Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-09-01
The Apple crop-Prices.

The season is now far enough advanc-
ed to allow q prospective estimate OF
the promise of the apple crop. The last
issue of the New York Fruit Trade
Journal gives communications from re-
liable authorities representing every I'M
portant commercial fruit growing sec
ton of the entire country. OF course
these reports made at this early date In
the season can only be taken as pres
ent outlook for the promise OF crop,
yet they carry a measure of reliance, for
if no fruit is now found, we know there
can be no crop to harvest. In the same
ratio if but little is now in sight the crop
must be correspondingly light.
The evidence thus given is mewhat
disappointing. Early reports gave the
blOssoming Of the trees as reasonably
full, or at least enough to promise a
fairly good crop. A perusal of the re.
ports as given in the journal named
leaves the impression of the promise OF
no more than q moderate crop any
where, and decidedly short crop in
some of the important fruit centers.
Some of the Western New York coun-
ties are reported with no more than half
the crop of last year, and one Of the
largest producing counties only ten per
cent of the crop year ago.
Maine is reported with no more than
oue-fourth the crop of last year.
The Ozark fruit belt, "the land of the
big red apples," namely southern Mis-
souri, and northern Arkansas, one of the
most important commercial fruit Sec
tions of the couHtry, reports substantial
ly no fruit or no more than five per cent
of full crop, and poor quality at that.
Michigan crop is variable, ne-quarter
of the state light in the extreme and
other parts no more than half full
crop.
Ontario has a fairly good crop or
about equal to last year.
Nova Scotia crop is full-more apples
for export than ever before.
This first review shows only medium
crop in quantity, but large and fine in
quality.
There is every evidence that shippers
are determined to start the price low,
the only figures yet mentioned being
S1.OO to $3.50 a barrel. So many got
burned last year that extra caution is
being used this year. But it has been
seen that buyers cannot always set the
price. If low prices will not move the
apples from growers hands there can be
no trade. The probability is that the
experiences of last year will have a
tendency to induce growers to let go
their holdings at any reasonable prices
that may be offered.
This early review of the apple pros
pect in yield and sale should not be
teken too seriously. Its application is
only to present indications. 1t is quite
certain, however, that where there now
is only a light stand of fruit on the
trees there can be no more than that at
the harvest.
The reports here quoted are from the
most reliable authorities in the several
localities, and they plainly show there is
not the promise of an over-abundant crop
of commercial apples to find market the
present year. 1t must, however, be re-
membered that an increased acreage of
orchard is steadily coming into bearing,
which in some sections is sufficient to
make a considerable increase in pro-
duction over what has been secured in
the past. This is markedly true of the
Pacific Northwest, where the principal
shipments of box packed apples come
from.-Maine Farmer.