IB RAR.Y OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AGRICULTURE NON CIRCULATING CHECK FOR UNBOUND CIRCULATING COPY UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS Agricultural Experiment Station BULLETIN No. 312 MARKETING CALHOUN COUNTY APPLES BY J. W. LLOYD AND H. M. NEWELL URBANA, ILLINOIS, JUNE, 1928 CONTENTS PAGE STATISTICS OF APPLE PRODUCTION 563 GRADING AND PACKING PRACTICES 564 Growers Usually Do Their Own Packing 566 Care in Fruit Handling Varies With Crews 567 Standardized Grading Not General 568 PACKAGES USED 571 Baskets Tending to Replace Barrels 571 Apple Box Favored by Some Growers 572 TRANSPORTATION IN COUNTY 573 Wagons or Trucks Haul Apples to River Landings 573 RIVER TRANSPORTATION HAS CARRIED BULK OF CROP 574 Steamboat Lines Handle Shipments on Illinois and Mississippi Rivers 575 Boats Make Trip to St. Louis Within Twenty-Four Hours 576 Warehouses at Boat Landings Inadequate 577 Delays in Shipping Impair Keeping Quality of Fruit 579 Rolling of Barreled Apples Adds to Damage 583 River Rates Uniform on Barrel Shipments to St. Louis 584 FACILITIES FOR RAIL TRANSPORTATION RECENTLY IMPROVED 584 Most Important Loading Point on C. & A. at East Hardin 584 Apples May Be Loaded Directly Into Cars at East Hardin 585 Loading Points Available on C. B. & Q. in Missouri 587 Apples Ferried Across River Loaded at Graf ton 588 Freight Rates to Various Markets 589 Boat Shipments Faster Than Rail From East Hardin to St. Louis 589 Possibility of a Railroad in Calhoun County 590 MOTOR TRUCKS HAUL MANY APPLES TO MARKET 591 STORAGE FACILITIES ACCESSIBLE 593 METHODS OF SALE 595 Pre-Harvest Contracts 595 Consignments to Commission Merchants 596 The Levee Sale at St. Louis 597 Brokerage Sales a Factor in 1927 598 Merits of Different Methods 599 STORING FOR LATER SALE 599 Study of Apple Prices 601 Margins Between Harvest and Storage Sales 602 RECOMMENDATIONS W~> OFFICIAL STANDARDS FOR THE INSPECTION OF APPLES 611 MARKETING CALHOUN COUNTY APPLES By J. W. LLOYD, Chief in Olericulture, and H. M. NEWELL, Assistant in Fruit and Vegetable Marketing Calhoun county produces approximately one-third of the com- mercial apple crop of the entire state of Illinois. Without a railroad or a cold-storage plant within the county's borders, with scarcely a packing shed and no marketing organizations, this immense apple crop, averaging nearly 400,000 barrels a year, has found its way into the channels of trade and into the consuming markets. The methods employed in the grading, packing, transporting, and selling of Calhoun county apples have been made an object of special study with a view to learning the exact conditions existing in the county and offering suggestions that may be helpful in the handling of future crops. STATISTICS OF APPLE PRODUCTION \ In the 35-year period from 1889 to 1924 Calhoun county devel- oped much more rapidly than the rest of the state in reference to apple orchards and apple production (Table 1). The number of apple trees of bearing age in Illinois, was considerably less in 1924 than in 1889, while the number in Calhoun county had been multiplied by three. During the same period the production in Calhoun county increased from 1.2 percent of the total production of the state to more than 14 percent. These figures refer to "total produc- tion," and not to "commercial production." They include apples of all varieties and grades produced in farm orchards as well as in com- mercial orchards. Statistics of commercial production in Illinois are available for 1916 and subsequent years, but separate statistics for commercial production in Calhoun county are available only for 1922 and subsequent years. During the past six years Calhoun county produced from 28.7 to 38.3 percent of the total commercial apple crop of the state, or an average of nearly 33 percent (Table 2) even tho the county contained only 9.7 percent of the trees of bearing age in 1924. Furthermore, in 1924 only 52 percent of the apple trees in the county were of bearing age, while in the state as a whole 61 percent were of bearing age. As the younger orchards come into bearing Cal- houn county is likely to produce a still larger percentage of the com- mercial crop of the state. The orchards in Calhoun county consist principally of. standard commercial varieties, and the younger plantings are mainly of espe- cially desirable sorts, such as Jonathan, Winesap, Willow Twig, and 563 \ 564 BULLETIN No. 312 [June, TABLE 1. APPLE TREES' OF BEARING AGE AND TOTAL PRODUCTION OF APPLES IN ILLINOIS AND IN CALHOUN COUNTY FOR CENSUS YEARS 1889-1924 1 Year Illinois Calhoun county Percentage in Calhoun county Number of apple trees 1889... 6 949 336 126 953 1.8 1899 13 430 006 336 734 2.5 1909 9 900 627 348 888 3.5 1919 5 113 063 294 920 5.7 1924. . . 4 129 330 403 618 9.7 Total production 1889.. . bu. 9 600 785 bu. 119 109 1 2 1899 9 178 150 319 010 3.4 1909 3 093 321 173 630 5.6 1919 4 673 117 891 317 19.0 1924. . . 5 529 149 815 278 14.7 ] Data from Census reports. Delicious. This is an additional factor that will tend to increase the relative importance of the county in reference to commercial apple production. TABLE 2. COMMERCIAL APPLE PRODUCTION IN ILLINOIS AND IN CALHOUN COUNTY, 1922-1927 INCLUSIVE Year Illinois Calhoun county Percentage in Calhoun county 1922... bbls. 1 450 OOO 1 bbls. 416 001 2 28.7 1923 1 400 OOO 1 536 087 2 38.3 1924 1 100 OOO 1 343 699 2 31 2 1925 1 215 OOO 1 451 389 2 37 1 1926 1 290 OOO 1 400 636 2 31.0 1927 804 OOO 1 240 142 3 29 8 Six-year average . . . 1 209 833 397 992 32.9 ^rom government statistics. 2 From data collected each year by H. J. Sellmeyer, St. Louis, Missouri. 3 From data collected at shipping points by the junior author in company with a represent- ative of the Illinois State Department of Agriculture. GRADING AND PACKING PRACTICES Practically all the apples grown in Calhoun county are graded and packed in the orchard. 1 Portable grading tables with canvas bottoms are used. About the only other equipment employed in the packing of barrels consists of a few half-bushel baskets for sorting receptacles, a portable barrel press, and a hatchet. Sometimes a few boards are provided on which the barrels are placed while being packed. The pickers empty the fruit directly from the picking sacks on to the sorting table. The apples are sorted by hand and placed in half- growers in the county used packing sheds in 1927. 1928] MARKETING CALHOUX COUNTY APPLES 565 bushel baskets according to grade. When filled, these baskets are lowered into the barrels and emptied. In most cases each sorter has a basket for "facers." The facing is usually done by a person who FIG. 1. PACKING APPLES IN* ORCHARD, CALHOUX COUXTY In this important apple-producing area it is the common practice to pack apples in the orchard rather than in a shed. Packages, fruit, and packers are exposed to the weather, and the product naturally suffers. FIG. 2. PACKING APPLES NEAR SHED OF C. L. TUREMAN, HARDIX A few growers have built sheds where they pack apples in bad weather, tho when the weather is favorable they sometimes work just outside the shed. makes a specialty of facing, or facing and "tailing." In a large crew there is likely to be a separate person for each step in the packing process, including facing, packing, tailing, and heading. A full-sized 566 BULLETIN No. 312 [June, harvesting crew consists of four pickers, three or four sorters, one facer, one tailer, one packer, and one header. Such a crew can pack about 100 barrels a day. Smaller crews are often used consisting of only two or three pickers, two sorters, and two men to do the facing, packing, tailing, and heading, making a total of six or seven instead of eleven or twelve. In basket packing the same general method of handling the apples is employed. The same type of sorting table is used and the apples are commonly sorted into half-bushel baskets and later poured into the bushel baskets or packing forms, tho sometimes they are sorted directly into the bushel baskets or forms. Growers Usually Do Their Own Packing Most of the packing is done by crews working under the direct supervision of the grower. In some cases when the crop has been sold before harvest, the crews are under the supervision of the buyer or FIG. 3. HAULING EMPTY BARRELS TO THE ORCHARD A load of barrels just starting from Hardin, where they were coopered. By the use of large racks 100 barrels can be included in a load. one of his foremen. Occasionally a grower contracts with some person to do the grading and packing at a definite rate per barrel. However, by far the largest part of the Calhoun county crop is packed by the growers themselves even tho they may be under contract to do this work for the buyers. The cost of harvesting and packing apples in Calhoun county orchards (including the cost of the package), based on data furnished by nine different growers, varied from $1.137 to $1.303 a barrel and from 32.2 to 36.0 cents a bushel basket (Table 3). The reports made were in reference to the 1926 crop. Variations in the costs as reported by different growers were due mainly to the fact 1928] MARKETING CALHOUN COUNTY APPLES 567 TABLE 3. APPLE PICKING AND PACKING COSTS AS REPORTED BY NINE CALHOUN COUNTY GROWERS FOR 1926 CROP Grower No. Picking Grading and packing Container and caps Total Barrel packing 1 $.250 $.315 $.727 $1.292 2 .250 .287 .727 1.264 3 . . .228 348 .727 1.303 4 .177 .233 .727 1.137 5 213 307 .727 1.247 6 .250 .310 .727 1.287 7 .250 .287 .727 1.264 8 . 