Apples - crops in county - Putnam

It is estimated by commission merchants and canning factory representatives who have been in Putnam County in the past two weeks purchasing the apple crop of the county that Putnam County will this year market at least 100,000 bushels of apples, says the Greencastle Banner. And these men say that Putnam County apples, especially the Grimes Golden variety have established a reputation among the apple buyers of Indianapolis. It is said that the flavor of the Putnam County Grimes Golden is much above the average and that ther eis a great deman for them.  Mr. Wetz, of Eller & Wetz, commission merchants has been in Putnam County for several days contracting for the purchase of apples. Mr. Wetz has been over many sections of the count y for several days. He has been over many sections of the county in an automobile and states that the apple crop this year is an exceptionally good one. Already he has contracted for the purchase of more than 25,000 bushels. This includes the crop of the Craver orchard, the Alva Brothers and Clay Brothers orchard, the John Riley orchard, the Bryan Orchard, the Lute Evans Orchard, the Harris Orchard, the Reed Orchard and the Woodall Orchard. Several of these orchards are in the vicinity of Putnamville.

The Bryant Orchard just south of town is one of the largest of the lot, it being estimated about 5,000 bushes of apples will be gathered there.  Samuel Hazeloett, who has a fine orchard just east of town has sold his entire crop to the Ladoga Canning Company.  It is estimated that there are 10,000 bushels of apples in this one orchard alone.

The price being paid for the furit is from 40-60 cents a bushel. The commission merchants say that Putnam County has a great future as an apple center if the orchardmen and farmers will pay a little more attention to their trees.  Many farmers who have orchards do not give them close attention and in many cases the apples are of poor quality, as the result of neglect.  

If the prediction of the commission men are right and Putnam produces 100,000 bushels this year at an average of 50 cents a bushel, the orchardmen will receive $50,000 for their crop this year.