are bound up together.
advar cling the interests of
one is for the benefit of the other, and
for that reason it urges hearty CO.
operation between the two interests, to
the end that the apple trade mey be
further ended upon a sound basis with
a reasonable profit to all concerned.
The apple is the king of fruits, and it's
us9 can be greatly enlarged by honesty
in all dealings and intelligent organized
effort upon the part of gro wers and
dealers.
The finely pulverized soil attracts
I'D holds the hi0hest rercentaco of