200 .290 .727 1.217 Average .227 .297 .727 1.251 Basket packing 1 .080 116 .160 .356 2 .080 .105 .160 .345 3 . 080 120 .160 .360 4 070 092 .160 .322 5 .076 .109 .160 .345 6 . 070 127 .160 .357 Average .076 .111 .160 .347 that crews of the same size did not always pack the same quantity of fruit in a day, some crews being more efficiently organized than others. Also there were some differences in the wages paid by dif- ferent growers for the same operations. So far as picking and packing costs are concerned, barrel packing is no more expensive than basket packing, volume for volume, but the price differential between three baskets and one barrel is about 25 cents in favor of the baskets. Care in Fruit Handling Varies With Crews The amount of care exercised thruout the process of grading and packing varies greatly with the different packing crews. In some cases the pickers are careless in dumping the fruit upon the sorting table, and considerable bruising results, tho the injury is usually not apparent until the package is opened at the market. In most cases, however, the pickers are reasonably careful in emptying the picking sacks. As a rule the sorters are careful in handling the fruit and it is doubtful if an appreciable amount of bruising occurs at this point in the packing process. Usually the packers are careful in emptying the baskets, but sometimes the fruit is dumped into the barrel instead of being lowered into it. Sometimes the packers fail to get the proper degree of tightness in the pack. If the fruit is not pressed tightly enough, it becomes slack in transit and is discounted on the market. If, on the other hand, the barrels are filled too full, some of the apples are mashed and others bruised when the head is forced into place. Failure prop- erly to rack or shake the barrels as they are being filled results in too severe pressing or a slack pack, either of which is undesirable and lowers the value of the fruit. 568 BULLETIN No. 312 [June, Standardized Grading Not General The packs of fruit coming from Calhoun county are exceedingly varied. There are no uniformly accepted grade standards. Some growers pack according to the specifications of the Illinois apple grading and packing law, others use the U. S. grade specifications, while many seem to pack according to their individual ideas. Apple dealers who come into the county and buy apples on contract fre- quently write their own grade specifications into the contracts. These specifications are usually more rigid than the provisions of the Illinois law or the U. S. apple grades. The buyers keep in close touch with the packing of the apples they have under contract and usually such fruit is well graded. The marks on the fruit packages vary fully as much as the grades in the packages and have no uniformity in meaning. The "orchard run" grade of one grower may be as good a grade as the so-called "No. 1" pack of another. Some growers who pack without reference to any standardized grades mark their packages with Illinois or U. S. grade designations; others use various grade designations of their own selection based upon convenience or personal preference ; a few fail to place any grade or descriptive marks on their packages. 1 Thirteen representative lots of Calhoun county apples in cold storage in St. Louis were examined in February, 1926. In each case an entire barrel of fruit was sorted on the basis of U. S. grades (Table 4) . Again in December, 1927, examinations were made of Calhoun county apples in storage. Fifteen lots were inspected at this time (Table 5) . These apples had been placed in storage for winter and spring sale and undoubtedly represent better grading than many of the apples that are sold for early consumption at harvest time. If the twenty-eight lots of apples representing the packs of 1925 and 1927 examined in storage are considered together, it will be seen that only one of the lots contained more than 10 percent of culls, while the average percentage of culls was only 3.8. However, of the eleven lots marked No. 1, U. S. No. 1, Illinois No. 1, or "A," only one contained 90 percent or more of apples that actually graded U. S. No. 1. The lots marked No. 1 contained as an average 28.2 percent of No. 2 apples, while those that were not so marked contained as an average 56.7 percent of No. 1 and 38.4 percent of No. 2 fruit. These observations indicate that errors in the grading of these apples were principally in failure to separate No. 1 and No. 2 fruit 'Both the Illinois law and the U. S. grade specifications designate that each package of apples shall be so marked as to give definite information on four items: (1) the name and address of the packer, (2) the name of the variety, (3) the grade of the fruit, and (4) the minimum size or numerical count. Fur- thermore it is prescribed that the grade designation be worded exactly as in the specifications. 1928] MARKETING CALHOUN COUNTY APPLES 569 TABLE 4. INSPECTION OF CALHOUN COUNTY APPLES IN STORAGE, FEBRUARY, 1926 Actual grading Lot No. Grade markings U.S. No. 1 U.S. No. 2 Culls 1 No. 1, 2^-inch minimum perct. 76.7 perct. 16.6 perct. 6.7 2 No. 1, 2J^-inch minimum 85.9 13.1 1.0 3 70.0 24.5 5.5 4 No. 1, 2J^-inch minimum 60.1 30.3 9.5 5 No. 1, 2J3-inch minimum 96.5 3.2 .3 6 No. 1 . . 76.9 20.0 3.1 7 No. 1 85.4 13.5 1.1 8 Orchard run, 2 J^-inch minimum 70.9 24.1 5.0 9 2 ^-inch minimum 56.1 40.9 3.0 10 2^-inch minimum 57.7 33.6 8.7 11 2 J4-inch minimum 73.6 18.7 7.7 12 2)^-inch minimum 45.1 31.9 23.0 13 No mark 65.4 26.5 8.1 rather than in the packing of culls. This was undoubtedly a carry- over from the old practice of packing "orchard run" where only the culls were removed. In actual practice there is no more difficulty in separating No. 1 and No. 2 fruit than in separating No. 2's and culls. Sometimes grade terms are misunderstood by the packer. An example of this is shown in Table 5 (Lot 4). In this case the barrel was labeled "U. S. Commercial." The specifications for U. S. Com- mercial are the same as for U. S. No. 1 except that there is no color TABLE 5. INSPECTION OF CALHOUN COUNTY APPLES IN STORAGE, DECEMBER, 1927 Actual gradinj ( Lot No. Grade markings U.S. No. 1 U. S. No. 2 Culls 1 perct. 73 perct. 27 perct. 2 18 76 6 3 U. S. No. 1, 2J^-inch minimum 64 36 4 6 86 8 5 62 34 4 6 Illinois Commercial, 2J^-inch minimum 48 50 2 7 Illinois Commercial 64 36 8 48 50 2 9 Orchard run 60 32 8 10 18 79 3 11 2 J4-inch minimum 72 28 12 No mark 82 16 2 13 64 36 14 No mark 42 56 2 15 No mark 92 8 requirement for the U. S. Commercial grade. This barrel graded only 6 percent U. S. No. 1 and 86 percent U. S. No. 2. It would have been correctly marked if labeled either U. S. No. 2 or Illinois Commercial. The U. S. Commercial and Illinois Commercial are entirely different grades. In order to mark packages properly the grade designations must be well understood. 570 BULLETIN No. 312 [June, Thru the courtesy of the State Department of Agriculture data were secured regarding the grading of 87 carloads of apples shipped from Calhoun county in the fall of 1927, as shown by inspection at shipping point (Table 6). These 87 cars of apples included 247 lots on which separate inspections were reported. Ten different designa- tions had been used by the various packers to indicate the grade or pack, and four lots were left without any grade designation whatever. TABLE 6. CLASSIFICATION OF 87 CARLOADS (247 LOTS) OF CALHOUN COUNTY APPLES INSPECTED AT SHIPPING POINTS, 1927 Actual grade packages U. S. Fancy U. S. No. I U.S. Commercial U.S. No. 2 U. S. Unclassified Total U. S. Fancy 2 22 'i 2 23 U.S. No. 1 No. 1 41 34 3 3 1 5 45 42 U.S. No. 2 No. 2 ii i 12 2J^ inch 2% inch XX 4 2 i 4 26 7 39 28 15 68 28 Commercial. . . . Orchard run. . . No mark Total 24 '2 84 io 1 2 1 45 2 3 1 87 3 5 4 247 Of the 25 lots marked U. S. Fancy, or Fancy, all except one actually graded U. S. Fancy. Of the 87 lots marked^U. S. No. 1, or No. 1, 75 graded U. S. No. 1 and 6 graded U. S. Commercial. Twelve lots were marked No. 2; all except one of these graded U. S. No. 2. The re- maining 123 lots, or virtually half the total number, were not marked according to any official grade designation. In the case of 83 lots merely the size was marked; 30 of these graded U. S. No. 2 and 46 fell in the U. S. Unclassified group, which means that they contained too many culls to grade No. 2. The 28 lots marked "XX" were all below the No. 2 grade. These inspection reports indicate that in the 87 cars of apples under consideration wherever a recognized standard grade designation was marked on the package, a sincere attempt usually had been made to grade the fruit according to the specifications for that grade. How- ever, half the lots in these cars were marked in ways other than with official grade designations and in many instances were of such low grade that they could be officially designated only as Unclassified. Observations made in the orchards during the harvesting seasons of 1926 and 1927 and on the levee at St. Louis corroborate the evi- dence already given that there is wide variation in the quality and grade of Calhoun county apples offered on the market. The general average of the grade of the fruit sent to St. Louis is considerably be- low that of fruit from other important apple-producing regions. St. Louis apple dealers hold the opinion that grading in Calhoun 1928] MARKETING CALHOUN COUNTY. APPLES 571 county is poorer than in most apple sections. On the other hand, a number of Chicago dealers do not thus discriminate against Calhoun county fruit. The reason for the difference in opinion