The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-10-14

and that early apple growing would be made one of the great industries of the state, from which a very great revenue might be derived each season.
 Then again, the industries of mining and manufacturing are yet in their in- fancy in the state. just beginning to be developed and what has already been done along these lines has brought into the state large class of people, all of whom have to be fed, and these furnish now a market for more than ten times the apples that are now being produced in the state. Then think of the growing demand, and what it will be in a few years, when the mining and manufactur- ing population shan have more than doubled. With all this promise in sight for markets, and one of the best climates an soils in the work for apple produc- tion we ask why does not Alabama add apple growing to her list of diversified agricultural industries?
 When it comes to quality in the fruit the Alabama apple is unsurpassed any where in the world. Then there is the coloring, which adds much to the com mercial value of the apple, and where we ask, is the country that gives a better coloring to her apples than does the sum ny state of Alabama? The reader knows well, that Is our older readers know, that I understand these matters, and that I have travelled all over the country and have had ample opportunity to com- pare conditions. Why, two years ago l carried Ben Davis and Wine Sap apples grown near Warrior, Ala, to Iowa and other northern states, and these apples were a great surprise to all who W them, and neither Iowa nor Missouri ever produced samples of Bens Davis apples that could compare with these in size, quality and color, and yet Alabama im- ports each year thousands of dollars worth of these apples from these states. Why not improve the apple lands of Ala bama, and sell instead of buy apples?
 While I am writing this article I am seated in Denver having just returned from a trip through California, Washing ton and Idaho, all of which, as well .-s Colorado, boast or their apples. Not In any one of these have 1 found apples that will compare with Alabama apples in color or quality Then why, let me ask again, should Alabama buy apples from states which cannot compare with her in the same industry? The California ap- pie is large and showy but they are coarse grained insipid, poor in quality and almost tasteless, far inferior, in- deed, to our apples that l would not eat them at all. l had often been informed, when complaining of the poor quality of California fruits, that the long dis tance at which they were shipped was the cause of their poor quality and told if l could only go to California and eat the fruit from the trees l would find the difference. Well l have been and have tarveled clear across the state and went into many of her orchards, where found the same insipid fruit carried to l the eastern markets. It is no better in | the orchard at home than 1t is in the | market at Birmingham.
 The best apples l have found in my | travels were in Washington, and while | these were far superior to California ap- ples yet they were poor in quality as | compared with our good apples of the | east. l have been made fun of for male- ing these statements, but I am sure that my taste has not deserted me, and that I am yet able to know a good thing when [ see and taste it.
 | In view of the many great natural ad- vantages l can see no reason why there is not a great future for the people of the hill country of Alabama in apple growing. Now l want to say few words on the importance of growing and the profits to be derived from early apples.
 Early Apples.
 We will take the early Red June for our text, and say right at the start that a | much greater revenue can De deflVed | from this than from any other variety | which the Alabama grower can grow. The color is just right-people will buy beau
 tiful red apples in preference to any | others.
 The Red June comes in at the right season to be profitable as a shipper tC | northern markets, and when grown witt an eye to perfection and properly packed i will always demand fancy prices. l antic- | ipate here that this will meet the same | old argument which l have so often | heard-Red Junes are too small and will
 not sell-they are uneven in size, too.
 To this l will just say, there is a way
 to grow early June apples to have them perfect and always marketable, but as
 have so often stated, and repeat again, no good fruit or grass pastures can be | grown on old worn out cotton lands until such lands have been fully reclaimed and l put in high state of cultivation. To | grow fine Red June apples the soil must be rich and well cultivated, the trees must be kept well pruned and the fruit thinned on the trees. Where these essentials are fully compiled with the fruit will be large in size, smooth and of finest color and quality. The grower who is willing to give hls orchard such attention car
 make a large profit in apple growing. Lei me tell you what such attention to tho growing of early June apples has done