Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-10-23

Hundreds of apple evaporatOrs are
opening up all over Wayne County, and
many more will be in operation before
the month is over. The dried apple in
dustry has assumed immense proper
tions, and probably more evaporators
are in operation in Wayne County this
year than ever before; and certainly
they are far better equipped than in any
previous year, most of them now having
every known labor saving device. The
use of labor saving appliances has be-
come necessary because Of tho annual
scarcity of help and the high prices de-
manded for labor during the fall rush.
The annual output of Wayne County
orchards has now reached an amount
that a few years ago would scarcely
have been comprehended. Less than a
hundred years ago large part of this
orchard ground was covered with forest;
but the first settlers must have had some
idea of the possibilities of fruit growing,
for small Kitchen orchards" of natural
varieties were grown from the apple
seeds almost as soon as settlement be-
gan. Probably one of the Oldest or
chards, and which has been in existence
since the time of the pioneer settlers, is
that owned by Harlow Cole, of Butler,
which was planted by his father, Wei
come Cole.
Welcome Cole was born on the bound
ary line of what was then Otsego and
Herkimer counties. In 1918 he came to
Wayne County and took up farm,
hich is still owned by his sons. 1t was
largely covered with forest at that time.
He brought with him sack of apple
seeds, and as he wished to return home
after his family to bring them to his new
purchase he buried the sack at the base
of stump in the woods. On February
6, 1920, he arrived with his family, and
late in the spring went in search OF the
hidden seeds. The stump stood some
distance east of where the Cole barns
now stand, and he had considerable
difficulty in locating it, and for time
thought the squirrels might have de-
stroyed the seeds. But after time the
sack of seeds was found, but so badly
rotted that the seeds rolled on the
ground. They were all nicely sprouted,
and Mr.. Cole gathered them carefully in
to his hat and carrie 4 them home. They
were planted, and the plot occupied by
the present orchard was set out. The
variety was of the English streak kinds,
and few of the original trees are still
standing. As fast as trees have died out
new ones have been set in, and the Or
chard is still large and thrifty, giving
fine yield. Other early settlers secured
fruit trees from Geneva and planted
small orchards, and it is from these
small beginnings that the industry has
spread, until now Wayne County has
nearly $4,000 acres of apple orchards
and nearly 100000 bearing trees.
The evaporation of apples on large
scale is of comparatively recent origin.
This industry began in Wayne County,
and has spread from here over the fruit
producing sections of the United States
and Canada. Its development has been
a most interesting and rapid one, and
dried apples which twenty years ago
brought 10 to 20 cents a pound would
now only be accepted as "chopS" or
waste" which ordinarily are worth
about a cent pound or less.
The dried apple industry began in the
farmers kitchen, where the busy house
wife would peel, quarter and core few
apples by hand and then dry them in the
sun or string them on cords around the
fireplace or behind the stove. A little
later came the small, boxlike dry house
with wooden racks, an old stove usually
furnishing the heat. About this time
the bleacher also came into use, consist
ing Of an old dry goods box with slat
bottom, under which a pan of sulphur
was burned. Later came the large
evaporatipg plants, using wire racks,
but after few years use foreign coun-
tries, especially Germany, claimed that
the zinc coating on the wires OF the
racks were poisonous, and Disseminated
against the importation of such evapo-
rated fruit. Wayne County dealers then
started again To use wooden racks, but
almost at the same time the method OF
kiln drying came into use, and is noW
practically the only method used. Even
these drying houses have been greatly
changed in the past two or three years
At first they were entirely OF wood. and
fires were frequent, and old line insur-
anee companies refused 10 insure them.
Now the kilns are being made of stone
or concrete aud are almost indestrncti-
Bile.
Daring the fall rush Of the eyaporat-
ing season every man, woman and child
l. employed, and hundreds of extra
hands from all over the state seek EN-
ployment in the eyaporators and or
chards. During the bumper apple har-
vest Of two years ago men of wandering
dispositions, who bad travelled all over
the world, paused in their pilgrimage
and scores Of them sought employment
| in the Wayne County orchards.
But with all this extra help there Is
always shortage, and exorbitant prices
are paid for labor during the rush season.
Cor. in Tribune Farmer.