is quite ap- parent. Most of Chicago's receipts from this section are apples bought and packed by Chicago marketing concerns or consigned by a few of the larger growers. The fruit reaching Chicago is undoubtedly better than the average from the county, while that reaching St. Louis, the market more accessible to inexperienced packers, is probably some- what below the average. Calhoun county has not kept pace with most of the important apple-producing regions of the country with reference to improved standards of grading and packing. The lack of standardization as to grade is one of the greatest handicaps under which fruit from Calhoun county is marketed. PACKAGES USED The apple barrel has long been recognized as the standard pack- age for fall and winter varieties of apples shipped from Calhoun county, even tho summer varieties and early pickings of fall varieties not intended for storage have been shipped in bushel baskets. How- ever, larger use has been made of the bushel basket from year to year until in 1927 over 55 percent of the total crop was shipped in bushel baskets. Much of the basket fruit was shipped by rail from East Hardin, but data collected at the boat landings show that 44 percent of the fruit shipped by boat was in baskets. Baskets Tending to Replace Barrels The barrel is a much stronger package than the basket and better adapted to rough handling and to storage. However, the necessity of rolling the barrels about on the river bank, on the boats, and on the levee in St. Louis results in considerable bruising of the fruit. There is more or less "give" to the bulge of the barrel, and the fruits next to the staves at the middle of the package are often bruised during the process of loading and unloading, tho these bruises may not be appar- ent until later in the season when the apples are taken from storage. The fact that bushel baskets cannot conveniently be rolled but can be carried without much difficulty results in much more careful handling of this type of package and therefore less bruising of the fruit even tho the package is less rigid. The introduction of the "tub" type of bushel basket is likely to overcome some of the objections against the bushel as a shipping and storage package. 1 'There is some variation in the storage rates quoted by different companies, but several companies in St. Louis quoted the following rates on apples in the fall of 1927 for the season up to April 1 : barrels, 70 cents ; bushel boxes, 25 cents ; bushel baskets, 40 cents. Two firms quoted 30 cents on tub bushels and 40 cents on bushel baskets. 572 BULLETIN No. 312 [June, FIG. 4. BASKETS OF APPLES BEING STACKED ON LEVEE AT ST. Louis The baskets are carried on the shoulder as they are unloaded from the boat. Thus the fruit is not bruised as when rolled in a barrel. The lower price of baskets as compared with barrels (Table 3) has doubtless been one of the factors responsible for the recent trend among Calhoun county growers to replace the barrel with the basket as a package for winter apples as well as summer varieties. Apple Box Favored by Some Growers There is a growing sentiment in Calhoun county in favor of the western apple box as a package for high-grade fruit produced in this section. Two growers are already packing their fruit in boxes .and FIG. 5. BOXES OF APPLES FROM HAMBURG ON UPPER DECK OF THE Alabama A small quantity of Calhoun county apples are packed in the standard west- ern apple box. This container has much to recommend it. It is convenient and economical in shipment and storage and protects the contents especially well. 1928] MARKETING CALHOUN COUNTY APPLES 573 others contemplate doing so in the near future. The growers now using boxes wrap their apples in oiled paper and pack them according to numerical count. Special brands are used, designated by attractive lithographed labels on the ends of the boxes. The western apple box has much to recommend it as a package for Calhoun county. It is a neat and attractive package when prop- erly packed ; it is strong and protects its contents well during shipping and handling; it stacks well in storage, and because of this, storage rates on such packages are comparable with rates on barrels rather than on baskets. An added point in favor of the box for Calhoun county is that it must be carried when being loaded and unloaded. This prevents such bruising as is likely to occur in barrels. Calhoun county is bounded, except on the north, by navigable rivers. There is not a railroad in the county nor a bridge across either river. Hence practically all the apples leaving the county must go by boat, transfer barge, or ferry. Since practically all the apples are packed in the orchard, they are hauled in the shipping packages directly from the orchard to the loading point instead of being hauled in field crates from the orchard to a packing shed on the premises of the grower or at a railway siding, as is done in many other regions. The loading point is usually either a steamboat landing on the river bank or a place where a transfer barge or a ferry operates. Wagons or Trucks Haul Apples to River Landings Either wagons or trucks are used in hauling the apples from the orchards. The length of the haul varies from less than one-half mile to several miles. During the extremely high water in the fall of 1926 many of the boat landings were unable to operate, so that many growers were forced to haul their apples long distances to other land- ings. This situation, tho unusual, is likely to recur from time to time. The character of the roads over which the fruit is hauled varies greatly in different parts of the county and under different weather conditions. The only hard road is that from Hardin to Kampsville. Dirt roads that normally are relatively good are cut into deep ruts after a few days of rainy weather and at times are nearly impassable. Some roads, improved by surfacing with rock and gravel in former years, have not been given proper maintenance and are quite rough and rocky. The character of the roads has, of course, a very important bear- ing upon the size of load that each hauling unit can handle and on the number of trips that can be made in a day. It also has a bearing upon the condition and keeping quality of the apples ; for it is hard to conceive of any package of apples, even tho well packed, being hauled 574 BULLETIN No. 312 [June, four or five miles over rough roads without the fruit being injured to some extent. In slack-packed barrels or baskets the fruit suffers much more. The use of motor trucks in hauling fruit from the orchard to the loading point is becoming more common each year. Fruit hauled in trucks probably receives more jolting than fruit hauled in wagons properly equipped with springs. However, the speed with which the work can be done by truck seems destined to make the truck the common vehicle for the apple hauling in the near future. Careful driving will eliminate part of the jolting. Larger loads can be hauled with trucks than with wagons. The load for a wagon usually varies from 12 to 18 barrels, depending largely upon the condition of the roads. Altho small trucks under unfavorable road conditions may haul only 12 barrels, the more usual load for the larger trucks is 18 to 24 barrels, and sometimes even larger loads are hauled. RIVER TRANSPORTATION HAS CARRIED BULK OF CROP River transportation has been the dominant factor in the move- ment of apples from Calhoun county. Shipments to St. Louis, Han- nibal, and Peoria have normally traveled the entire distance by water, while those to other markets have moved by boat to some rail shipping FIG. 6. STEAMSHIP Belle oj Calhoun READY TO DISCHARGE CARGO OF APPLES AT ST. Louis LEVEE This is the largest boat engaged in transporting apples from Calhoun county. point, there to be transferred to cars. This double handling, with the combined charges for boat and rail service previous to the extension of the railroad to East Hardin, made transportation rates high to all markets that could not be reached directly by water. This fact, coupled with the remoteness of other large markets, has caused St. 1928] MARKETING CALHOUN COUNTY APPLES 575 Louis to be the principal market for Calhoun county apples. In fact, previous to 1927, more apples were shipped from Calhoun county by boat to St. Louis than to all other markets and by all other transpor- tation methods (Table 7). TABLE 7. RIVER RECEIPTS OF CALHOUN COUNTY APPLES AT ST. Louis, 1922-1927 Year Calhoun county crop To St. Louis by river 1 1922 bbls. 416 001 536 087 343 699 451 389 400 636 240 142 bbls. 281 820 328 482 219 992 244 518 223 347 60 225 perct. 67.7 61.2 64.0 54.1 55.7 25.0 1923 1924 . 