Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1914-09-24
.MARKETING THE APPLE cROP.
Advice From the Office Of Markets to
Growers and Dealers.

According to the ONCE Of Markets,
department of Agriculture, present in
Indications are that the commercial
apple crop of the United States is
much larger this year than last. but
less than that of 1912 by several mil
lion barrels. however, it is estimated
in the current number of the Agricul-
turaI Outlook of the. Department that
the problem of distribution will prove
to be more complex than two years
ago, owing to certain conditions re.
eulting from the European
Attention is called to the small
| quantity of American apples-less
tnan 2,U00, 900 barrels-taken by Eu-
rope in normal times. Both the grow
ers and dealers are urged to view the
situation with optimism and to pre-
pare for the disposal of Europe's usual
portion in other ways. 1t is suggest
ed that with judicious handling the de-
mand at home may be increased and
the commercial croD marketed with
relatively fair succe to all. AS to
Just what constitutes judicious hand
ling, the Office of Markets makes the
following suggestions:
/. Growers should pick the fruit in
uniform condition, cleaning the trees
only for what is ready to come off, re-
peating the process until the crop is
harvested. The advantage is to secure
d longer time for distribution and to
prevent the pack from representing
extreme stages of maturity ranging
from ripe to green.
e. When picked the fruit should be
handled from orchard to cars in such
a way as to prevent deterioration,
care being exercised to protect the
apples from the elements. 1t Is ex-
planned that under proper conditions
fruit which is picked today should
not be packed until tomorrow and
that for this purpose shelter should be
provided.
8. Those using the barrel package
should uniformly grade and pack the
crop in compliance with the SulZer
law and brand in accordance with its
provisions, for the purpose of creating,
a feeling of confidence among dealers
and customers.
4. Inferior grades should be elimi-
mated from the green fruit markets,
not only for the reason that the de-
mand for such grades will be very
limited, but also because their pres
ence in the markets will undoubtedly
hamper profitable disposition of the
better fruit.
5. All apple growers, operators,
dealers and associations should early
arrive at an estimate. of true values
in order to secure g quick movement,
It is explained that If arbitrary high
prices rule in the beginning of b sea-
SON the crop will not pass readily
into consumption, but that on b other
hand. abnormal accumulation and con-
gestion will occur throughout the.
channels of trade, with disastrous re-
suits to all concerned.
s. Only standard varieties well
packed should be placed in cold stor-
age for the reason that prices likely
to rule in the late fall and early win
ter, as the inevitable result of liberal
offerings of common storage stock,
will probably limit the demand for
cold storage apples until midwinter.
Z. An effort should be made to
fully supply small towns by direct
sales in order to secure a more uni
form distribution and avoid conges-
ting the large markets. Attention
is called to the practice in some Sec
tons of growers who go with cars OF
apples to poorly supplied towns and
sell on the track. Growers or dealers
who desire to use this system should
apply to the town and railway author
tiles for information as to regulations
controlling such sales, and, if condi-
tons justify shipping, the arrival Of
the car should be preceded by judic1-
Gus advertising.
s. Growers who live in communi-
ties where cooperative organizations
are operated should do all possible to
strengthen these exchanges. 1t is as
serted that the ~disloyalty of members
is the chief element of failure in CO.
operative enterprises, and growers.are
strongly urged to support their asso
citation as the best way to effect salts
factory distribution.
Those who grade, pack n brand
their barrels in accordance with pro-
Visions of the Sulzer law should be
more successful in making quick and
g iisfactory sales than otherwise.
When apples are packed in a standard
barrel as established by Section l of
the Sulzer law. and and plainly. and
conspicuously marked as containing
one barrel of apples of n of the
standard grades described in Section
2, such a statement if true would con
stitute a satisfactory compliance with
the Net Weight Amendment to the
Food and Drugs Act. Otherwise the
package, if intended for interstate
commerce, must be marked to COM
ply with the Net Weight Amendment
to show the quantity of the contests,
either by weight or by dry Measure or
by numerical count. A statement of
numerical count must be qualified by
the size of the apples expressed as the
average diameter in inches to be a
statement of quantity.
MRS. WILSON ALLEN PAINTING.