The Bulletin. 29 



Commercial apple orcharding in the mountain regions is one of the 

 most promising horticultural industries in this State. Many large 

 orchards have been planted and thousands of trees are being set each 

 year. Many mature orchards now in bearing are showing the advan- 

 tages of rich mountain soils and a clear, cool climate, and are bearing 

 large crops of rich-colored fruit. Young orchards, where given good 

 care, are showing by a vigorous growth that the mountain sides are for 

 them an ideal home. In spite of an ever-increasing acreage of 

 orchard trees the prices paid for first-class apples are steadily advanc- 

 ing. There is at present an increasing demand for first-class fruit at 

 fancy prices. The possibility of overproduction seems to be nowhere 

 in sight. In the great cities of the states south of us North Carolina 

 has a natural market for commercial winter apples. By geographical 

 position and direct lines of transportation she has in Southern mar- 

 kets advantages over all Northern competitors in apple production. 

 The unit of commercial production is the carload. Some cities in our 

 oldest apple-producing counties are already handling apples on this 

 scale. It is to be hoped that farmers in all our mountain regions will 

 make use of their great natural advantages of soil and climate to 

 develop large apple-shipping centers where wholesale buyers will 

 come and purchase fruit in carload lots. To this end growers should 

 plant only the best commercial varieties. The day of the seedling- 

 apple has passed. Spraying should be considered as an inseparable 

 adjunct to fruit growing. Fruit should never be shipped in crates, 

 but should be packed in tight barrels or boxes, and only clean, graded 

 fruit should go to market. 



In the oldest apple-producing sections land has greatly increased in 

 value. Lands which were formerly considered of no use or of only 

 trifling value for rough pastures are now held at high prices on 

 account of their production of high-class, high-priced fruits. Many 

 steep slopes formerly the prey of destructive erosion are now held in 

 profitable use by the strong, tenacious roots of apple trees. Unlike 

 annual crops, orchard trees add a yearly increment to the value of the 

 land. A little apple tree of standard variety, when once established 

 in an orchard, increases in value under good cultivation at the rate of 

 one dollar a year for every year it grows towards its maturity. This 

 gives some slight idea of the value and possibilities of mountain re- 

 gions for commercial apple production. 



