The Dermott news., 1917-09-06
WON'T YOU HELP
 DEFEAT KAISER?
Then Use More Apples This Fall So Meat and Wheat May
 Be Sent Abroad.
Federal Food Admin stration Plane to Aid Horticulturists Market Great Fruit Crop Among
 American People.

Word has gone forth that America must use all of her great apple crop this year in order to save wheat and meat for the support of our allies in war against Germany. Uncle sam is taking keen interest in the fruit har- vest of 1917, because it k vital 10 vic tory. and through the food adninistra- ton is planning a vast consumer cam paign' that will create all unpre- eedented demand for apples for home use.
 This years apple crop calls for in- tellgent handling. The latest govern mcnt reports indicate q crop of about l90, GOO. .Ooo bushels. That is little below normal. Good prices are assured | for all honestly packed first quality apples. and also for honestly packed, selected second grades which govern ment experts say can be put into stor- age When the crop Is biz 1t does not pay to store second grades. but this year, despite the fact that we cannot ship our usual 2.Oo0,OOo barrels of ap- l pies abroad. because shipping space Is precious, We should be able to get fair 1 prices for all good apples at home.
 Careless packing of poor quality 1 fruit has always been one of the chief causes of market instability and un- satisfactory prices to the growers. l This year the whole apple industry is cooperating to remove this market handicap. There has never been an apple year such as this one k going to 1 be. Growers have never been able to | get together and engage and finance | n national educational campaign among consumers to increase apple consumption. This year the situation l makes il necessary for the United l States government. through the food | administration, to conduct Consun- CTS campaign of publicity on behalf of the apple. This campaign will begin while the crop is being sent to market, and will probably continue until the last apple Is eaten up late next spring.
 So the grower has three great incen- tives for grading. packing and storing this crop with especial care.
 l. It Is n good crop and calls for care.
 2 The government will encourage apple eating and apple storage and will discourage speculation that raises the price abnormally.
 2. We must eat up at home more than two million barrels Of apples. which would ordinarily be exported.
 To get the best of the crop to the
 market In prime condition IL must be
 picked carefully at the time of ma
 turity and promptly cooled Tn tenn
 porv,y storage, and then skillfully graded and packed. Seeond- grade
 fruit should not go into barrels ar | boxes. If IL cannot be marketed in 1 bulk in nearby consuming centers,
 then it should be worked up into by
 products along with the culls.
 There has been gratifying i'm provement in apple marketing the past 1 two or three years. Western apples are boxed to strictly honest standards, l by the great cooperative growers or i ganizationS in Washington. Oregon, California. Idaho and Colorado. The l eastern barrel Apple has also been
 wonderfully improved in New York and other states. Because apples are
 honestly packed and give the best pos i sihle value for the money. there Is an
 increase in the consumer demand. Re
 tail merchants who were formerly al
 most afraid 10 buy apples in barrels, | because they were not sure of getting
 marketable values for their money l are now buying freely and in conf | dence This good work makes IL pos sible for the government to go further and encourage the use of apples as a
 war time food measure.
 Because the bulk of the crop will be l picked by volunteer workers this year
 and put into common storage until the
 grower can find time to grade and | pack, there will be an opportunity tc 1 give closer personal attention to Inc grading and packing than might be the l case if the crop were handled as tn peace times. For the grower who de sires instructions in apple packing. the | department of agriculture at Wash 1 lngton has information in bulletin form. These bulletins can be secured 1 free by writing to the department Growers will do we'll to obtain a few | copies for their piekers and packers.