484 ANNUAL, REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



For couveuience, we have divided the State into four sections, 

 Nortliern Border, Soiitliern Border, Eastern and Western, placing 

 the central counties in the group with which their reported condi- 

 tions seemed to be most closely allied. 



Pennsylvania is one of the great apple States; the last census 

 placed her third in total value of all fruits and second only to New 

 York in bushels of apples produced. While no figures are yet availa- 

 ble, there is little donbt that the season just passed has placed 

 Pennsylvania at the head, not only in bushels of apples, but in money 

 received for the crop. 



In every county where soil conditions are at all suitable, apples 

 are proving a profitable crop. Out of about ninety replies, only seven 

 report the crop unprofitable. A few report "profitable this year" and 

 in most cases follow by saying "Conditions are better because of 

 more spraying and better care." All of which seems to warrant the 

 belief that Pennsylvania, in its soil, climate and people is well suited 

 for apple growing and that at least some of these conditions are 

 improving each year. 



The season of 1007 has been a great one for apple growers. Of all 

 reports, only nineteen tell of a poor crop. Twenty-three report a fair 

 crop, thirty a large crop, while seven report for their districts in 

 such terms as "enormous," "largest in years" and "extraordinary." 

 Ninety per cent, of the causes for poor yield or only fair crons were 

 late, killing frosts and unfavorable weather at blooming time. This 

 condition existed pretty generally in the Western Section, and to 

 some extent in the western end of the Northern Section, and in a 

 few of the central counties. With but few exceptions the balance of 

 the State, embracing the principal apple counties, had a fine crop. 

 The figures for Adams county alone for 1007, are, for all grades, 

 equal to .f310,(317 bushels of apples and returned to the growers over 

 1174,000.00. In general, the quality of the fruit was good. The yield 

 and quality being closely parallel, such expressions as "excellent," 

 "unusually good," etc., being very frequent. Unfavorable conditions 

 reported were frost and unseasonable weather and neglect of or- 

 chards. Causes of success are favorable season, increased spraying 

 and good care of orchards. 



The vote on five most profitable winter apples seem to show as 

 follows: Northern Section, in the order named: Baldwin, Spy, Green- 

 ing, Kii-g, Ben Davis; Southern Section, York Imperial, Baldwin, 

 Grimes' Golden, Ben Davis and Smith Cider; Eastern Section, Smith 

 Cider, ^3aldwin, York Imperial, Ben Davis, Fallawater; Western Sec- 

 tion, Ben Davi.^, Rome Beauty, Baldwin, Spy, Russett. Other varie- 

 ties frequently mentioned in the reports are Smokehouse, Staymans* 

 Winesap and Rambo. Several reports indicate that with the increas- 

 ed sprayii'.g the Baldwin is becoming more profitable in the southern 

 counties, and recent investigations of conditions in the Philadelphia 

 apple market show Penifsylvania Baldwins selling at a premium of 

 two to three dollars per barrel over New York Baldwins. We also 

 wish to recommend growers to look into the possibilities of the 

 Rome Beauty, which, by reason of its size and handsome appear- 

 ance, coupled with fair quality, seems to be in high favor now. One 



