The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1914-01-27
WOMAN GROWS APPLES
and gets Big PRICES

l was on the way down town with
friend not long ago when he asked me
to walk round the corner with him to
commission merchants, writes Har-
ry S. Stabler in the Country Gentle
man. He wanted to buy a barrel of
apples to send up to the house and his
wife had told him to get Grimes gol-
dens.
"Here are few barrels that have
just come in," said the commission
man. "They are fine too; $5 per-"
That's pretty high" the purchaser
objected. But let's have a look at
them anyhow. Ny wife knows what
she wants"
mot bit of use to break this bar
rel open," the other asserted. "They
are No. Grimes top, sides and bot
tom. If you find Pm wrong call me up
on the phone. I'll send for them and
hand you back your money"
My friend handed over the price,
while | stayed to ask qeustion or two
after glance at the square blue label
on the head of the oarrel.
Funny thing about that brand" the
merchant said, Il handled it some time
before ] found the owner was wo-
man. Packs and ships her own stuff,
too, understand. These 'three-moun-
tain apples bring the top of the mar
ket every crack out of the box. Some
of my customers won't have any others
when they can get these"
isn't it unusual for you to offer such
guaranteed" i asked, seeing that the
fruit was grown in the East. Il have
always had the idea that our eastern
growers were not yet out of the pack
ers' hornbook when 1t came to COM
parison with the western men,"
"Yes, that used to be true, but our
growers are rapidly getting wise and
careful; they are finding out that it
pays. A brand has to be mighty relia-
BILE for me to offer a man his money
|
clear through. But this special brand
| is the best farmers pack that know
Of"
The orchard from which these ap-
pies came is located on the Shenan-
doah Valley pike four and half miles
from the historic town of Winchester,
| Va 1t was in the orchard that / met
Mrs. Sue Howard Leake. She is presi-
dent of her incorporated farming COM
pany; her youngest daughter is secre-
tary, and q son-in-law, who lives in
New York, is treasurer Clad as be,
fitted the work, in a costume that in.
cluded long apron, mans cloth hat
and heavy gloves, Mrs. Leake was
bending over grading table, explain
ing something to the packer
81 thought was doing this work by
myself-off in corner as 1t were
but 1t seems that my sins have found
me out" she said.
Especially such as beating most oi
the men folks hereabouts in getting
prices for your fruit" began, but she
had suddenly leaned over to pick up an
apple as it was about to roll in to the
cloth at the end of the table 1t was
fine-iooking York Imeprial, large and
we'll colored.
"Here Is one of those imperfections
| l told you to look out for" she said
holding the fruit up to the packer and
touching small, brown, spongelike
spot not much larger than the head Of
pin. "oh, yes, know it is small and
harmless looking, but you must keep
sharp lookout for such things. Per
haps nobody would notice 1t now, but
in a month or two that spot would
have eaten into the apple and spread
the rot to others, spelling the whole
barrel.
'It does seem a pity" she comment
ed, tossing the otherwise perfect frui
among the culls," but eternal vigi
lance is the price of success in thii
business, and it's hard to get people
who can see beyond this stage OF It.
How do you like working Tor
womang" / asked the packer as she