The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1922-11-24
VERMONT CAN
PRODUCE VERY
BEST APPLES
Green Mountain State Has
Opportunity For of
This Fact

mont on the map as the section
producing the finest apples in the
world, so let's go to work and do
it," +. r. MacRae of Castleton
Corners, owner Of an orchard of
$4,000 trees and president of The
Vermont Horticultural society,
said to the society members as
sembled for the oath annual State
convention at the armory. With
the big drill hall as its meeting
place the organization has more
fruit and, as this is one of the best
apple years for a decade, The col
lection of Mackintoshes, Spies,
Baldwins, Wealthies and other fav-
olite varieties lttractively alTang-
ed to delight the public's eye is one
which has never been eQualled
here.
Prof. W. H. Wolf of Hampton
county, Mass, who discussed soil
management as it affects the or
chardist, was a speaker. State
Commissioner Of Agriculture Ell
bert S. Brigham of St. Adams is
expected to give an address during
the convention.
The address of the president was
the principal item on the program
Mr.. McRae said in part:
81 do not believe that many
growers have conformed to The
newly enacted Vermont apple
grading and packing law, nor pack
ed under its provisions this year. |
do not know why such law was
enacted nor whom it viii benefit.
Most of US ship under our own
special brands and we all strive to
make our packs superior to those
of other States. In other words
We are striving for reputation and
high price sand to have dealers
asking for our particular brands
Were we to pack an a" grade for
example, and ship to New York
markets where most of our apples
arc sent, there would be more or
less confusion with the New York
"A grades. If you ever dug down
into a barrel of New York packed
A grade Baldwins or Greetings,
You no doubt found apples there
that you would not think of pack
inc but of consigning to cider. You
can then easily understand why
our apples bring from 3 to S
more a barrel. For apples sold
within the State such Il law as ours
might prove of some benefit in
toning up the so-called Farmers
pack but for the larger commercial
growers, who wish to establish
their own special brands and
grades in the big markets, the
Vermont law is q detriment and
VIII work a hardship on those who
follow its provisions.
THE apple crop of the United |
States is about $4,000 coo barrels
this year as compared with 10000 !
600 last year. Nermont's share of
this is about 128,000 barrels. The !
State of Washington runs up the |
immense total of 100000 barrels !
II Washington can raise apples OH
$1,000 raw land, ship them clear !
tn continent, paying prohihitiVe
fl eight rates, and be able to COM |
pete with us in our own locality |
there is something for Us to learn !
The secret is that they raise beau
tifu1 fruit This we cOncpdp. |
They pick and grade and pack |
right, sending only their best to
our markets, conditions reversed |
and three fourths of the population
Of the United States centered in
he northwest and we had to shin
oar apples into their territory in
competition, we would find that
Vr had a very serious problem on
)UY hands. We can raise a superior
lprle as regards quality, we attain
rood color and size on our typical
Vermont varites but we must have
hem free from blemish and worms
md grade and pack them as nearly /
perfect rs human skill can, striving
o excel even the famous western
back. The western apple on our
markets is a permanent fixture and
t is up to Us to see that it does
lot become serious menace. \
'eW progressive orchardists have
that our apples can
,utrank and outsell the best Of
he western stock. Now let every
in this state demon
trate to the northwest that the
,est apples in the world are raised
1000 miles farther east. Vermont |
.ppleS are i'm greatest demand in /
New York city but we do not raise
.rough to supply the deamnd. We
,ave every opportunity Of putting
Vermont on the map as the section
the finest apples in the
World so its work to that end.
Mr.. McRae discussed apple
praying briefly and made refer
nee to the fact and during the
kIee days of freezing weather in
October, last, many thousands OF .
barrels of winter apples We're
rozcn on the trees in Vermont.
Warning of such d drop in temp
nature by the government bureau.
= or as hours in advance, would
,e of incalculable value to fruit
growers in New England, he
pointed out.
Mr.. NacRae bemoaned the fact |
hat very little apple tree planting
lad been done in Vermont the last
even or eight years. 1t is beyond
L., comprehension, he said, why
neI 20 to Western New York or
Virginia or the extreme West 70