The independent-reporter., 1910-12-08

the fruit OF the great orchardS OF tne
West, and because the average New
Englander does not know it, the
Massachusetts state board of agri-
culture has set people a-nibbling.
Nibbling good things means good di-
gestion. Good digestion means pleas
ant thoughts, says the Boston Her
aid.
The pleasantest thought suggested
by way of the oesophagus, to the per-
sons who attended the apple show at
the state house last week, appeared
in the form of this question::
Isn't New England a pretty good
place to raise apples?'
J. Lewis Ellsworth, secretary of the
state board of agriculture, who pre-
sided over the exhibit, answered the
question Immediately: Il don't think
there is better place in the United
States"
Moreover, he says that one acre of
grown apple trees will support two
people.
There is no reason why New Eng
land should not be the coming apple
country" continued Sec. Ellsworth.
We have advantages that the large
western orchards have not. For in
stance, it Is generally conceded that
our own apples have a better flavor.
There is another point that Is dis
tinctly in our favor. In the west the
crops are produced by irrigation.
Three times a year the water Is
flushed over the field through series
of burrows until the soil Is saturated.
In this part of the country we have
enough natural rainfall to carry the
crops through.
Last summer l went out to Hood
River valley, Oregon, as delegate
to the American Association of
Farmers Institute Workers. 1t is a
land where they think apples, eat
apples, sleep apples and dream apples.
They ship their fruit 5000 miles
across the continent. The fruit that
you find on the Boston and New
York apple stands comes from the
far west. Oregon even sends its ap-
pies to Europe, where the demand
for them is growing greater every
year.
But this great industry has been
built up by New England men, New
England hustle, and New England
money. We are trying to get the New
England men, the New England hus-
tie, and the New England money to
get busy in New England.
II just received a post card this
morning, which might interest you
Mr.. Ellsworth searched around his
papers till he found a gaily illumined
post card showing two large apples
This is from Prof. F. c. Sears of the
Amherst Agricultural college, who is
now studying conditions out west and
he says between you and me, I'd
rather raise apples In South Amherst
than in Hood river.
MUST COPY THE WEST.
But we must follow the methods
of the West" Secretary Ellsworth
continued with emphasis. "The re-
sources of New England are fully as
good as those of the model apple
country. What we need is scientific
orchardry. Here and there in Mass
achusetts | have found apple men
handling their crops along scientific
lines, and reaping the reward of their
industry. On the other hand, great
er part of the apples produced In
Massachusetts were handled still
along the old lines. The result was
that great bulk of our apples were
put on the market in a condition to
repel purchasers.
For one thing we must pack our
apples with greater care. In the Hood
river valley of the Oregon fully 80
per cent of the apple men send theirs
to a fruit association that has entire
charge of the packing and shipping
All of the packing is done by experts
DO you wonder that they are able to
compete with the less scientific east
ern industry?
"On the other hand. after my inves-
tigation in the West, / reached the
conclusion that New England, on the
whole, presents better opportunities.
One reason is that land Is cheaper
here. | found that in Hood river
valley raw land is held at $50 to
$500 an acre. Land with apple trees
five and six years old will bring
$1,000 to $4,000 an acre. | was shown
one farm of ten acres for which they
wanted $4,000. Moreover this land
Is either without building, or provided
with buildings of very little value.
Now, taking a look at New Eng
land. There are many thousands OF
acres to be brought with good com
Portable buildings upon them. at $50
or less an acre. Then why do the
western apples monopolize our mar
kets. you ask?
"Well. the reason Is this: 1t may be
hard for our New England pride to
look the facts in the face. but better
have done with it and find remedy
The western apple growers have been
able to send their fruit 5000 miles, at
the average cost of $1.25 box, and
drive our farmers out of the trade
simply because they have been busi-
ness men, hustlers, scientific workers
and, above all, honest with their Gus
toners.
"Do you know there are men in
Hood river valley who literally think
apples, eat apples, sleep apples and
dream apples" In other words their
entire time and attention Is centered
In apple raising. Yet l am convinced