Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-10-03
Apple Sellers and Buyers Apart.

Everything points to late opening of
the active season of marketing orchards
of winter apples, either on the trees or
picked and barreled. The views of buy
ers and sellers the third week in Septem-
Der are still far apart, although some
contracts have been made. This relates
to standard varieties of winter apples
grown in the commercial orchard belt
north of the Ohio river and east OF the
Missouri.
1t seems to be a case of growers realiz.
ing the prospective shortage in supply
of sound, merchantable, well-keeping,
well-colored apples; and sticking to 1t
for reasonable bids. Every apple grower
who reads New England Homestead has
been kept posted on the indifferent fruit
outlook, this crystalizing into positive
knowledge of only moderate totals IN
such great apple states as New York,
Maine, Michigan, Pennsylvania and
Ohio. South and west of Chicago, in
cluding the middle Mississippi basin,
the orchards, made up largely Of autumn
fruit, had developed rapidly and many
apples already sold.
While September is proving helpful In
the main to orchards, through its bright
sunshine, following more generous mois-
ture, particularly in the older middle
and eastern states, early losses cannot be
regained. The very latest advices to
this journal from orchard sections, by
mail and telegraph, indicate the uneven
condition and the delay up to the present
time in sellers and buyers getting to-
gether.
Another thing further emphasized is
the prevalence of much fungus in apple
orchards. This interferes with some
sales and often results in buyers refusing
to take entire orchard run at any figure.
Apparently it will be a season of close
selection of fruit and extremes in prices,
the really choice lots commanding stiff
premiums, while such as shows fungus
or undersize will be Disseminated
against.
This is also true of the great apple
counties of New York; some business
noted. At Medina, N. Y, a prominent
apple shipping point, orchards are re-
ported sold at $50 to S1.s5 per barrel
for No. as to size, IA inches in diam
eter and upward. Apples showing fun
gus are taken if not too badly spotted.
At Hall, N. Y, practically no bids
made, some growers asking SS for Grade
A winter apples. At latest date it was
impossible to learn of transactions or
bona fide bids at such important New
York apple towns of Albion, Milton,
Kendall, Hilton, Lockport, (in Niagara
county,, or around Batavia, where the
stock is very poor; very little business In
the Hudson valley.
Pennsylvania orchards compete some
what with New York and further south;
they have a reasonably good showing of
fruit in both quantity and quality. A
correspondent at Stewartstown, Pa, re-
ports good crop, no bidding for winter
apples, but Wealthy selling at 1925; at
Bendersville, no sales, but "apples look
ing fine." Down in Martinsburg, W.
Va, some apples have been sold to ex-
porters at $3.50 per barrel t o b for i'm
mediate shipment; but that demand is
over, as export orders seem filled. Grow
ers are holding the main crop Of York
Imperial for So 25 to S2.75 and no takers.
The Maine crop is developing we'll and a
few contracts reported at 80 per barrel.
New England Homestead.