Introduction 



RUIT-GROWING has received and is receiving more attention in 

 the Okanagan Valley than any other form of agricultural activity, 

 and undoubtedly, owing to the suitability of the Valley for the 

 growing of fruit and the commercial importance of this crop, 

 continued interest and study will be given to any problem the 

 solution of which may affect the returns from orchards. 



In the past the study of the different varieties of apples has 



received no small share of attention from orchardists and horticulturists, and at 

 the present time this is still one of the most interesting; and important subjects 

 connected with the fruit industry. So many arguments can be advanced, both 

 in favour of and against the exclusive production of the numerous varieties of 

 apples now grown, that it is difficult to decide on the relative merits of the 

 outstanding varieties, and to advocate the planting of certain ones to the exclusion 

 of the others. 



Some varieties are markedly influenced by variations of local climatic and 

 soil conditions, whereas others are capable of thriving under quite a wide range 

 of conditions. It is obvious, then, that while some consideration must be given to 

 the results accomplished in the case of a particular variety in any given district, 

 nevertheless the general yielding power of a variety and its market value must 

 always be carefully taken into account if greatest returns are to be expected. 



Heretofore, practically no information has been published showing a com- 

 parison of the different varieties of apples as to their commercial importance 

 from the fruit-grower's point of view. For this reason the Department of 

 Horticulture of the University of British Columbia has decided to undertake an 

 investigation of apple varieties, and work along this line has been carried on 

 during the season of 1921. 



OBJECT OF INVESTIGATION. 



The object of this Investigation has been to determine as accurately as 

 possible at the present time the average yields, grades, prices and returns for the 

 different varieties of apples now being grown more or less commercially in the 

 Okanagan Valley, and to show thereby the relative commercial importance of 

 these varieties. 



It is advisable at this point to draw attention to the fact that this is a 

 preliminary report, trie purpose of which is merely to present in concise form 

 such information, obtained during the course of the survey, as is thought will 

 be of value to fruit-growers, prospective fruit-growers, and others interested 

 in the fruit industry. No attempt is made to draw hard and fast conclusions 

 from the data at hand. To do so would hardly be justified, since it is recognized 

 that the records are not as complete as is desirable for that purpose. Even 

 though one hundred and eighty-nine orchards are included in the survey, still, 

 for some varieties or for certain ages of trees within the varieties studied, the 

 records may not be sufficiently extensive; had it been possible to include more 

 records, the resulting figures might have been somewhat altered. Furthermore, 

 it is possible that the average returns from older trees might be found to differ 

 from the returns as recorded in this report, which deals only with trees from 

 five to fourteen years of age. 



In examining this report it should be borne in mind that the figures shown 

 represent averages rather than extremes, the average being the only safe basis 



NOTE. The author of this report wishes to make grateful acknowledgment to 

 Mr. F. M. Clement, Dean of Agriculture and Professor of Horticulture in the 

 University of British Columbia, for his many helpful suggestions in the 

 carrying on of the work of the survey; and to Mr. A. F. Barss, Associate 

 Professor of Horticulture, for his assistance in the formulating of this report. 

 Acknowledgment is also made to the many orchardists and other fruit 

 men who supplied information for this report, and without whose ready 

 co-operation this work would have been impossible. 



