Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-12-29
HONEST CIDER AND
FARM HONESTY


(E. p. Powell, Clinton, N. Y.
in the issue of November 13, E. p.
p, writing about the use of third
class apples. speaks of not putting a
single decaying apple into the cider.
and yet mentions cider as being worth
only from Is to 25 cents gallon.
This fall | have been in district
where considerable cider is made, and
sells at the prices mentioned in the
local and general market. according
to whether 1t is retailed or wholesaled
The apples that go to make this cider
are very far from being free from de-
cay and often fully so per cent, II
not more. are rotten. | would like
to ask Il. p. p. If in such a case be
considers it would pay not to have
single decayng apple in the cider?
Also, | would like to know il he knows
any district where such grading as
he mentions for cider apples is prac-
tical except in the most restricted,
way, for private orders? In such
case. what price is received for the
extra quality of the cider and what
use is made of apples that have Just
begun to decay"
This letter is signed by man from
Dorchester. Mass. Cider made of
half rotten apples is unfit for human
beings to use, both because 1t would
be disgusting in quality and full of
germs not suitable for taking into the
stomach. have never known any
cider mill that would accept such ap-
pies and grind them. Most Of our
mills are quite particular to reject any
apples that is seriously affected by
roo Those that have small specks
of rot, of course. are not thrown out
The chief difficulty is that in most
cases the apples are dirty. My prev
ious advice | see no reason for modi
flying, even for large mills. Cider
from to ~ cents a bushel A bushel
of apples will make from two to three
gallons OF cider-say, two and half.
This. at 10 cents a gallon, Is about
40 cents. This price ought to salts
fy any one. and allow him to decent
ly grade his fruit Forty cents a
bushels for rotten apples Is asking
rather too much But well graded
fruit, washed and carefully handled.
in grinding will give three gallons Of
cider, which will sell to private Gus
toners at 25 cents n gallon. Here
you have somewhere about rs cents
bushel for your cider apples. A
man must be thoroughly mean who
will try to pass off on such customers
rotten apples. In either OF these
cases it will not pay to do it-not for
any length of time. My writing for
the Tribune Farmer is based on the
doctrine that the most rigid honor
always pays, and, second. that the
farmer, far as possible, should have
his private customers. Now, let us
consider cider made in our private
presses. as | insist very large
amount of cider should be made.
send to market cider from sixty to
one hundred barrels Of fruit each fall
This cider goes entirely to private Gus
toners, and | never have yet lost
a customer Every apple is washed
and every radically defective apple Is
flung out. This does not exclude
fruit that is scabbed and knotted and
unsuited for the table or for cooking
1t takes in the positively third ant
fourth grade and the press in the same
condition. | repeatedly hear this re
mark. Your cider is the best thai
ever tasted"
What wish TO urge is that no 9th
er course will pay. and no othel
course is decent or right. IL on'
must grind a very inferior grade o
fruit making thin or bitter juice, lie
him turn 1t to vinegar. | do thi
with the earliest droppings In the or
chard and with the poorest grades
but | never grind rotten apples.
know one or two who do 1t, but the.
have no market for cider or anythinl
else Now let us see what | am get
ting for my apples. BY proper car
and prompt action do not have owe
one bushel of rotten fruit out OF fifty
This is not entirely waste. for tn
hens pick 1t over a good deal, an
the rest is put into a compost pile
Then the apples that are ground at 2
cents a gallon for cider will bring m
not less than 60 cents bushel Som'
times the grind is three gallons to
, bushel. making me rs cents a bushe
, THIS is certainly satisfactory.
seen no reason why there should b
, any other custom at our mills;
> know that some OF them run on Jul
} as rigid lines as my home press.
= This subject IL so importai
[ that 1t Is worth careful discu
+ sion. There is fundament'
2 principle at stake. The farmer WI
e grinds his rotten apples into cid'
= Is shortsighted. but beyond that he
n adopting a false principle Of chara
/. ter. He will work bis 9th
e grades OF fruit on the same false pri
i ciples until he has been found OF