The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-09-25
APPLE SCARE
OFFICIAL SOURCE
Continued From First Page.)

(COntlnucu flTSC EdSe.)
a statement from Commissioner of Ag-
riculture Ko1ner, In the which tho
honorable commissioner says he has
been informed that in Augusta county
week or ten days days ago there
were score or buyers Offering around
$3.50 barrel for apples, which the
commissioner regarded as pretty
good price. Now he learns" so the
report IN the paper says, there is
but one. and he is talking $3.50. This
leads Mr.. Koiner to believe that there
has been combine to force down the
price on those farmers who are not
informed as to general crop condi-
tons, and as to the status Of the
market"
This report. whics in SONG way
seeped into the commissioners office
from Augusta. seems to have greatly
excited the State official, and he pro-
ceeded to talk right out In meetin',
and the newspaper report says he
urged the frult-growers Of Virginia
not to dispose of their apples at the
ridiculously low prices now being Of
fered by certain buyers. The reporter
then goes on to say the honorable
Commissioner OF Agriculture metamor-
phosed himself into prophet and
predicted that by the time the cold
blasts Of winter, say about the 1st of
| December, shall sweep down the noun
| tain sides, Virginia apples will readily
| fetch from IS to 81 per barrel. Lord
| grant it.
Inst exactly why this alleged buyer
| who was rushing through the honor
able commissioners home county OF
| fering only s1.50 per barrel, ana eVl-
IDENTIFY finding nobody to take MIN up,
| should have excited the Commissioners
| 7 hardly know, but as l always bank
/ an the honorable commissioners good
Eiudgment and have profound respec1
FOR his sources of information, espe.
| ciany from his own county. ]. too, GOT
a little excited. and 1t is no wonoer
that / rushed down on Sary street
where the commission merchants keep
thoroughly posted on apple figures and
all other kinds OF figures that are
offered for virginia produce. ina,
apples had gotten down as low as
81 70 per barrel, or>were in any dan
ger of getting down there, was O.!
news to the w.de-awake merchants
IN Cary Street One who has the
money to back his judgment declared
i that he would like to buy million
barrels of red winesaps at that figure
or even at 50-cent advence on IT II
he could. While I was talking VIII
him the long distance phone bell rang
and one of the big orchardists or the
State was at the other end OF IN.
'phone. and he said to the commission
merchant about this: II am offered ~
big dealer $3.50 per barrel for
carload of my apples t. Q. b., riEh'
here. Can you do any better FOL
me?"
The Cary Street man inquired as tt
| tho quality and condition of the fruit
and. when the orchardist admitted tina
II the wtnesaps were "tolerably cloudy
and in other respects could hardly ranl
as No. :, the Cary Street man advised
him to close the deal at $3.50, Wh1cl
the orcharulst said he would do.
Figures That Speak Right Out.
/ saw also letter from one OF tn
: biggest merchants in Southern cit
to u Cary Street man. authorizln'
the latter to buy for him very larg
quantity OF wines.ps Mt figures tina
come very close to doubling thos
quoted by the honorable commissioner
and the Southerner said II the colo
was all right the buyer could adVanc
the ngures somewhat. adding: o
know our folks are little FOOLS
about color and want nothing but tn
: real reds"
One of the Cary Street men tell
! | me THAI DcCd uSS W lAo ehcN''NNN''N~-
the pippin crop and the smallness
the winesap crop, "saps" are I'M
year selling nearer to the plppln ns
urses than ever before.
From all have been able to nm
out l can but reach tho conclusion
that the honorable commissioner ha
seen a ghost which has excited him .
/ such an extent that he has unneces
sarily unfolded red flag. The tall
OF trust and combine always affect
the average Virginia farmer much a
a red handkerchief does spanis
bull, ana 7 always love to see Their
SO affected when there is really oc
casion for It, but when there Is moth
ing but dream or an excited imagi
nation behind the flag, perhaps
were better not to float It In tn
breeze. 1t Is likely to do harm. Yir
ginia apples ere bringing, and ar
going to keep on bringing. the or
chardists good proft, and no trus
or combine can prevent 1t, even II on
had been formed. and I have ampl
evidence that such formation ha
not yet materialized, and not likel
. j.. to--at- least no +thissI gear.