The independent-reporter., 1910-12-08
ISN'T NEW ENGLAND 4 PRETTY GOOD|
PLACE IN WHICH To RAISE APPLES?
Question is Suggested by the Apple Show Held
at State House in Boston Recently

their bank accounts are increasing
yisibly.
"A new wave of interest has swept
over the state in the last year. The
New England farmer used to think
that his apple crop was a gift from
heaven. Now he gets to work on
spraying his trees and fertilizing his
land. More spraying has been done
this year than ever before, and the
result has been that the crop has
crops harvested in previous years.
"A few years ago visited the
farms of a Boston man, located in
Hopkinson Before their present own
er took possession the farms showed
evidence of neglect. They were the
typical abandoned New England
farms. On them were several hundred
apple trees from 20 to 80 years old.
Because they had been neglected, they
had never shown a creditable crop of
fruit.
This man decided to get money out
of these apple trees and he procured
expert advice and assistance. He be-
gan a course of fertiliZing, pruning
and spraying, which resulted this year
In a crop of splendid fruit. He has
marketed a part of the crop and he
estimated that he will secure at least
1000 barrels of apples. So far prices
have averaged 81 barrel. With equal
prices for the remaining crop he will
make almost enough to cover the
original prices of the farms. So inter-
ested has he become in orchardry that
new trees are being set out, and II
is his intention to make apple grow
ing his principal venture into farm
ing.
Il have been told that farmer In
South Amherst secured 20 barrels
from two Macintosh red trees ten
years old, and that he sold the croI
for 81 a barrel If he had an acre ol
such trees his gross income would
have been $4,000 According to the
Oregon method of selling, this would
Justify his valuing the land at $780,
000 AS the late Col Sellers says
There's millions in it,"
JUST COUNT THE PROFITS.
Ordinarily, could you make liv-
ing from an acre?" Secretary Ellis
worth was asked.
Certainly We count so trees, as
rule, to the acre. Apple trees be-
gin to bear when they are between
four and five years old. When they
are 10 years old you should get three
barrels. With apples selling at SO 9
barrel, which is low estimate, each
tree ought to. bring you between IS
and $40. You see at that rate youl
profit for the apple orchard would be
$500.
IF apple trees are well cultivated
1t is estimated that they ought to bear
five barrels a crop by the time they
are 20 years old. So see that your
ten years An acre of 20 year ole
trees in good condition ought to mel
between 500 and $500.
An interesting point in the devel
opment of the apple business Is the
interest which business and profes
sional men are taking in it. Gov
Draper has been attracted to its pos
sibilities and has gone into the bust
ness extensively and scientifically
both with young and old orchards
Col John e. Thayer of Lancaster Ii
another practising scientific orchards
ry.
Now what does this awakening all
mean? 1t means, to begin with. that
New England is coming into her own
Within the next generation, | believe
we will have the western growers
fighting, not only to monopolize the
cream of our markets but to holt
their own in the middle west. We
have every advantage of location. We
have cheap lands and nearby markets
And, in addition to all this, we have
the great determining factor Of
superior flavor and quality.
For the past years l have had al
neighbor gentleman from Phila.
delphia whom l have supplied with
apples. My fruit has never, until this
year, been anything but good farm
grown New England fruit. This season
he has returned to Philadelphia and
has ordered his winter supply of ap'
Piles without stipulation as to prices
He is willing to pay the top marke
price plus the freight charges, rather
than depend upon local fruit. He
has tasted the New England apple
and he knows that there is nothing
like 1t in the markets of the world
There are thousands like him
throughout the country, IL we car
reach them. and show them what We
have in quality and flavor"