Imperial Valley press., 1913-11-13
Haskin Letters
Apples Old and New
By Frederic ]. Haskin

= .
have set apart November 18th as the
national apple day for this year. On
that day every man, woman and child
in the country is requested to eat one
or more apples and, if possible, to give
one to someone else. Just how the
millions of apples needed for this pur-
pose are to be secured does not ap-
pear, but the apple growers will make
every effort to have them upon the
market in abundance for that day
however short the supply may run aft.
erwards. The apples of the country
were never of quite so high quality
as they are this season. This fact is
we'll proved by the number of perfect
specimens of the different varieties
which are being exhibited this month
in the numerous apple shows and
agricultural exhibits which are being
held III almost every state.
Less than a generation ago, the ap
pie crop of the country reached over
60,000,000 barrels. With such abun
dant food the value of the crop was
underestimated and in many localitie
apples were drug upon the market
Then the crop began to decrease unit,
one year it fell below 25,000,000 bar,
rels. By this time the demand had
increased and the shortage in the crop
became a source of great uneasiness
The prices of apples began to soar un.
til they reached at least three time:
their former value, and even whel
the crop increased a little the de.
mand still continued to exceed the
supply.
The Department of Agriculture SCI
about some expert research work as tt
the cause of the decreased crop, an(
the means OF bringing it up to meet
the demand. The causes of the de,
crease have not been determined anC
probably will not be because so many
conditions enter into it. A large mum.
Der of fine old orchards which hac
yielded heavy crops died out and were
not replaced. Many apparent change!
in climatic conditions, although de
MED by weather authorities, were re
sponsible for early frosts in localities
where they were once unknown. The
trees planted to replace old ones wer;
not well selected and consequently
did not yield their expected crop. Eacl
season some especial reason develop
for shortage in one or more of the
best apple sections, and most of these
reasons are not readily overcome
The ravages of the new insect pest;
in many parts of the country have de
stroyed millions of bushels Of apple:
annually.
AS result of the expert study Civ.
en-, it is believed that most Of these
adverse conditions can now be con
trolled. With the maturity of tn
trees which have been recently plant
ed, larger crops Of apples may bt
confidently looked for within the mex
few years and the superiority of theil
quality seems assured. While me-
cannot change the weather, they car
overcome its bad effects by protective
measures. In the great apple region:
the growers no longer leave an or
chard of budding trees exposed to Tho
late spring frost. They temper tn,
air of chilly night by burning fires
using crude petroleum as fuel. This
causes a black smoke which settle.
as cloud over the trees and the frost
is prevented. The cost is triAing il
comparison with the value of the pro
lection and the use of these orchard
lamps is now becoming general. 4
few years ago Missouri farmer spent
$4,000 one spring on lamps and oil tt
burn in his orchard of $40 acres. II
the fall he sold his crop for $4,000
The adjoining orchards, being unpro
tected during the spring frosts, pro
duced no apples.
The selection of trees is importan;
to the development Of a good appl'
crop. 1t is now recognized that va
riety which reaches perfection in one
part Of the country may fail in anoth-
er. The apple specialists are succeed
ing in propagating varieties of apples
suited to every climatic condition. Ap-
pie propagating plants are being con-
Quoted at scores Of experiment sta
tions AS a result the Department OF
Agriculture has been able to supply g
list Of the apples best suited to al
parts of the country. Two or three
varieties seem to flourish generally
but they do not produce a uniform
quality of fruit in all localities.
Among the apples quoted as being
commercially valuable in most parts
of the country is the deceptive Ben
Davis, which looks so luscious and
Il,y 10 en -