The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1909-01-02
AMERICAL APPLES ABROAD.

Although Utah is known better for the products
of It's mines than the products of its orchards new
crtheless the orchard crop is one of the most i'm
portant contributors to the health, wealth and hap
piness of the people of this ntermountain state.
And in this orchard crop the apple holds an inn
portant place 1t is therefore interesting to read in
consular reports of the increasing consumption of
American apples in foreign countries. OF the
orchard trees reported in the United States in 1900
80 per cent were apple trees, all other fruit trees
combnd representing only 45 pr cent of the whole.
And of the bushels of fruit produced the apple held
SO per cent of the whole tree fruit production
Since 1900 there have been many peach districts
opened up in the west and it is probable that the
apple does not hold quite as large apercentage
of the whole fruit crop but that it retains its place
as the king of fruits there is no doubt.
As to the consumption of American apples
abroad, the United States consul at Plymouth. Eng
land reports that in two adjacent counties the sale
of American apples averages from 5000 to 10000
barrels The consuls at Hull Cardiff and Cologne
also report that the American apple is held in IA
vor by the people of their districts but each of the
consuls adds that the market could be greatly in
creased if the apples were packed in smaller sized
receptacles than the popular American BARREL and
all agree that the market would be benefcially af
fected if the apples were properly sorted and
graded
The American people have become accustomed
to finding the perfect apples top of the barrel
and the bottom of the barrel filled with a some
what poorer quality. The consuls in foreign lands
report that this arrangement works to the disad-
vantage of the market for American apples in for
eign lands, and all suggest that the apples for for
eign trade should be of uniform excellence through
out the package and that the barrel be superseded
by boxes which will hold about forty pounds of
fruit In this connection the consul at Cologne has
this to say:
Zone hears in conversing with dealers many
criticisms upon the manner of packing, sorting and
handling Of American apples, much of the criticism
being undoubtedly true and easily avoided by the
American apple grower and shipper The general
complaint is that the fruit is uneveny assorted and
either too closely loosely pressed The result
is the same in both cases. the fruit being bruised
and as soon as exposed to the air showing the
bruised places and destroying the selling quality
"The blame for this condition lies with the man
who does the packing for. he has it within his con-
troll TO sec that no inferior fruit goes into the bar
rels and that the heads are not unduly crowded,
Many retailers have called my attention to the poor
quality of the fruit in the middle of the barrel
and have heard the statement many times that it
was not worth while to buy American apples and
expect to get what one paid for. Unless reform
is effected in sorting and packing it will not be long
before there will be market at all in Germany
for American apples"