Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-09-08
Uncertainty in the Apple Crop.
ADvICEs FROM LEADING APPLE SEC,
TIoNs INDICATE UNEVEN PROMISE.

TIoNs INDICATE UNEVEN PROMISE.
About the only thing that can be
stated at present, definitely, regarding
the crop of winter apples is its irregular
character. This has been pointed out
from time to time by New England
Homestead, the testimony of dealers and
growers limited at this at the Niagara
Falls meeting of the international apple
shippers association, and latest advices
of this Journal conveyed the same i'm
preston. New England Homestead is
just now getting returns from good
many states where commercial orchard
ing is followed.
In certain important sections there
will probably be more apples than last
year. This is true of western New York
and of the southwestern apple area,
such as Missouri, Arkansas and Kansas.
On the other hand, Maine, always look
ed upon as an important producer, en-
joyed q relatively good crop in 1907,
while the promise is Indifferent, and in
some sections absolutely poor, for the
crop of 1908. In portions of central and
western New York, where commercial
orcharding is such big issue, growers
have feared that the high temperatures
of early August would serve to ripen the
fruit prematurely before it is time to
pick the apples, with the result that a
good many will fall to the ground. But
cooler weather the past week or SO has
been more favorable to the crop.
BUYERS TALK Low PRICES.
Such letters as have been received by
New England Homestead during the
past few days from western New York,
which is always tremendously impor-
tant apple producer, indicate one thing
worth remembering; that such counties
as Wayne, Niagara and Ontario will
have good many apples of attractive
size, clean appearance, and we'll worth
barreling for top prices of the season,
whatever these may prove to be. Buy
ers talk low figures, and while it is too
early for definite business, there seems
to be a tendency to talk big crop and
little prices. Only time will tell how
the situation may shape.
IRREGULAR WEST AND EAST.
The situation in the heavy apple sec
tions of the middle and central west,
from Michigan, working southwest, is
quite irregular, and not particularly
brilliant or promising. Returns to New
England Homestead show a generally
condition. Yet there will
be fair quantities of apples in the south
west, where such a marked shortage
was experienced last year. In the older
apple sections, such as Michigan and
Illinois, our fragmentary returns are
quite uneven in character.
New England will have an Indifferent
crop of winter apples, unless there
should be very favorable weather late
into the season, which might make
things look somewhat better than at
present. Not infrequently intelligent
and sincere reporters of the apple crop
will be fooled at this time of the year,
Understanding the fruit on the trees,
which eventually may color up nicely
and make a good showing. Such re-
turns as have come to us within the
past few days indicate only moderate
crop in the eastern states.
The lN
Maine naturally comes in for first
consideration as the crop is there grown
more largely than in any other one of
the six states. Our reports confirm
what has already been printed in the
pages of The Homestead from time to
time, that the trying weather of the
past few seasons has made in roads into
established orchards, especially where
they are not well cared for. AS result,
many trees have died. Of course, young
orchards are, to some extent, coming in
to bearing to replace these.
A correspondent at Monmouth, Ken
nebec County, Me-, writes us under date
of Aug. 10, that he looks for two-thirds
as many winter apples as last year, and
quality better; but another orchardist
living at Gardiner, expresses the belief
that the crop of winter apples will be
quite small. grower at West Buxton
writes Aug. 20 that he does not believe
that there will be quarter of an aver
age full crop in that part of York Coun-
ty, which Is always looked upon as a
large producer; but adds that such
apples as he has seen are large for this
time of the year. Around Dexter,
Penobscot County, the outlook is poor.
OTHER NEW ENGLAND.
Other northern New England shows
up somewhat uneven at this early date,
but August report must not be taken as
conclusive of what may be developed in
October. A large orchardist at Middle
boro, Addison County, VT, writes The
New England Homestead that the apple
crop in his county is very irregular
'some of the orchards have fair crop
of good fruit, but the county will prob
ably show less than 80 per cent of a full
crop, and these are poor in quality,
owing to the lack Of proper spraying
and culture, also to severe drouth." A
grower at Isle La Motto, Grand Isle
County, estimates half crop and very
good quality. The early summer drop
was quite severe in New Hampshire, al
though Baldwins stood up better than
most other varieties, writes one Or
chardist in Hillsboro County. Winter
apples seem to be doing very we'll at
this date, particularly in the hill towns.
The better class of orchardists in
Massachusetts, will have fair showing
of apples. One correspondent at Shell
burne Falls writes that where orchards
have been sprayed and otherwise taken
care of, there is good crop of winter
apples of attractive quality. At Bolton,
Worcester County, the crop is light and
rather poor, but in some surrounding
towns looks better. In Essex County,
in the eastern part of the state, eli.
matte conditions have been unfavOrable
and prospects only fair.
FROM MAINE GROWERS.
The crop Of apples in Oxford County
Is very light, not over Is per cent al
heavy as last year. The fruit is of large
size, however, and of very good quality