54 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



Davis of so good quality in the East as we can in the West. I 

 think this notion is wrong also. Whether it is or not makes no 

 difference, because quality cuts no figure in the sale of Ben Davis. 

 When a buyer has no more discrimination than to buy Ben Davis, 

 he knows nothing about quality. Ben Davis is sold on its looks, 

 not on its flavor. Quality does not count. 



The statement is often made that the present tendency toward 

 planting Ben Davis is merely a temporary fad. They say that 

 the popularity of Ben Davis will very soon wane. People will 

 find out about its bad qualities and will refuse to buy it. With 

 regard to this matter of Ben Davis's popularity I wish to submit 

 a few figures that were secured in an extended statistical inquiry 

 made throughout the New England states. The figures which 

 are herewith given show the percentages of certain popular vari- 

 eties both in the old bearing orchards and in the young orchards 

 which have not yet borne. By noticing whether the young 

 orchards show a greater or less proportion of the given varieties, 

 one may judge whether they are increasing or decreasing in pop- 

 ularity. 



The Baldwin apple, for example, has been a prime favorite 

 in the New England states, and especially in Massachusetts, but 

 its vogue seems to be giving way somewhat before the merits of 

 other varieties. The following figures show the percentage of 

 Baldwin trees in the orchards reported. The first column gives 

 the percentage of bearing trees which are Baldwins, and the 

 second column shows in percentages the proportion of Baldwins 

 among trees too young to bear. 



BALDWIN. 



Bearing. Young. 



Vermont 5 IO 



New Hampshire 63 58 



Maine 5 1 34 



Massachusetts 65 48 



Connecticut 61 79 



Rhode Island 47 64 



The percentage of Baldwins is notably reduced in Massachu- 

 setts which has been the principal New England producer of 

 this variety. In Vermont the proportion of Baldwins is greater 

 among newly planted trees than in old orchards ; but this has 