1925 1926 1927 St. Louis Daily Market Reporter, November 30, 1927, published by O'Connor Market Reporter Company. Steamboat Lines Handle Shipments on Illinois and Mississippi Rivers The part of Calhoun county bordering on the Illinois river is served by the Eagle Packet Company. The steamer, Golden Eagle, operates regularly between St. Louis and Peoria, leaving St. Louis twice every week except during the winter months. The steamer, Piasa, has hauled apples during harvest time, operating mainly down the river from Calhoun county loading points to St. Louis. Apples that are shipped by water from the west side of the county are handled by the Tennessee River Packet Company, or by the St. Louis & Calhoun Packet Corporation, operating steamboats on the Mississippi river. The Tennessee River Packet Company operates boats regularly between St. Louis and Quincy. The schedule is for two trips a week. Three boats of this company are available for use in transporting apples: namely, The Alabama, the Crescent, and the Jane Khea. Dur- ing the apple season part of these boats ply between St. Louis and Cal- houn county points rather than making the entire trip to Quincy, and they sometimes make three trips a week. The St. Louis & Calhoun Packet Corporation operates the Belle of Calhoun and the Illinois, making two trips a week between St. Louis and Louisiana, Missouri. When freight movement is heavy, both boats are operated. The Golden Eagle, Piasa, Alabama, and Belle of Calhoun are able to carry large cargoes on their own decks and also may propel one or two barges each, thus greatly increasing their hauling capacity. The Crescent, Jane Rhea, and Illinois push large barges but carry no freight on their own decks. The boats of the three transportation companies, together with their barges, are capable of moving more than 60,000 barrels of apples a week. 576 BULLETIN No. 312 [June, In addition to the boats that have been mentioned, there are several smaller boats that either have their decks laden or push barges, which sometimes handle a considerable volume of apples. They have no particular schedule nor particular route but pick up business whenever and wherever they can do so advantageously. FIG. 7. LOADING APPLES ON OPEN DECK OF ONE OF THE SMALLER BOATS Boats of this type, arid also small power boats that push barges, haul many apples in seasons of heavy crop. FIG. 8. STREET SCENE IN HAMBURG DURING APPLE HARVEST When the warehouses at the boat landings have no more room for the apples hauled in from the orchards, the barrels of fruit are piled in the street or along the river bank. Boats Make Trip to St Louis Within Twenty-Four Hours The running time of the packets from Calhoun county landings to St. Louis varies considerably with conditions. When there are 1928] MARKETING CALHOUN COUNTY APPLES 577 large volumes of freight to be loaded at each landing, more time is required to make the trip than when the loading is light and some stops may be omitted. There are fifteen landings in Calhoun county on the Illinois river and twenty on the Mississippi river at which stops are scheduled; but the boat does not stop at a landing unless there is freight to be delivered or loaded. The stage of the river also has considerable influence on the running time of the boats. Nevertheless, it is seldom that more than twenty-four hours are required to make the trip from the upper landings in the county to the levee at St. Louis. Delay in getting Calhoun county apples from orchard to market is not due to slow running time of boats on the rivers, but rather to the fact that the boats do not always take all the apples that are at the landings. Sometimes at the peak of the harvest, apples may lie FIG. 9. Golden Eagle RECEIVING FREIGHT AT HARDIN The gangplank extends from the warehouse to the boat deck, house was damaged when struck by a boat during high water.) (The ware- at the landing for several days before a boat comes along that has room to haul them. At other times a grower may request that ship- ment of his apples be deferred in the hope that market conditions may improve. It has been reported that in extreme cases certain barrels of apples have been at the landing for thirty days before they were loaded. Warehouses at Boat Landings Inadequate At most of the boat landings there are sheds or barns which are supposed to serve as warehouses for the apples until they are loaded. In most cases these sheds are owned by the landing keepers, who charge a fee of 3 to 5 cents a barrel on all apples loaded at the given 578 BULLETIN No. 312 [June, landing. At most of the landings the warehouses have a capacity of less than 1,000 barrels, tho at Hamburg there is capacity of approxi- mately 5,000 barrels. When the harvest is at its height, more apples FIG. 10. ROLLING BARRELED APPLES FROM WAREHOUSE TO STEAMBOAT Deck hands starting to roll barrels of apples from warehouse across the ground to the gangplank of the steamship Alabama. Some livestock had just been loaded and the hurdles forming the chute had not yet been removed when this picture was taken. FIG. 11. ANOTHER VIEW OF BARREL LOADING Each deck hand has a short pike pole with which he manipulates the bar- rels. This is a common method of loading apples on to boats in Calhoun county. 1928] MARKETING CALHOUN COUNTY APPLES 579 are brought to the landings than can be placed in the warehouses. The excess packages are piled on the ground wherever space may be found. At Hamburg, in spite of the 5,000-barrel warehouse capacity, it is not uncommon to find the principal street of the town piled high with barrels of apples exposed to rain or sun. Delays in Shipping Impair Keeping Quality of Fruit To determine the effects of delayed shipment on the keeping qual- ity of apples, tests were run during 1926 and 1927 on Jonathan, Wine- sap, and Willow Twig apples grown in Calhoun county. In 1926 it was planned to ship four barrels of each variety by boat to St. Louis as soon as picked and there to place them in cold storage; four barrels were to have been held in the orchard two weeks exposed to the weather, and four barrels were to have been held in sheds at the loading point for the same period before being sent to storage. Owing to unavoidable conditions some of the lots were de- layed in their trip to storage. A misunderstanding caused the Willow Twigs to be shipped to storage a week earlier than planned. The exact number of days elapsing between the picking dates and the dates the various lots were placed in cold storage in St. Louis are shown in Table 8, together with the conditions under which they were held before being stored and the average mean daily temperatures prevail- ing during the time the various lots were held. At different times during the storage season one barrel of each lot was removed from storage, and detailed examinations of the apples made. The differences in the condition of the apples in the various lots on specified dates are shown in Table 8. During the 1927 season tests similar to those made in 1926 were conducted with the same varieties. The apples in these tests, however, were packed in tub bushels. The treatments given the various lots were similar to those planned for the 1926 tests. The time that elapsed between picking the various lots and placing them in cold storage in St. Louis is shown in Table 9, together with the results of detailed examinations made at various times during the storage season. In both the 1926 and 1927 tests, when a package had been exam- ined and a record of its condition made the fruit w T as disposed of. The subsequent examinations were made on other packages of the cor- responding lots. The results, therefore, could not be expected to be exactly the same for the same lots because the keeping quality of apples in the different packages might vary somewhat even under identical treatment. Significant differences in the keeping quality of the apples handled in different ways are, however, shown in some cases. There are apparently no significant differences shown in the keep- ing quality of the Willow Twig lots and the Winesap lots examined in the 1926 tests. The differences noted are too small to be significant. This can partly be explained by the low temperatures that prevailed 580 BULLETIN No. 312 [June, & CN CN ||1 ! OS 2 S _ Cj 1 *"* ca o ca Oi O. . * 8 1 ^ 0,0,0, 'E'E' E 8" 'C'C o -2 x- V C ,a >i S S bit ggs j-g 1 * Sooo "3 --- 3 ESS **"* ^ S " s { Jg "o CO t. iC| [ 1 5 ca o 8 OS OS ^"l*" > I 1 O5 ? 1 S? S 06" o Q 1 1 Jill fefetfO CN a S S S KffiK June 20, 111 KKffi *n f** fl 03 .0 W t-i - i O o S N IN J2 ^ t M PQ OS 03 OS M*** ( ) g ^_. ^ '""' \jn N^" 1 M * .s 2^i o" IN rtrt 8" c a d"i^ : Q M o o 2*~"S 3 ^ F-J Z Z ^ o w o O "o fc 3 ^ -^^ a* M'C^ S a CO IN -" O- o - S 1 IN OS OS "S fc^D' I 2. |. PM S 06" .g^e** CN" 8" ||r 11 s < O Q 03 ca "S o> | Q a 3 co ca ca a a a ooo ||2- fe f$ Z M Z >-9 X ^ i^ o3 ^ o 4f c3 * -^ " <*^ g 1 CN (N O 2^2 a 2 S, < "c .... o" "5OJ o" O"50 Of D S "_8; ^ ^ US CO iS ^" CN bO CN C 3 S O" sT a o] J2 8 a i-Hico 1 >^ EH bo 3 l|| ^ ' - - Q 6 S P tn 03 ^ - ^ H ca Q 03 a o i-a CO IN a & g 1 CN OS "S^ ? S OS rt 11 oj" i E " 06" ^ ' CN W *H s OOO a" 'oo *^ w O O b 0) 3 = Q 03 3 jal'gJ'J H ^ *-rf - _2 a "S J : a 04 S 03 03 ^ s " X ^ 3 a t ' w "ol . ooooooco "oS 10 ^ ^ "S ^m 03 1 Q & .... O O O CO COCOCOUS E 5S^ E o. 5^^; **">, jn g g S "g5-i -~ E 8 > S3 too oo I'slst PQ Q 0-lTlCO Q Q "^'S b H c*ja o d 6 6 iitss jj e.2'5"*" * i-HNCOTjl ^ "IN CO " -ICNW & JS i 2 o o O - = " " M T3 n 3 S ? - 1928} MARKETING CALHOUN COUNTY APPLES 581 00 i OS 00 M OS V a ^1 " QJ C .&. . 5 I IN C'" Os" OS 1 A V fa .III tfoo a ESS a .S.S a 5.B-S Kfatf "8 ^ 00 00 N | IN O! S IN OS 35 < 1 1 Q a" S" IN 0) .O..Q. N 3S i Q ES 1 |SS KSS g fa "SSS 03 t- t; Kfafa 3 C si 00 IN Ol oo IN OS 00 1 i M q rt .s ^S- 05~ ^^ Os" ^^ s to a n s 5, o a C o ~ "o fa "** ^ *, J tf a ^ o ?q 00 00 IN "* = OS OS OS DO 3 < 8" .5 ^^ -H' -5 OS c & 00 3 C I 3 C a o C o D 3 l * 3 c "S _1 c3 a 1 ll g o '1*2 C3 si 3! '& a 511 iSoa OK -1 j 1 J 7! ad 3 c Q CO CO CO " " ^ ^ oo---- -oo^-oo-o O5f~co?i5oc^co Sx-i 55PS s ^ c! -^ ** | II 00 . . . . . X>. u~ ^ ^ " ^j I "i-^4 ^ 3 M * ......... n* ! . ' ~ "^ " " """ "~" i! -I H ,fCO 00 30-! 0(NC03>~ - o-JsoOf-OCO- OOSOX 00 >H ^ ^) ...^.... CDyj ^"* T t ~ g i-3 73 a * a fi .0500,.. B < (O . X .. u : . Tl !