Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-03-05
CHAMPLA|N VALLEY APPLES
No Finer Fruit in the Country
Declare Producers.
Tint Growers Have Not Measured Ur
the size OF Their Opportunities Is
the Opinion Of Messrs. Fcrgu-
son and Kinney.

Interesting addresses were made at the
Merchants association luncheon Thurs
DAY by T. L. Kinney of Grand Isle and
Clarence j. Ferguson of Burlington. There
were co people at the luncheon, and they
included a large number of the farmers
Of Grand Isle and Chlttendcn counties.
who were especially invited. Mr.. Fer
guson is interested in orcharding on
Grand Isle, and Mr.. Kinney is credited
with being the best authority on apples
in the state of Vermont
Mr.. Ferguson said we have not yet
measured UP the size of our opportunity
as apple growers in the Champlaln valley,
which has been pronounced by the great
orchardlst. Hale, to he one of the best
apple regions in all America. At the pres
ent time, Grand Isle county Is not shipping
out more than 100000 worth of apples in
the year, while three counties in northern
New York are shipping more apples an
nually than all the States west Of the
Rockies. one station alone ships more
than the entire product of the State Of
Oregon. Grand Isl, county has the same
temperature. the same lake influence, and
the same amount of rainfall as the New
York counties mentioned Every farmer
per cent. Of his farm land to orchard
There is no better or safer investment
for him and ne should, as far as possible
finance the product himself instead of
placing all his money in the savings
banks The Legislature has assisted the
growing of apples by passing a law that
the listers in towns where there are apple
lands shall not appraise such property
lat !, f,r 1
years, 1t is the opinion in all apple re-
gions that the value of apple lands
doubles in five years
Mr.. Ferguson arraigned the bankers of
the State because they did not realize the
value of partially developed orchard
lands. His experience had been that 1t
was hard to borrow much money on land
which was being farmed in new ways,
though to people who knew as much of
the business as he did the profits seemed
very sure. He thought the bankers ought
to be induced by law to accept such Sc
curity on loans.
Mr.. Kinney said that Vermont was once
in the foremost rank as a producer of
apples. and stood first in the value of it's
product in the markets of Boston and
New York In Boston the Vermont apple
was worth 81 more q Dtrrel imam tnOSe VI
any other State. But since the wonderful
and beautiful Oregon apple had made its
appea rance in It's fancy boxes, Vermont
fruit has lost its commercial value, al
though there is no better stock grown
anywhere now than here and more apples
are grown here than ever before. He de-
scribed he popularity of the various apple
regions OF the country and how each had
gained its name and reputation, until
they all seem overshadowed by the fruit
of the Hood river valley in Oregon.
The merchant and the farmer should
work together in restoring the apple OF
the Champlain valley to it's proper place
he said.
one of the greatest needs at the present
time is a cold storage plant in one spot
and there Is no better place for it than Bur
lington. The speaker said it would make
1t convenient for the farmer of Grand Isle
Addison and Chittenden counties TO bring
their fruit to market here, and in con-
nection with it there should be run an
evaporating and canning plant. The
handling of 400 600 barrels Of apples would
not hurt the merchants of burlington and
the banking business of $500 ON0 or 81 900,
900 could not he overlooked by Burlington
Jankers