The Republican journal., 1908-12-03

/ Attention mas already Deen calIeu W
the apple exposition at Spokane, for
which preparation has been long making.
The new building will be completed in
about a week. Almost every apple dis
trict in the United States and Canada
has agreed to send competitive exhibits.
his commentator, and the head of the
Agricultural Department has lent his
assistance to make it success. Its mid
way is Cider Mill Lane and special trains
are to be run in all directions to bring
/ the people interested in the development
of this industry On the basis Of the
trees already planted in Oregon, Idaho
and Washington it is claimed that those
three States in a very few years Will
produce more apples than all the rest OF
the country. Five and ten-acre orchards
are regarded as ample for the comfort
able maintenance of family.
All this affords an appropriate back
ground for one of the most significant
discussions at the conference OF COVER
nors at fremont Theatre. The address
of Professor Craig of Cornell University
on New England's Opportunities in
Orchards" was one of great encourage
ment to the farmers of this section, pro-
vided they will heed its suggestions.
1--WE NAV safely concIude,' he sad,
chat New England's opportunities in
apple growing are practically unequalled
on this continent There is an abundance
of cheap land; the soil and climate give a
product of fine appearance ana high quail
/ ity; the gateways to the export market
/ are on our coast, while home market OF
the most discriminating and appreclatlve
kind is at our very doors.
He intimates that the potentialities OF
| this industry have been obscured by the
wonderful development of the. manutac-
/ turing arts, though we fail to see why
the farmer should permit his vision and
his regard for his own interests to be
couded by the growth of BUSINESS with
which he has only an indirect concern.
| There is occasionally good and healthy
| apple orchard in New England, and the
owner is sure to reap his reward, but
such orchards are the exception, and not
the rule. The most casual observer in a
ride over the railroads or highways can
hardly fail to be impressed by the general
neglect of the apple trees. New plant
| ings are few, and the old trees are per-
mitted to take their unarrested course
towards decay and speedy death. They
are regarded as merely an incident, when
they might be made the leading source
of income on these New England farms.
Professor Craig expressed himself as
''strong in the belief that a re-direction
and establishment of the New Eng
land apple industry will take place on a
new and firm basis in the near future. -
The New England apple as compared
with it's Western rival, while not superior
in appearance, keeps better, has finer
flavor and will bear export and general
transportation much better. In the West
it has become business to install Or
chards. There are nurserymen who agree
not only to set out an orchard but to in
sure its growth for two or three years
for a certain definite price, thus practl-
cally guaranteeing the orchardist against
failure Perhaps some such plan would
appeal to this section. It is not easy for
the old time farmer to lift himself out OF
the ruts, though he may be grubbing
along on farm that he would gladly
sell for the price of a single acre in those
sections where apperaising has become
a science. Boston Transcript.