*'. | ^T3 S-a > ^ go *r " ^^ f*t*- oocoo^coi^t^o oascoos-^--* ooxocji3-co co ia o co a HC^ e O^tSOOCOCO i3CO-*ts--^-i-O 003COCOr~CO-O t^O-N-->3-H P pj O5 ^ x,.' ' u ieaeaH ^'T 1 I 5^ T " O &. O H^ 5 Sj" I " rg '- t^H ei ocs. ' ' * 'Ot- ^"5 5^^' O ^ X aS E-i i- o 5 05 _ 1 I . . - - .B- ~ -^SLS g - -oxo-o.co II . H-J^ :: c ? > ? ^ T ti T> ; s ? t> :* '? G i !:< ! Tf ; c ^ t ^ c ^ (N . c ^ s :~''': N : t ^ : ?,y|g IA " ' "'"" """' ........ -^ 81 - 1|| M . ff- .2 -^ ^ g oocroxco^NO r^Sci'Ti^.Zftco oo^CTfi-it-cot^cs "S35ri5ic^'j< " "S O OMTCO-^COt--* CO !N (N CO O * IN 13 T). ^^ ^ HI 5 ~- a < . ^ 005 ^,,^ 00 o . . -co - -^ - 5 ^ O. ocSS-ooNS ' -co : -co J:=^~ tn je9*w*o- co - - -N - -IN g H & ja ** Z = u- o 5- s :;;:;;:; ;;;:;::; iTTTTTn ;;===;=: 211 i I M;M;- ;--;;; :;;::;:; fjl o ::::::: :::::::: :::::::: : ::::::: ^ o * ia . t- rj j o-" 1-4 V S> 0) Ot/3'3 Q3 ^j Q .......j^j ^) gg '^iCQ _>, a ' | rtr Q^' a * .2 OQ / \ / \ 41 f ' , \ / \ / V J9 ' . \ / \ / \ > / 37 i \ x x V \ / \ ?- 55 \ 1 , x' A - ., E ' SE 53 \ > , A i* >V //<- 51 , A ^x z \ \ a v 29 \ / ( X \ y / V 27 \ / Price at hardest time from storage e U.5. Commercial op > calculated from da >r markets to 1921 ' \ / 25 \ Volun - - Price on pie crop 25 21 1020 1921 mi 1925 1924 1925 1926 1927 FIG. 21. PRICES OF CALHOUN COUNTY JONATHANS AT HARVEST AND FROM STORAGE, SHOWING RELATION OF PRICES TO VOLUME OF UNITED STATES COMMERCIAL APPLE CROP Price per Borrel *900 50 aoo 750 700 650 6.00 550 500 450 400 550 3.00 250 225 Millions of Barrels 41 J9 57 55 35 51 29 27 25 2J 21 / ' . / \ , / \ 1 / \ / \ / v - / > % / \ *~) \ X X > / V / \ \ / \ - 7 x X A/ \ V / \ - \ / \ /A 2j ^^ \ - \ / \ / \ / \ \ *V \ / ' x ^.^-'' \ /' \ \ / Price of harvest tlrt Price from storage Volume U.S. Commerc Price calculoted from for other markets 1 i e \ / - l > / (al opple^ data i 1921 ^crop F= 1920 1921 1922 1925 1924 1925 1926 1927 FIG. 22. PRICES OF CALHOUN COUNTY WINESAPS AT HARVEST AND FROM STORAGE, SHOWING RELATION OF PRICES TO VOLUME OF UNITED STATES COMMERCIAL APPLE CROP margin for the seven-year period was only one cent a barrel. This does not take into account any shrinkage, expense of repacking, other extra charges, or compensation for the assumption of risks in- volved. The loss on Jonathans in 1927-28 when Ben Davis and Wil- 604 BULLETIN No. 312 [June, Price per Barrel *900 . Miiiiona of Borrelj 4\ 39 37 35 35 31 29 27 25 23 21 450 Price at harvest time aoo Price from storage - Volume US. Commercial apple - Price calculated from data other morKets in 1921 750. - - for 7.00. 650. / { 600 . , x / \ 7 550. f v ,/" \ / \ h 500. % , / \ / \ / f y- 450 . \ ^ Y V v A- 400 . V % / ' /\ A / y 330 - ' \ x / \ / . \ / A 300 \ / \ I / -^\ ^ / 1 250 . \ \ / ~*-^. ^ / 225 . \ r > ! 1920 1921 1922 1925 1924 1925 \9li> 1927 FIG. 23. PRICES OF CALHOUN COUNTY BEN DAVIS APPLES AT HARVEST AND FROM STORAGE, SHOWING RELATION OF PRICES TO VOLUME OF UNITED STATES COMMERCL\L APPLE CROP Price per Barrel *900 850 aoo 750 ZOO 650 600 550 500 450 400 550 3M 250 225 WllllOIS of Barrels /' j e l / \ 1 / V ' N x / \ 7^ 41 v / \ / V A 50 / x , / \ J \/- 37 f % \ / \ , \ / i - 55 \ A h/ \ \ r / \ ? 55 /' \ l/\ x ; ~^~ \/_- 1 51 Y / f \ / \ r*-. I \ 29 \ / , / \ i 5 27 \ / " Price at harvest thpe from storage e (iS. Commercial op calculated from do r markers In I9ZI ^ ?le crop / f 25 : 25 V Volun - - Pric< oth< V ; 21 \QiO 1921 1922 I92J 1924 1925 1926 1927 FIG. 24. PRICES OF CALHOUN COUNTY WILLOW TWIGS AT HARVEST AND FROM STORAGE, SHOWING RELATION OF PRICES TO VOLUME OF UNITED STATES COMMERCIAL APPLE CROP low Twigs showed a profit, w y as due partly to the heavy crop of Jon- athans in the country as a whole and the poor keeping quality of some of the Jonathans from other regions. The Jonathans showed a wider range in selling price out of storage from year to year than any of the 1928] MARKETING CALHOUN COUNTY APPLES 605 other three varieties. It seems evident that the storage of Jonathans is more hazardous than the storage of the other varieties under con- sideration. The relation of harvest prices for the given varieties to storage prices and to the volume of the commercial apple crop 1 in the country as a whole is shown graphically in Figs. 21, 22, 23, and 24. Since there were no quotations on barreled apples in the St. Louis Daily Market Reporter for the 1921-22 season due to crop failure in Calhoun county, the prices indicated in the charts for that season have been calculated from prices in other markets. Prices for the other years were taken from Table 15. If a grower were to store about the same quantity of apples each year, especially of the later keeping varieties, his profits from storage in the more favorable years would, according to the figures given for the seven years, more than balance the losses in the unfavorable years. Furthermore, if a grower can regularly have the advice of an able and experienced fruit man who is intimately acquainted with marketing conditions and prospects, his opportunity to profit from storage will be increased. RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Restrict New Plantings to Standard Varieties. Any additional plantings of apples in Calhoun county should be restricted to standard commercial varieties that are adapted to the region and in good de- mand on the markets. This is in line with recent plantings and the policy should be continued. 2. Wider Use of Improved Cultural Methods. The more general use of cultural methods favorable to the production of high-grade fruit should be encouraged. Thoro spraying and careful pruning are espe- cially important. If all orchards in the county were given as good care as the best, the proportion of high-grade fruit from the county as a whole could be increased. 3. Adoption of Standardized Grading. Standardized grading should be adopted as a county-wide practice. While there are different standards of grading that might be employed, the grade specifications recommended by the U. S. Department of Agriculture are the best- known in the trade in this and other states, and are used as the basis of shipping-point inspection in most apple regions east of the Rocky Mountains. These specifications are given on page 611. While these '"The commercial apple crops of the United States for the years under con- sideration, as given in government statistics, were as follows: Year Barrels Year Barrels 1920 33,905,000 1924 28,013,000 1921 21,557,000 1925 33,246,000 1922 31,945,000 1926 39,411,000 1923 35,936,000 1927 25,900,000* 'Subject to revision. 606 BULLETIN No. 312 [June, grade specifications may not seem entirely satisfactory to every packer, they are the only specifications now applicable to Illinois apples that are generally recognized in the trade, 1 and it would be much more satisfactory for all packers to follow them than for each to follow his own inclinations as so commonly has been the practice in the past. When all packers grade according to the same standards, the output from different orchards will be much more uniform. The packing of uniform, standardized grades thruout the county will do much toward enabling Calhoun county to acquire an enviable reputa- tion as an apple-producing region. In packing under the U. S. grade specifications it should be recog- nized that the 10 percentage of tolerance is allowed merely to permit rapid packing on a commercial basis without incurring any danger of failure to conform to the specifications. Purposely to include 7 or 8 percent of apples that are known to be below the requirement is almost sure to result in a pack that will exceed the 10 percent tolerance, for in spite of all the precautions that may be taken a few defective specimens will slip past the sorters. If each packer strives to make his pack considerably better than the minimum requirements, much more satisfactory packs will result and the reputation of the county will be enhanced. 4. More General Use of Shipping -Point Inspection. Much help in standardizing the grading can be secured from the use of shipping- point inspection. To get the most benefit from this service a careful study should be made of the inspection report on each car as soon as it is completed and such changes made in the grading of the fruit for the next car as may be necessary to meet the requirements with a safe margin to spare. One of the chief advantages of shipping- point inspection lies in its educational value to the packer. Unless use is made of the information in the report to improve the subsequent packing where needed, the chief value of the inspection service is likely to be lost. Personal conferences with the inspector may be of assistance in interpreting the reports in some instances. Such confer- ences should be sought whenever additional information will help im- prove the pack. 5. Greater Care in Packing Bushel Baskets. Special attention should be given to the packing of bushel baskets to insure a heavy pack that will not become slack during shipment or storage. The package must be thoroly shaken before it is completely filled. The facing layer must be especially tight and crowned considerably at the center. When mechanical packing devices are used, it will often be J Grading according to the provisions of the Illinois apple grading and pack- ing law, passed in 1921, has never come into general use, and these grades are not well known in the trade. MARKETING CALHOUN COUNTY APPLES 607 necessary to insert a specimen or two of fruit in the facing layer just before the cover is put in place in order to make sure the pack is tight. 