Daily Kennebec journal., 1914-02-21
STATE HOUSE.
Annual Report of StateHort-
icuIturist Albert K. Gardner
Relatively Small Crop and No
Fear Of otOVerpToduction, He Says.
Necessity Of Advertising Our Apples
...0rchard Inspection.
STATE HOUSE CALENDAR.
Regular Meeting Of Governor and
Council Will Be Held at 10 A. M.
Thursday, Feb. 26.


Council Will Be Held at 10 A. M.
Thursday Feb. 26.
''The most prominent result and
probably the most important is the
relatively small crop, not only in this
State, but through the entire fruit
section, which puts at rest for the
present, the constantly increasing fear
of over production" says Albert K.
Gardner of Rockland. State horticul-
turist, in his annual report which was
made public Friday.
Fifty Per Cent. Crop.
Continuing in his report. Mr.. Gard
ner says:
Maine, with an estimated crop of
100000 barrels of apples for shipment
as against 61S,247 barrels for the pre-
ceding year. has an approximate
shortage of about so per cent. The
prices for the season, however, have
been much larger. averaging almost
S2.75 as against s1.50 for the preceding
year, so that when the difference in
the cost of production is deducted the
net returns are as good If not better
for the grower. Such will undoubtedly
be the case where apple storage is
good enough for fruit to be held over
for the advance in the market price
which at present is so surely indicated.
A great part of the shortage in pro-
duction may be attributed to the ex-
treme cold and long continued stretch
of lowery weather at the time Of
bloom.
"a drought in most sections during
the summer, followed by warm rains
during the regular picking period, COM
pleted a season wherein the weather
PLAYED an unusually important part
in reducing what might have other
wise been a bumper yield. But for the
consoling fact that conditions in 9TH
er fruit centers were much the same,
so that the total yield was very natur-
ally reduced, the season might have
been very disastrous to many of the
growers.
Fruit Growers Associations.
1.-THE work of the fruit associations
has been very encouraging. By loca-
ton New England is an apple pro-
d,Ieing unit and IL we secure a uni
form series of local associations there
is no reason why they cannot be unit
ed later into a large exchange similar
to that of the Northwest.
1.-The growers of oregon, Washington
and Idaho have demonstrated the
practicability of such a selling agency
for their fruit. The citrus growers of
California have perfected an even bet
fer system of marketing and it is up
to New England to put her fruit grow
ing upon a similar basis. There Is no
reason TO doubt that such an organiz-
alton would be other than successful.
The Necessity of Advertising Our
Apples.
THE improvement that has been
accomplished in the production Oh
finer grade of fruit has been especially
noticed in the last few years. In 1acl'
our fency apples compare very favor
ably with those of any other produc-
ing center. Maine apples have long
been known for their fine quality anu
I is generally conceded that for Ger
ain varieties it's natural conditions
re unsurpassed. The fruit stands up
wen Under long shipments and Will
keen almost indefinitely when care has
been tax en- in the production and when
nicked at the right tine and properly
stored.
THE law passed at the last session
of the legislature will go long way
towards promoting better grading ana
packing and will protect the shipper
of honestly marked product. With
the enactment Of this law, we are far
in advance of most other states. one
of the things that we need, then, is a
better method of selling our fruit ana
a great amount Of advertising. Inc
success which has been attained with
other articles of food, many OF Which
are inferior to the apple, leads TO the
belief that the greatest success Will
follow a general advertising campaign.
Some time ago, 209 recipes showing
the different ways an apple may be
prepared for the table were printed In
The Better Fruit and presented In
striking degree the efficiency of this
fruit as compared with other sorts.
"The consumption must be in
creased To do this we must interest
the consumer in the apple. not only as
a fruit but as a food as well. Each
housewife should have copy of these
recipes, so that she may obtain the
greatest variety and efficiency from the
one fruit which stands out above all
others-the apple. She must learn
the value of a particular brand in ap-
pies as she does in flour. breakfast
foods. ETC., and to understand the diff
81 III t,I. Garn
of exceptional quality and some of
which are poor.
Storage.
"A bill was presented at the last
session Of the Legislature asking for
a small appropriation to investigate
proper storage for Maine conditions.
Unfortunately, this bill failed to pass,
SO that we have to wait until later
before proper attention can be direct