The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1911-09-02

n was because of the difficulty Of obtaining
apples that had been packed with extreme care
that many large buyers,-particularly those buy
ing for foreign markets-some years ago IN
augurated the practice Of buying the apples
on the trees and themselves attending to the
picking and shipment. The plan has proven so
satisfactory to both growers and buyers that it
has been paid for the fruit "on the trees in
single orchard. OF course the grower does not
. get as large a lump sum as he would for the
packed apples, but his net Teturn Is as great or
greater and he saves himself end Of trouble
and worry and controvers5. The apple buyer
who purchases an apple crop on the trees In
this fashion may bring in his own expert pick
ers to harvest the fruit or he may merely en-
ploy the labor in the netghborhood.
1t is sometimes declared that considerable
portion of the American people has to put up
with what are, in effect, second grade apples,
while the proudest products of our orchards go
scooting past doors enroute to castles and
hotels and mansions beyond the Atlantic. OF
course, this is true, only In q measure. I'm
mense quantities of all the high-priced varieties
of American apples consumed right here at
home, although it may be admitted that the bulk
OF the supply for the populous eastern cities
comes from the orchards OF New York, New
England and other districts that are close at
hand. But, by the way, it may be added that
the apple-growing Industry in New England is
of the fruit produced Stony hillsides, particu-
larly IN Connecticut, are. under the advanced
methods Of cultivation, being made to yield
heavy crops Of huge delicious apples and If this
sort Of thing keeps on the time Is coming when
New England apples will vie in the markets of
the world with the prize specimens from the
west coast.
a noticeable characteristic OF the American
apple growing industry in all sections of the
iC fY, *hof $Ynrna
people who are entering the field. There seems
TO De something of a general mania to take up
fruit raising which exceeds In extent the STAN
peoe OF few years ago to get into the poultry
raising business. A good many of the newcom-
ers have had little experience in fruit raising
or indeed in farming of any sort and those who
are laboring, as many of them are, under the
delusion that fruitraising is an easy money"
proposition requiring neither experience nor
hard work, would seem doomed to a rude
awakening. On the other hand many OF tha
men VINO nave lately taken up apple raising an
serious business are shreWd business men of
energy and determination who will win ont IN |
the end, even If they do stumble few times at |
hrst What is more, a number of them have |
the capital back Of them to stick at the game
and this is important inasmuch as the annie in !
dustry is liable to prove waiting gane-not |
only with young trees which have not reached [
the bearing stage but also to some extent with /
mature orchards when late frost or other IN |
suspicious conditions may ruin a crop and allow
the grower no chance for profit until FIJI,
year hence.
some OF the apple growers have expressed
rear within the past year or two that this i'm
nenf 19easux of apple producers will serve To
IN time )ut the market and force down prices
Inc best-posted authorities, however, take lit
tie stock in any dire predictions in this dfrao.
tion lhey point out that not only Is annie con I
sumption bound to have a natural increase nro.
portionate to the growth in the population of tho
country, but, more significant still il the c.r.
cumstance that the American people are learn.
Ing to make more extensive use of this sunra1na. /
~ healthful fruit, serving it IN variety Of no,
forms which will make the fruit what is nugh,
to oe.-a staple on every American tahse.