Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1904-10-07
stand any chance of being elected BY
the votes of the American people?
THE LUDINGTON
FRUIT COMPANY
LUDINGToN. MICH. Oct. 4, Is

LUDiNGTON, MICH, Oct 4, 1904.
DEAR Mr.. Your favor
reached me at the crisis of our busy
peach season when we were running
day and night, often until late, and
nave had no time for reply.
Answering l would say, our best
grades of peaches are on through
september, probably toward the
middle and the latter half of the
month. No date can be fixed as the
season will vary not less than two or
three weeks. For instance this year
peaches are quite twenty days late
from fifteen to twenty.
For canning there is naturally
much individual choice. Some will
have none but the Barnard on account
Of its rich flavor which some others
dislike. Many can peaches according
to size-less peeling, snowy peaches.
Some like the large Elbertas, which
are rather sour and deficient in flavor.
The fine Crawferds are always
favorites and are doubtless among
our best canning peaches. Among
later peaches the Chilis (Hill's Chilli
are favoriteS, with late Crawfords and
Gold Drops. There are several other
popular canning peaches. We shall
have choice peaches on to the middle
of October.
This has not been good year for
Michigan peaches We had an
exceptionally severe winter and
orchards that were not killed still
suffered from The Chill. A very late
spring followed and the summer has
been cold with too little generous sun
to put the size and flavor into peaches
Peaches will not gain fine quality
without sun and warmth to give them
steady growth which means size, and
the light for color. Light and heat
produce the chemical changes which
SWeeten and flavor the peach.
Developing in the cold our peaches
have lacked color, flavor and size and
have showed in many cases tendency
TO spot and decay. They do not pre-
sent the attractive appearance which
makes the market good.
In general the fruit growers of
Michigan need to learn that success
in raising begins in the nurseries.
Only the best trees Of the best selected
varieties can produce a profitable
orchard when trees are grown. Then
the growers rule must be fewer trees,
smaller orchards, unless equipped to
do justice to the larger) and give
every tree thorough and effective
cultivation throughout growth and
later in bearing. For the crop
thorough and sufficiently frequent
spraying, then rigorous thinning, and
in the end a few good peaches instead
of burden of poor ones. AS a con-
crete example or illuStration:, One
farmer Will raise, care for, market,
hauling, buying baskets and packages
all for margin on thousand bushels
so narrow that it scarcely be called
profit. Another farmer raises one
hundred bushels; one days hauling
puts them to market, they are fancy
fruit OF highest grade and attractive
ness. His peaches net him more
clear money on Strict account with
cost and sale than the first farmer
got from his one Thousand bushels.
1t is easy to see who is making the
money. The influence upon the
market is another feature. Fewer
bushels of strictly fine peaches keeps
the market at top price and there are
no heavy losses. Buyers prefer to pay
good price for good fruit and it is
more satisfactory all around.
Trusting l may have answered your
questions | am,
Very truly yours,
III. T, BLODGETT.