6. Use of "Tub" Bushels. Fruit packed in bushels intended for storage should be in "tub" bushels rather than in round-bottom bas- kets. This type of package carries better in the car and stacks better with less danger of crushing in the storage house. There are great differences in the strength and rigidity of packages from different factories, and it is important that a good quality of tub bushel be used. 7. Use of Apple Box for Fancy Fruit. The apple box must be used with discretion. It is a package designed primarily for fancy fruit. To make an attractive pack the specimens must be uniform in size. The wrapping of each apple is associated with box packing. Unless the fruit is fancy and the packer is prepared to attend to all FIG. 25. PACKING SHED OF FRANK DIRKSMEYER NEAR HAMBURG This shed is equipped for box packing. It is one of the few apple packing sheds in Calhoun county. the niceties involved in up-to-date box packing as practiced in the West, it is unwise to attempt this method of preparing apples for market. Under special conditions, however, a limited amount of fruit may be handled advantageously in this way. 8. More Packing Sheds. Calhoun county needs more packing sheds. Orchard packing is especially precarious in wet weather. A rain lasting only a few minutes is sufficient to stop packing operations in the orchard until the fruit has dried off. In shed packing it is feasible to have enough fruit picked ahead to last the packers for a few hours so that packing may continue during intermittent rainfall. When shed packing is employed, the fruit may be picked slightly wet if necessary and allowed to dry in the shed before it is packed. Fur- thermore, in shed packing the packing equipment, the supply of pack- ages, the packed fruit, and the packing crew are afforded protection 608 BULLETIN No. 312 [June, from unfavorable weather. Special equipment to facilitate grading and packing can more readily be employed in a shed than in the orchard. The sloping ground in some Calhoun county orchards adds to the inconvenience of orchard packing. The use of packing sheds will facilitate standardized grading and reduce packing expense. The almost universal experience of people who have substituted shed packing for orchard packing has been the securing of a better pack at lower cost. One of the Calhoun county growers, C. L. Tureman of Hardin, kept an accurate account of his costs of shed packing in 1927 and found that he saved 5 cents a bushel and 15 cents a barrel as compared with the costs of orchard packing of his crop in 1926. The present outlook in the apple business over the country as a whole indicates that for the next few years profits are likely to accrue from reductions in packing and marketing costs rather than from increased prices. Since the use of sheds reduces the expense of packing, their use should become general thruout the county. 9. Prompt Shipment After Picking. Precautions should be taken to insure the prompt shipment of apples after they are picked. The existing transportation facilities are adequate to move the crop promptly if they are utilized to their full capacity and the flow of apples from the orchards to the loading points is made as uniform as weather conditions will permit. The transportation companies, both river and rail, should be fully informed considerably in advance of the crop movement each season regarding the approximate volume of apples that is likely to be shipped. A railroad needs about 30 days' time in which to assemble a supply of refrigerator cars for use in a given region if the number needed is greatly in excess of the requirements in previous years. Op- erators of transfer barges and ferries also should be advised regarding the probable crop movement in plenty of time to make any adjust- ments in equipment that may be necessary. Full preparations for the handling of the crop should be made long before the apples mature. Delays in hauling fruit from the orchard to the loading point, or in loading after delivery at loading point should be avoided as much as possible. Purposely withholding shipment in the hope that market conditions may improve is of questionable value. If fruit is to be held for later market, it should be shipped promptly and placed in cold storage rather than held at the orchard or on the river bank. 10. Better Utilization of Existing Cold-Storage Plants. So long as existing cold-storage plants that are readily accessible from Calhoun county have sufficient capacity for handling all the product, there would seem to be no adequate reason for erecting additional storage plants especially for the storage of apples produced in this region. There is no insurmountable barrier to prompt storage under existing conditions. Better utilization of the present transportation 1928~\ MARKETING CALHOUN COUNTY APPLES 609 facilities, and especially better planning in advance for the movement of the crop, will make prompt storage entirely feasible. 11. Wider and More Direct Distribution. Advantage should be taken of the recent improvements in transportation facilities which have increased the number of markets that can readily be reached with Calhoun county apples at harvest time. The new rail and hard-road connections have made it much easier for persons inter- ested in apples to get into the county. This situation should naturally lead to a wider distribution of the fruit since buyers, brokers, and dealers from various markets can now readily visit the region, inspect the growing crops, make the acquaintance of the growers, and become familiar with the shipping facilities. FIG. 26. THE MOST PRACTICAL WAY OF GETTING INTO CALHOUN COUNTY There is not a bridge across either river into the county. With the present hard road connections, driving to the county by auto and crossing the river by ferry is the most expeditious way of entering this important apple-producing region. The completion of the hard road to East St. Louis, thus connect- ing Calhoun county with the various industrial centers in that part of Illinois, presents an opportunity for many growers to truck their lower grades of fruit in bulk to these markets and there dispose of them at reasonable prices and without excessive marketing expense. Such dis- position of off-grade fruit, instead of consigning it to the St. Louis market, will be a benefit to the people of these towns and will also have a tendency to improve the conditions in St. Louis for the sale of the better grades of fruit. Distribution of apples by truck to the manufacturing towns and trading centers within hauling distance east and southeast of Calhoun county should become an important factor in the handling of the crop now that hard-road connections have been established. 12. Marketing Arrangements Before Harvest. Marketing ar- rangements should be made considerably in advance of the crop move- 610 BULLETIN No. 312 [June, ment whether the fruit is to be handled thru a buyer, a broker, or a commission merchant. It is a wise practice for the grower not to wait indefinitely in the hope that some buyer may become particularly eager to secure his crop. In many instances the grower should take the initiative and personally call upon the dealer he has decided he would like to have handle his crop, after assuring himself of the business ability and financial integrity of the dealer in question. With the present hard-road system it is not difficult for a grower to drive to St. Louis, for instance, for a conference with a dealer regarding his crop. 13. Personal Contact With Marketing Agency. Personal contact should be maintained with the marketing agency thruout the harvest season. After business connections have been established, there is great advantage to the grower in keeping his dealer fully advised from day to day regarding shipments in transit and in prospect. Telephone tolls are good investments when apples are being harvested. If goods are sent on consignment, it is especially important that the dealer know exactly what quantities and grades are included in each ship- ment. With such information in advance, it is often possible for the dealer to sell the apples before they arrive. This is especially true in the case of fruit that is graded according to definite standards. 