Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1913-07-31
rsawnJeHe Thursday July 81 1913
Over-Production In Apples.

A scare has been heralded throughout
the country that there is TO be an over
production OF apples as result of the re-
cent Developments in the way of or
chards and the spraying process which is
bringing the heretofore unproductive ap-
pie trees into service.
Chester ]. Tyson in the Pennsylvania
"Farmer" writes as follows:
Is the planting of apple trees being
overdone Just now some persons are
giving very positive answers to this ques-
ton, some of them exactly contradictory.
will say very frankly that do not
know. do have an opinion, am willing
to back it by action but do not want
single man 10 accept it for other than what
il is-my opinion.
Here is the situation as il exists: For
nearly ten years past there has been a
perfect craze OF orchard planting, and ap-
pie trees by the millions have been set
out Obviously, many of these will new
er enter into competition, but il is prob
ably true that the end of the next five
years may see double as many bearing
trees in the United States as there were
five years ago. II is also probably TO be
expected that sometime in the next FIVE
years the middle west-Ben Davis belt
will see large crop coincident with full
crop in the Winesap, York Imperial, Bald
win, Spy, Greening belt, in which we
are most interested. That will probably
mean lower average prices for apples
than we have seen for many years.
Here are few known facts pertinent
to the question: First, the cost OF pro-
ducing apples on the Pacific slope plus
freight to the eastern markets, represent
a liberal price for eastern fruit. Second,
well-grown and honestly packed eastern
apples will bring nearly as much per
bushel today as the western fruit, and in
immensely larger quantities. Third, the
Ben Davis apples ofthe middle west new
er bring quite as much per barrel as the
varieties grown mostly in the east, and
this difference increases as the crop OF
BenS increases. Fourth, as the retail
price OF apples decreases, the conSump-
tion of fruit increases at rapid rate.
Growers, consumers and wholesale deal
erS are combining to reduce the cost oi
distribution; freight, retail profits, etc.,
and they will get results. Fifth, apples
of the highest character, as to quality,
growing, grading and packing always
sell higher, often dollar per barrel more
than the average lois.
Based on these facts, il is my opinion
that the far west can never put the east
ern grower out of business, and that the
competition of the Ben Davis section is
not our most serious concern. II is my
belief that when those years OF the great
crops do come, as surely they will, re-
duced cost OF distribution and lower pri-
ces will help out tremendously increasing
consumption.
Summing up, it is my opinion that il
the cost of growing has been guarded,
and the marketing is wisely done, it
will never be necessary TO sell strictly
weIl-grown, honestly packed eastern ap-
pies at loss, especially after the grow
er's brand has become known. am just
as thoroughly convinced that SO per cent
Of our growers will never take sufficient
pains to produce fruit OF the highest char
acter and that their rewards will be in
proportion TO their efforts. Backing this
opinion by action, we have just planted
an additional 80 acres of orchard.