Smyrna times., 1939-06-22
PROSPECT FOR
BIG APPLE CROP
Early Varieties May Show
Retarded Growth But
Outlook is Good
PEACH OUTLOOK FINE

! The reduced yield of Delaware
Strawberries and cannery peas
can be attributed directly to an in
sufficient rainfall; also, the truck
crops were affected adversely.
However, the tree fruits, apples
and peaches, have not been retard-
ed to an appreciable degree. The
growing season opened later than
usual; therefore the 1889 harvest
will not be as early as last year.
Undoubtedly, an abundant water
supply would have greatly aided
rapid development of the earlier
varieties and shortened the grow
ing season, thus permitting early
movement of Transparents. Pros
poets for the marketing of an ex-
ceptionally high quality crop are
apparent. Unstinted care, labor,
and expense together with the
practice of following spray sched
ules have been unquestionably the
principal factors attending the
production of such promising
crop. Evidently, as the time of
harvest approaches, the growers
should not throw caution to the
winds but rather should seriously
consider all marketing factors
which are of interest to the grow
ers, the trade, and the consumers
before offering this product for
sale. The maturity factor is most
important at this stage. Consid-
Grafton of the consumers interests,
desires, likes, and dilikes and his
willingness to make purchases
throughout the entire harvest sea-
son chiefly depends on one condi-
tion-that of being offered an ar
ticle which he can use as food.
From the growers point of view,
the time element is ever present.
Delayed harvest may result in an
unharvested portion Of his crop
due to over-maturity or over-ripe
ness. In order that the consumer
might be assured good food pro
duct and the growers saved a loss
which would result from over-ripe-
ness, the Bureau of Markets has
provided a service which affords
the opportunity of consultation
on the part of the orchardists and
the Departments representatives
on the above mentioned questions
and other related phases. We Of
the Bureau of Markets are prepar-
ed to render service to the
growers, to visit the orchards upon
being informed of the growers de-
sires and there to discuss and help
to determine the proper picking
dates with regard to maturity. AS
all orchards do not mature the
fruit on the same date, it might be
advisable to classify them in or
der that there will be no doubt on
the part of the growers or the De-
partment as regards the various
opening dates Of harvest. The fact
must be recognized that even small
shipments of immature fruit will
place the remainder of the crop at
a decided price disadvantage in the
market. The Department officials
in performing their regulatory
work will be ever watchful in at
tempting to prevent the marketing
of immature fruit in misbranded
containers. It is apparent at this
time that a shipment should not
begin earlier than July !, prefer
ably after the fourth. Alabama,
Tennessee, Georgia, and Illinois
transparents are being marketed.
Illinois has an indicated crop Of
500 cars of very good quality,
practically free from injury due to
insects, etc. A large proportion Of
the crop will have been moved by
July 1. 1t might be well for Della
ware growers to avoid placing
transparents on the market in
competition with Illinois, which
course might result in over-sup-
piled markets and reduced rates.