14. Maintenance of Satisfactory Connections Once Established. There is much cumulative advantage to be gained for both grower and dealer by maintenance of the same marketing connections year after year, after satisfactory contacts have once been made. Under such circumstances it is possible for both to profit from the reputation es- tablished in previous years. Especially in years of heavy crop is the grower with regular connections and an established reputation at a decided advantage. At such times market preference is a tangible asset. Whether the apples are to be sold at harvest time or stored for later sale, there is the same advantage in having established market- ing connections and a definite marketing plan. 1928] MARKETING CALHOUX COUNTY APPLES 611 OFFICIAL STANDARDS FOR THE INSPECTION OF APPLES 1 II. S. Fancy shall consist of apples of one variety which are mature but not overripe, carefully hand picked, clean, well formed, free from decay, broken skins and bruises except those incident to proper packing, sprayburn, stings or other insect injury, sunscald, visible watercore, and from injury by russeting, limbrubs, hail or mechanical or other means. Each apple of this grade shall have the amount of color specified hereinafter for the variety. (See size requirements.) In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading and handling, not more than a total of 10 percent, by weight, of the apples in any lot may be below the requirements of this grade, but not to exceed one-half of this tolerance, or 5 percent, shall be allowed for defects causing serious damage, and not more than one-fifth of this amount or 1 percent shall be allowed for decay. U. S. No. 1 shall consist of apples of one variety which are mature but not overripe, carefully hand-picked, clean, fairly well formed, free from decay, broken skins, and bruises except those incident to proper packing and damage caused by limbrubs, sprayburn, sunscald, russeting, hail, visible watercore, disease, insects or mechanical or other means. Each apple of this grade shall have the amount of color specified hereinafter for the variety. (See size requirements.) In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading and handling, not more than a total of 10 percent, by weight, of the apples in any lot may be below the requirements of this grade, but not more than one-tenth of this amount or 1 percent shall be allowed for decay. [This same tolerance applies to the U. S. Commercial and U. S. No. 2 grades.] U. S. Commercial shall consist of apples of one variety which meet the requirements of U. S. No. 1 except as to color, and provided further that early varieties such as Duchess of Oldenburg, Red June, Wealth}', Williams and other varieties which ripen at the same period need not be mature. (See size require- ments.) U. S. No. 2 shall consist of apples of one A r ariety which are mature but not overripe, free from decay and from serious damage 'caused by dirt or other foreign matter, bruises, sprayburn, sunscald, russeting, hail, disease, insects or mechanical or other means. (See size requirements.) Unclassified shall consist of apples which are not graded in conformity with any of the foregoing grades. Color Requirements In addition to the foregoing requirements for U. S. No. 1 and U. S. Fancy, each apple of these grades must have the percentage of color shown in the list below. "Color" means a good shade of red characteristic of the variety. Faded brown stripes shall not be considered as color. U. S. Fancy, 50 percent; U. S. No. 1, 25 percent: Arkansas Black, De- licious, Gano, Jonathan, King David, Missouri Pippin, Winesap, and other sim- ilar varieties. U. S. Fancy, 33 percent; U. S. No. 1, 15 percent: Arkansas (Mammoth Black Twig), Ben Davis, Rails (Geneton), Rome Beaut}-, Stayman Winesap, Wealthy, Willow Twig, York Imperial, and other similar varieties. U. S. Fancy, 25 percent; U. S. No. 1, 10 percent: Duchess of Oldenburg. Red Astrachan, and other similar varieties. lr These standards issued June 30, 1927, by the Bureau of Agricultural Economics of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, apply to apples packed in containers other than the standard northwestern apple box. 612 BULLETIN No. 312 Size Requirements The minimum size of the apples in any closed container shall be plainly stamped, stenciled, or otherwise marked on the container. "Minimum size" means the transverse diameter of the smallest apples permitted in the container taken at right angles to a line running from the stem to the blossom end. Mini- mum sizes shall be stated in terms of whole and quarter inches, as 2% inches minimum, 2% inches minimum, in accordance with the facts. In order to allow for variations incident to proper sizing, not more than 5 percent, by weight, of the apples in any container may be below the specified minimum size. Where the maximum and minimum sizes are both stated, an additional 10 percent tolerance is provided for apples which are larger than the maximum size stated. Packing Requirements Each package shall be packed so that the apples in the shown face shall be reasonably representative in size, color, and quality, of the contents of the package. Definitions of Terms As used in these grades: "Mature" means having reached the stage of maturity which will insure the proper completion of the ripening process. "Clean" means free from excessive dirt, dust, spray residue or other foreign material. "Well formed" means that the apples have the shape characteristic of the variety in the locality where grown. "Fairly well formed" means that the apples may be slightly abnormal in shape but not to an extent which detracts materially from the appearance of the fruit. "Damage" means any injury or defect which materially affects the appear- an-ce or keeping quality. Any one of the following defects, or any combination thereof, the seriousness of which exceeds the maximum allowed for any one defect shall be considered as damage: Limbrubs Dark brown over % inch in diameter. Light brown over 1 inch in diameter. Sprayburn or sunscald Color materially changed ; skin blistered or cracked. Russeting Smooth, net-like over more than one-fourth of surface. Smooth solid, over more than one-tenth of surface. Rough or bark-like area more than \-> inch in diameter. Hail marks Skin broken; or superficial marks exceeding ^ inch in the aggregate. Scab Spots not corked over or corked over spots affect- ing a total area of more than % inch in diameter. Insect stings, healed More than 2, either of which is over % inch in diameter. Cedar rust .Aggregate area over ^4 inch in diameter. Worm holes Any. Sooty blotch or fly speck. .Thinly scattered over more than one-tenth of surface or dark, heavily concentrated spots affect- ing an area more than ^ inch in diameter. "Serious damage" means any injury or defect which seriously affects the appearance or keeping quality. (70 #) AUTHOR INDEX 613 AUTHOR INDEX PAGE Bauer, F. C. Crop Yields from Illinois Soil Experiment Fields in 1926 17-40 Bauer, F. C. Crop Yields from Illinois Soil Experiment Fields in 1927 341-72 Bauer, F. C., DeTurk, E. E., and Smith, L. H. Lessons from the Morrow Plots 105-40 Brunson, A. M., and Smith, L. H. Experiments in Crossing Varieties as a Means of Im- proving Productiveness in Corn 373-86 Burlison, W. L., Dungan, George H., and Stark, Robert W. Bar- ley Varieties for Illinois. . . .41-52 Burlison, W. L., Sears, O. H., and Hackleman, J. C. Soybean Production in Illinois 465-532 Buswell, A. M., Lehmann, E. W., and Kelleher, E. C. A Study of Factors Affecting the Effi- ciency and Design of Farm Septic Tanks 297-340 Case, H. C. M., and Ross, Robert C. The Place of Hog Produc- tion in Corn-Belt Farming. 145-80 Crandall. Charles S. Native Crabs: Their Behavior in Breeding 533-60 Davidson, F. A. Growth and Senescence in Purebred Jersey Cows 181-236 DeTurk, E. E., Bauer, F. C., and Smith, L. H. Lessons from the Morrow Plots 105-40 Dungan, George H., Stark, Robert W., and Burlison, W. L. Va- rieties of Barley for Illinois. 41-52 Gaines, W. L. The Energy Basis of Measuring Milk Yield in Dairy Cows 401-40 Hackleman, ,T. C., Sears, O. H., and Burlison, W. L. Soybean Production in Illinois. .. .465-532 PAGE Hamilton, T. S., Mitchell, H. H., and Kammlade, W. G. The Di- gestibility and Metabolizable Energy of Soybean Products for Sheep " 237-96 Kammlade, W. G., Hamilton, T. S., and Mitchell, H. H. The Digestibility and Metabolizable Energy of Soybean Products for Sheep ' 237-96 Kelleher, R. C., Lehmann, E. W., and Buswell, A. M. A Study of Factors Affecting the Effi- ciency and Design of Farm Septic Tanks 297-340 Lehenbauer, P. A., and Weinard, F. F. The Effects of Phos- phorus and Sulfur Fertilizers on Flower Production of Roses and Carnations 77-104 Lehmann, E. W., Kelleher, R. C., and Buswell, A. M. A Study of Factors Affecting the Effi- ciency and Design of Farm Septic Tanks 297-340 Lloyd, J. W. Bush Lima Beans as a Market Garden Crop. 389-400 Lloyd, J. W., and Newell, H. M. Marketing Calhoun County Apples 561-612 Mitchell, H. H., Hamilton, T. S., and Kammlade, W. G. The Digestibility and Metaboliza- ble Energy of Soybean Prod- ucts for Sheep. . .'. 237-96 Newell, H. M., and Lloyd, J. W. Marketing Calhoun County Apples 561-612 Rickey, Lacey F. Costs of Stor- ing Corn on the Farm 1-16 Ross, Robert C., and Case, H. C. M. The Place of Hog Produc- tion in Corn-Belt Farming. 145-80 Sayre, C. B. Experiments in the Culture and Forcing of Wit- loof Chicorv . 441-64 614 AUTHOR INDEX PAGE Savre, C. B. Winter Forcing of 'Rhubarb 53-76 Sears, O. H., Hackloman, J. C., and Burlison, W. L. Soybean Production in Illinois. .. .465-532 Smith, L. H., Bauer, F. C., and DeTurk, E. E. Lessons from the Morrow Plots 105-40 Smith, L. H., and Brunson, A. M. Experiments in Crossing Va- PAGE rieties as a Means of Improv- ing Productiveness in Corn. 373-86 Stark. Robert W., Dnngan, George H., and Burlison, W. L. Bar- ley Varieties for Illinois. . . .41-oLJ Weinard, F. F., and Leheubauer, P. A. The Effects of Phos- phorus and Sulfur Fertilizers on Flower Production of Roses and Carnations . ..77-104 INDEX INDEX (The headings in capitals are subjects of entire bulletins') PAGE Acid phosphate experiments with roses and carnations 81-104 Comparison of phosphate with bone meal 86-0., Aledo experiment field yields .... !20-21, 345-40 Antioch experiment field yields . . '. ...21, 346 Apple production, statistics on. 563-64 Apples, Calhoun county, grading and packing of , 564-71 Methods of sale of 595-90 Packages used for 571-7.", Recommendations for produc- tion of . . .