Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-04-04
Outlook for Orcharding.

II. w. Collingwood Of the Rural New
Yorker is always hopeful. He addresses
the fruit growers of Connecticut at the
annual meeting of their association as
follows:
l am not a prophet, so am not 60
ing to try to tell how the fruit grower is
to carry on his business fifty years from
now. But 1t is easy to see that great
changes are being made. remember
that on my fathers farm were perhaps
sixteen trees, butchered instead of trim
med The core and parings were strained
for cider, the rest was dried in the sun.
| From these humble beginnings our pres.
ent fruit trade has grown. The future
in the market looks bright. Twenty
years ago could not find an apple in
Savannah. Six weeks ago l found on
every fruit stand as many apples as
bananas or oranges. Shipments from
the North were advertised. That is one
of the most hopeful signs I've seen in
the trade.
The question now is to bring out un-
developed possibilities of the apple busi-
ness. What sort of an apple will people
call for in the future? In New England
States the Baldwin is most worthy. We
will learn more about suiting to locali-
ties. The rage has been for red apple.
The Russets and Greeniugs are coming
back. think the demand for smaller
apple is growing. We've got to have an
apple We can carry in our pockets.
l expect to see an adjustment of
orchard lands. We shall go back to the
rougher hill lands leaving the valleys to
gardening. expect to see apple grow
ing leave Western New York for rough
er land Lands far from seaboard at
high value will not compete with near
lands worth little. Apple culture will
climb up hill. My farm is located on a
ridge and expect to sink wells on the
ridge and let water trickle down the
sides, thus supporting both alfalfa and
trees.
The old high headed orchards are out
of date. Low headed trees are easier to
spray, easier to harvest and prune, and
do not catch the wind. Some object
that the fruit is too near the ground and
fails to grow properly. This is not true
on hillsides.
Now as to the market. That question
comforts man who thinks of planting
an orchard. In New York City there
are over 100000 people of foreign
parentage. Now these people are not
mutually fruit eaters, but with them the
apples are the favorites. Those people
won't be satisfied all their lives with rot
ten apples. They will be our best Gus
toners.
The foreign markets have always been
neglected in this country. There is one
of the best markets for apples. Few
people understand the foreign market.
Last year of $4,000, 900 worth of export
ed fruit, SS,OOO,OoO was apples. Total
of corn was S25 900, 900; anthracite coal,
S1l 100000: cotton, Sl9,0OO,0OO The
papers are full of words about increas-
ing cotton goods exports, but hardly a
word about fruit. What a noise about
the paper, butter, cheese, boots and
shoes, all much smaller than fruit. The
fruit trade and especially apple trade is
still young and We have in New England
almost monopoly in the best hands.
The bushel box with yielding trade is
best package in home trade, barrel in
foreign. | think the time has come
when small paste-board packages might
be used The parcels post, which is
sure to come, will make a difference with
small packages. In France the parcels
post Is used for eggs, butter, etc. This
it direct from producer to consumer.
The people who are now opposing the
parcels post will find that it is bound to
come. 1t will make the producers near
er the market. 1t will mean chance
for the little men.
am optimistic of the future. | be-
lieve that the hill lands of New England
will be the homes of the people. During
the past generation the New England
farmer has been under fit of depression,
now the time of sunshine and hope has
come. We can't 60 back and start in as
boys again, but we can leave legacy of
hope that the New England farm is COM
ing back to its own again.