Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-11-21
Notes from New England Fruit Show.

the recent New England Fruit Show in
Horticultural Hall, Boston, were par
ticularly interesting. One was the ex.
hibit of Mr.. A. A. Marshall of Fitchburg,
Mass, which occupied large amount OF
space on one side Of the main hall. Mr..
Marshall is one of the leading exponents
of fancy truit growing in New England,
but is best known for bis high grade
straw berries. This exhibit also places
him In the front rank of apple growers.
He has had great success with the Mack
intosh variety, and the fifty or more
boxes which composed part Of his ex-
hibit excited no little attention. This
apple grows to perfection in New Eng
land, and has few superiors among fancy
varieties. 1t is large and handsome,
without being unwieldy, like the giant
Wolf Rivers. A single specimen of this
latter variety might be cut up like a
pumpkin an1make enough for whole
family. Such apples are too large to
find a ready market in large quantities
and do not make an attractive package.
The Macintosh apples, on the other
hand, are most inviting, whether In
boxes or barrels.
There are some 5000 trees on the
Marshall farm, few of them over seven
years old, and yet bearing we'll. The
orchards are on billy land, and are grown
under the mulch system, the grass being
left on the ground. No cultivation is
practiced, but the land was carefully
prepared in the first place, much OF 1t
having been used for growing straw
berries. After inspecting his fruit, both
that in barrels and boxes, one felt re-
newed confidence in New England as
fruit growing section, provided the grow
ers are willing to practice modern meth
ods, and both spray the trees and thin
out the apples. Mr.. Marshall has been
obliged to combat the San Jose scale,
but that fact has not interfered with the
success of his business, or the quality or
amount of his apple yields.
In one corner of the hall was very
small exhibit which attracted much in.
terest among professional apple growers
seeking high class market, because OF
new style of package displayed. The
exhibit was that of Mr.. w. NJ. Davis, a
Boston business man, who has an Or
chard near Marlboro. Mr.. Davis con-
siders himself merely tyro, as he has
owned this orchard only two years or a
little more, but his methods are most
businesslike. The package which he
uses is really card board carton, and
holds forty-fve apples. The apples are
not wrapped, but look very neat when
the package is opened. When it is clos
ed, q wooden handle may be attached
and the package carried easily in the
hand.
One of the largest fancy grocery stores
in Boston handles these apples, often
selling a carton to man who Is on bis
way home and who carries it along with
him-a neat bundle containing forty-fve
Wealthy, Gravensteins, Macintosh Reds
or Baldwins, as the customer may pre-
fer. The apples are picked and packed
in the orchard, so that they reach the
table without scratch or bruise, as per-
feet as when they leave the tree.
This method of marketing apples
opens up many possibilities to the pro.
gressive farmer. 1t suggests the plan of
selling direct to the consumer, as j. d.
Hale, the peach king of Connecticut, is
doing with his apples, sending them to
private trade all over the country.
This form of carton makes an ideal
package when only few apples are
wanted, and it is most pleasing to the
eye, while it cannot be expensive.
Another exhibitor who believes in
reaching the retail market Is Mr. G. Z.
Hardy Of Hollis. N. H., an extensive ap-
ple grower, who was on hand through
out the show and took a large number of
orders from visitors at 81 barrel. He
tried this plan last year, and this year
found the same people coming to him
for another barrel.
The Maine exhibit occasioned consider
able comment because of the high color
of the fruit. The Northern Spies at
tracted particular attention. Maine is
over apple growing and
many new orchards are being set out.
1t was interesting to engage a Maine
farmer in conversation and to notice
how proud he was of the apples pro.
duced by his state.-E. 1. Harrington of
North Weymouth, Mass, in Tribune
Farmer.