- 605-10 Shipments of in 1927 592 Storage facilities for 593-95 Storing of for later sale 599 Transportation of, by rail.. 584 90 freight rates of 589 by river 57484 damage from rolling barrels 583-84 freight rates of 584 losses from delays in.... 579-83 time required for 576-77 warehouses at landings. . .577-79 by truck 591-92 within county 573-74 Apples, official standards for in- spection of 611-12 Self-pollinations of 560 Study of prices of 600-605 Barley, acre value of compared with other crops 43 As nurse crop 43 Diseases of 50-51 Distribution of in Illinois 44 Feeding value of 43 Seed bed for 50 Sowing dates for 50 Uses of 43-45 Varieties of, description and origin of 52 Variety studies of in central Illinois 47-49 in northern Illinois 45-47 Bnrlev and oats mixture. . 49 PAGE Beans, see Lima beans, bush Bloomington experiment field yields 21, 346 Bone meal for lima beans 393, 395, 397-9S Breeding experiments with corn . 373-86 With crabapples 533-60 Calhoun county, map of 585 Possibility of railroad in 590 See also Apples, Calhoun county Carlinville experiment field yields ; ."..22, 347 Carnations, effect of phosphorus and sulfur on production of . . 78, 93-100 On split calyces 78, 98 Carthage experiment field yields. 22-23, 347-4S CHICORY, WITLOOF, EXPER- IMENTS IX CULTURE AND FORCING OF 441-62 Best planting time 449-50 Conditions of experiment ... 447-49 Effect of freezing 451 of rest period 450-51, 452-5.. Forcing in field 459-60 Forcing in storage, covering ma- terial 460-61 method of 447-49 second 458-59 size of roots for 455-58 temperature for. 451, 454-55, 456 Objects of experiments 447 Chicory, Witloof , methods of forc- ing '. 446-47 Varieties of for forcing. . . .44345 See also Chicory experiments Clayton experiment field yields. 23, 348 Clover, value of in rotation. . .114-15 Corn, continuous cropping of. ... 111-13, 120 Effect of soil treatment and rotation on maturity of.. 120-22 CORN, EXPERIMENTS IN CROSSING VARIETIES AS A MEANS OF IMPROVING PRODUCTIVENESS IN. . .373-86 INDEX PAGE Crosses made 376-85 closely selected strains. .. .383-84 common dent varieties 382 Eeid yellow dent with closely selected strains 384-85 Summary of results. .374, 385-86 Sweet and pop with dent. .382-83 Corn, grown with soybeans. . . .49307 Storage on farm 3-16 crib, interest, and insurance charges 3-4 damage during 14 method of figuring costs of .11-14 shrinkage and change in grade during 5-11 summary of costs 15 Terminal storage of 4 Corncribs, construction require- ments of 14 Corn-hog ratio 177-78 Cost of producing hogs 146, 148-58, 166-60 Cost of production on Morrow plots 131-36 COSTS OF STORING CORN ON THE FARM 1-16 COWS, GROWTH AND SENES- CENCE IN PUREBRED JER- SEY 181-235 Analysis of data 185-225 Appe'ndix 231-35 Introduction 183-85 Literature cited 220-30 Source of data 185 Summary 226-28 Cows, see also Dairy cows CROP YIELDS FROM ILLI- NOIS SOIL EXPERIMENT FIELDS IN 1026 17-40 CROP YIELDS FROM ILLI- NOIS SOIL EXPERIMENT FIELDS IN 1027 341-69 Crab apples, results in breeding of .535-60 Mains angustifolia 538-41 Mains cororuiria 536-38 Mahis dawsoniana 55455 Mains fusca 552-54 Maltts ioensis 541-47 Mains soiilardi 547-52 Mercer county crab 550-52 Self-pollinations of 555 Separation of from pear genus 536 Species of recognized 535-36 DAIRY COWS, ENERGY BASIS OF MEASURING MIL^K YIELD IN 401-38 Estimation of energy value. .404-15 PAGE Fat percentage and feed re- quirements 415-10 and yield of milk 410-28 Illustrative applications ...420-32 Introduction 403-404 Literature cited 436-38 Significance of fat percentage. 432-34 Summary and conclusions. . .434 35 Dairy cows, soybeans for 471-72 Davenport plot yields 30, 368 Dixon experiment field yields .... .'23-24, 348-40 Elizabethtown experiment field yields 25, 350 Emmer, yields of 51-52 Endive, French, see Chicory Enfield experiment field yields . . . ."..25, 350-51 Ewing experiment field yields '...26, 351-52 Farm management, hog produc- tion in successful 160-70 Fertilization, effect of on crop maturity 120-22 On soil content 122-30 On yields 111-22, 138-30 Fertilizing experiments with lima beans 305-08 Grain, plant for drying and shrinkage tests of 16 Greenhouse soils, supplements for 78-104 Gypsum experiments with roses and carnations 78, 03, 06-09 Hartsburg experiment field yields 26, 27, 353 Hog production, adjusting sales in to markets ' 146, 160-70 Costs of 146, 148-58 Factors influencing success of. 146, 150-60 Labor requirements of 161-62 Maintenance of soil thru .... 163-64 Value of skilful management in 166-69 Hogging down, advantages of... 163 Hogs, feed consumed by 159-61, 171-72 Finishing of for better markets 164-66 Harvesting of crops by 163 Returns from light and from heavy 170-71, 172-76, 178-79 Seasonal variations in price of 176-78 Horses, soybeans for 471 Inoculants, commercial 482 INDEX 617 PAGE Inoculation experiments with lima beans 394-96 Irrigation experiments with lima beans 393-96 Joliet experiment field yields "...26, 28, 354 Kewaiiee experiment field yields. . .' 28, 355 Labor, distribution of thru year. . 134 LaMoille experiment field yields. '....29, 355 Land values as affected by treat- ment and rotation 136 Lebanon experiment field yields. 29-30, 356-57 Lima beans, preparation of for market 398-99 Lima beans, bush, experiments with 392-9S Fertilizer experiments with . . 395-98 Inoculation experiments with . 394-96 Irrigation experiments with. 393-96 Plan of experiments 392-93 Summary of experiments 390 Variety tests of 392-98 Limestone, effect of on soil acid- ity 130 McNabb experiment field yields. .'...30, 357 Mains varieties, see Crab apples Manure, effect of on yields. . .111-20 MARKETING CALHOUN COUNTY APPLES 561-612 Mercer county crabs 550-52 Metabolism experiment 237-95 Milk yield, energy basis of meas- uring * 403-38 Minonk experiment field yields . 30, 356 Morrow plots, annual acre yields of 112-13, 138-39 Economic lessons from 13136 Effect of rotation and fertiliza- tion on 111-22, 137-39 History and management of. . '. 106-11, 140 Summary of results on 137 Yields of 1926 and 1927 on. 39, 368 Mt. Morris experiment field yields 30-31. 357-58 Newton experiment field yields . . '.31, 358-59 Nitrate of soda for lima beans. . 393, 395,396 Oblong experiment field yields . 32, 360 Odin experiment field yields. . .33, 361 Oquawka experiment field yields. .'...33, 361 PAGE Palestine experiment field yields. "...34, 362 Phosphate fertilizers, comparison of 86-93 PHOSPHORUS AND SULFUR FERTILIZERS, EFFECTS OF ON FLOWER PRODUCTION OF ROSES AND CARNA- TIONS 77-104 Appendix 101-104 Conclusions and recommenda- tions 100 Experiments with carnations, effect of acid phosphate. .93-100 later phosphorus and sulfur experiments 96-99 Experiments with roses, effect of acid phosphate 78, 81-85 of acid phosphate vs. bone meal and precipitated phos- phate 78, 86-93 of gypsum 93 Literature cited 100 Previous investigations 80-81 Summary 78 Raleigh experiment field yields . 35, 363 RHUBARB, WINTER FORC- ING OF 53-76 Commercial practices in 55-58 Experimental work in 59-76 effect on yield and quality of age . ." '...66-73 of freezing and rest period 73-75 of temperature 59-63 of watering 63-66 summary and conclusions. .54, 76 Storing in home cellars 58 Roses, effect of acid phosphate on production of 78, 81-85, 100 Compared with steamed bone meal and precipitated phos- phate 78, 86-93 Effect of gypsum on production 93 Rotation, crop, effect of on crop maturity 120-22 On soil* 122-30 On yields 111-22 Rye, yields of 51-52 SEPTIC TANKS, FACTORS AF- FECTING EFFICIENCY AND DESIGN OF 297-339 Comparison of 2-chamber tanks with different cross-sections. 321-32, 338-39 Single vs. multiple-chamber... 301-21, 330, 336-37 018 INDEX PAGE Sewage flow in farm homes. .301-303 SHEEP, DIGESTIBILITY AND METABOLIZABLE ENERGY OF SOYBEAN PRODUCTS FOR 237-95 Appendix 283-95 Discussion of results .263-80 digestibility of soybean prod- ucts . . .' ." 266-68 metabolizable energy of. .276-80 significance of indirectly cal- culated coefficients of di- gestibility 271-76 of refused feed 268-71 Investigation of 1923 244-55 of 1925 255-63 Literature cited 281-82 Previous experiments 239-43 Summary and conclusions. . .280-81 Sheep, soybeans for 471 Sidell experiment field yields. .34, 264 Soil acidity, effect of limestone on 130 Soil experiment fields, crop yields on, 1926 ' 19-40 1927 341-69 Purpose and location of 18-19, 342-43 Soil treatment, effect of on crop maturity 120-22 On crop yields 111-22, 138-39 On soil content 122-30 Soybeans, acreage and distribu- tion of in Illinois 467-69 Adaptability to various soils. 473-75 As substitute for oats 472 Average prices for 473 Compared with cowpeas on poor soil 473, 474 Cultivation of 485-88 Digestion experiments with, see . Sheep fff PAGE Grown with corn 493-97 Handling and storing of 493 Harvesting of for hay 489 for seed ' 489-90 History of production of in Illi- nois 530 Improvement of soil by 475-76 Inoculation of 479-82 Place of in crop rotation. . .476-78 Seed bed for 478-79 Seeding of 482-85 Threshing of 490-93 Uses of 526-30 as cake 527-28 as oil 528 as human food 528-30 Value of as nitrogenous feed . . 469-71 Variety study of 498-520 description of varieties. . .516-26 differences in varieties. . . .51416 in central Illinois 502-13 in northern Illinois 499-502 Yields of compared with corn. . 472 Sparta experiment field yields. . . . .' . . . 36, 364-65 Spring Valley experiment field yields ' 36-37, 365 Steamed bone vs. acid phosphate for roses and carnations. 78, 86-104 Sulfur, experiments with on roses and carnations. ..78, 89-93, 96-100 Swine, soybeans for 471 Toledo experiment field yields. 38, 366 Unionville experiment field yields 37, 39, 367-68 Urbana experimental plots . . . 39, 368 Water consumption in farm homes 303 West Salem experiment field yields , '. .40, 369 OF T-ic -.3 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA