Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-10-01
TIE APPLE CROP
BULLETIN ISSUED BY THE MAINE POM
oLoGICAL SOCIETY, z. A. GILBERT,
PRESIDENT, SEPT. Is, 1901.

Maine always grows surplus of
apples above the wants of her own
people.
The selling value of this surplus fruit
is chiefly controlled by the bounty of
the crop in other fruit producing Sec
tions, together with the demands of the
European market.
The prices, therefore, which Maine
apples command in other sections of our
own country are of course modified or
largely controlled DO the crop of fruit in
the locality of such market.
In order to gain reliable information
of the crop of apples in the country at
large and place it before Maine growers,
to aid them in drawing intelligent con-
clusions in regard to the market
value of the crop of Maine fruit,
the Maine Pathological Society instruct
ed its president to take steps to that end,
and issue bulletins to the public from
time to time, as deemed necessary, Civ
ing the inforation desired. Communica-
ton was at once opened with official
authorities in the different sections of
the country having bearing on our
Maine fruit trade, and the information
thus obtained, up to the present time, is
given to the public through this bulletin.
Western New York, Michigan and
Southern Missouri are the three leading
points of production affecting the de-
mand for Maine fruit in the South and
Southwest.
Minnesota reports "Fruit crop very
light this year. Will cut no figure in
the general fruit market"
Indiana reports, "Crop will not ex-
ceed % per cent of a full crop"
Ohio, "Do not think winter apples
half an average crop"
Pennsylvania reports, 1.-THE apple
crop will be a very short one. The tent
caterpillar has been unusually destruc-
tive this year, the oldest inhabitant hav
ing no recollection of such widespread
destruction"
L. S. Town, Rose, n. Y, says: 1.-THE
apple crop in New York state is not over
10 per cent. of crop, but of good quality.
There is 90 per cent. of crop in Michigan
and Is per cent of crop in Canada"
Charles W. Garfield, Grand Rapids,
Mich, reports: Apples are very scarce
in Michigan. Not quarter of an aver
age crop, and in my own locality we
shall export practically none"
S. A. Goodman, secretary of the Mis-
souri, State Horticultural Society, re-
ports: The apple trees show consider
able injury from drought, especially
where loaded with fruit. Well cultivated
orchards are holding their fruit best.
Our fruit is fine and perfect, the best in
wears. Some orchards have full crop,
while others have none. The average of
the state is less than 40 per cent"
G.. III. Van HOuten, secretary, ports
that "The apple crop in Iowa is light,
probably not more than 80 per cent of
an average crop, and owing to dry and
hot weather there will be few good
keeping winter apples, and if all are
retained at home there will be no more
than required for home consumption"
William III. Barnes, secretary of the
Kansas State Horticultural Society,
says: 'The fruit crop of the state, CON-
prising apples, pears, peaches, plums
and grapes, is very promising, and with
good weather, will be abundant in all
fruit growing counties. Some have
more than ever in their history. Apples,
and in fact, all fruit, are freer from in
sect depredations and fungous diseases
than usual There will be a larger pro-
portion of first-grade apples than ever"
The crop in Ontario is reported as al
most total failure.
Throughout New England the reports
from the several states are of a like
tenor. The secretary of the Connecticut
Pathological Society, II. c. C. Miles, Mil
ford, under date of Sept. 6, reports as
follows: From reports sent in by our
members from all sections of the state
we estimate this seasons crop of apples
will not be over 30 per cent for the
entire state, and possibly less, as fruit is
falling badly. The size and quality are
also inferior. 1t certainly looks rs if
apples would command high prices this
year"
The Massachusetts, Board of Agri-
culture reports: "The prospect is for
one of the lightest crops of winter apples
ever gathered.
OF course it is well understood that
the extent of the crop of apples in Maine,
whether large or small, cuts no ice in
shaping the market value of the crop.
Yet this bulletin would be incomplete
were all reference 10 the crop of our
state left out.
Among all the reports received from
the growers in Maine not one sets the
estimate at over one quarter of crop.
The bearing is patchy-some trees and
orchards are showing fair crop while
many more are barren. The fruit is
well grown, though an unusual portion
is wormy and otherwise imperfect. The
greatest failure of bearing is in those
sections of the state where are the most
orchards, and where the most shipping
fruit is usually grown.
No estimate of the price of apples in
prospect Is here intended. Having the
crop in all parts of the country reported
by reliable authorities each grower must
draw his own conclusions in regard to