Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-09-16
APPLES IN VERMONT.


in pictures of silver" That is what
Vermont apples should be In tho re-
zion OF Lake Champaign. But laying
aside specific metals. there can he no
question that there is money in apples
in the Green Mountain state. we
have already referred to the remark
able output Of this fruit In the large
orchard of Mr. Holmes of Charlotte.
and tho fact that his product this
season will he from 5000 to 1000
barrels, mostly greetings. which at
the lccst calculation will fetch In the
vicinity OF 50 per barrel
Now not every farmer in Vermont
can he Holmes of Charlotte but
everyone can be better farmer OF
the town In which he lives, and this
is true regarding tho possibility OF
raising fruit as Of various other feat
urcs OF diversified farming. which In
the long run. year in and year out.
unquestionably pays best.
That ~ will be a long time at the
present rate OF operations for YER
mont to contain many producers OF
apples like Mr.. Holmes Is indicated
by the Bennington Banner which tells
of Its experience with an agent OF one
Of the big nurseries of western New
York. "This agent travels each fall
and winter through eastern Vermont
plants shrubs, etc. One Of his re-
marks was striking comment on
conditions in Vermont" He said:
I'm Vermont there ia no use calling
on many farmers. but in New York
| have to call at every farm In a town"
| Questioned further on this line he
stated that his trade in Vermont was
with vlllaE, and city people who have
small places. with owrer1 Of large es-
tates and with a very few farmers
For instance, he said that at Bcnnng
| tor he calls on just about hale dozen
lington. a few more. while at Man
chester. Brandon. Middlebury and SINH
| lar towns anywhere from one to three
o. four. lie has tried making a
thorough canvass Of tie farmers. buy
| says II IS no usa. The farmers say
| II is too much bothc- to raise fruit
| The tre,s have TO be trimmed and
SPRAYED and There is wait of Ave or
six years befoee the trees come into
agent. at least In Rensselaer,, Column
| bia and Greene counties whet, he
| travel. practically every farmer buys
fruit trees or berry busheH and often
both The market for choice fruit: Is
| improving oil the time. No longer
ngo than last spring oregon apples
were being sold at Corsinglia's fruit
| store In this village. Just as good
apples can be raised in Vermont as In
| Oregon. II anything the flavor Of the
Vermont apple Is tho better. yet Yer
! mon. farmers are taking little inter
| est IN the great development Of apple
| and other fruit culture now in pro-
grcss"
II is evident from this that n siren
| nous campaign Of education will be
necessary before Vermont can hope
70 produce apples for market as II
| should md this is the reason why we
ore seeking to emphasize the possibili-
Ties OF apple growing In Vermont
When a man says that farming in
Vermont docs not pay ask him what
| hc had done to demonstrate the truth
of his assertion. II he has tried farm
| Ing, ard has made n success Of moth
ing the feult lies In him and not In
Vermont soil. which Is awaiting Just
such cultivation as has made the
| Charlotte farm In question worth
$500 per acre. Not every farmer can
equal this record. but If the protest =
ing farmer were TO do one-tenth as
well and make his orchard pay him
IN proportion, he would do much be,
ter than at present on the average.