LEADING VARIETIES OF APPLES 203 



The apples must be so packed in the box as to permit the nailing firmly of 

 the lid at each end, and at the same time allow a gradual swell of about three- 

 fourths of an inch at the middle of both top and bottom. On account of the 

 resultant shape of the boxes, they can be stacked up with safety only on their 

 sides. 



The packed boxes after being neatly labeled, are next transferred to the cars 

 and stacked four or five tiers high. An air space of three or four feet is left 

 between the top tier and the roof of the car, also the entire space between the 

 doors is left vacant for the better circulation of air. The boxes, after being 

 systematically placed in the car are so braced with timbers as to prevent any 

 movement. The usual carload consists of about 650 boxes. Refrigerator fruit 

 cars are employed mainly for apple shipment, but no ice is used. 



Summer and Fall Apples. In some regions noted for early 

 maturing of fruit, it is profitable to grow early apples, providing there 

 are facilities for reaching profitable avenues of trade. Except to minis- 

 ter to some special local or distant trade which can be thus foreseen, 

 it must be said that very early apples are hardly worth the attention of 

 the commercial planter. These sorts are apt to come into direct contest 

 with the magnificent peaches, grapes and other summer and autumn 

 fruits, and suffer thereby. 



On the other hand the fall apples, chiefly the Yellow Bellflower 

 and Gravenstein, are so good and profitable in regions where they bear 

 well that they are among the varieties which constitute our chief com- 

 mercial reliance. Bellflowers are also encroaching on the field of win- 

 ter apples because they come out so well from cold storage. 



Winter Apples. For large ventures in apple growing, in local- 

 ities carefully chosen for especial adaptations, a few of the finest 

 varieties of winter apples should generally be selected. It is the judg- 

 ment of the most experienced apple growers, many of whom have old 

 orchards including many varieties, that new plantations of winter 

 apples should contain only about six sorts. Of these, in all parts of the 

 State, two would be the Yellow Newtown Pippin and White Winter 

 Pearmain; the other four would vary in different parts of the State, as 

 can be learned from the table which will follow. 



Apples for Long Shipment. There has been for years quite an 

 important trade in shipment of California apples to various ports in 

 the South Pacific Ocean, and recently there has been a sharp demand 

 for California apples for shipment to the eastern states and England. 

 The characteristic size, quality and keeping of the fruit, together with 

 the size and style of package, have strongly commended the fruit. The 

 center of this trade is Watsonville, in a coast valley, in the central part 

 of the State. The two apples which are most popular are the Yellow 

 Bellflower and the Yellow Newtown Pippin. It is an interesting fact 

 that these varieties by virtue of quality have overcome the popular 

 fervor for a red apple, though at Watsonville some Red Pearmains are 

 grown to fill orders which insist on having some color. 



For the Interior Valleys. In choosing varieties for the hot val- 

 leys of the State those making a heavy leaf growth are to be preferred. 

 The Spitzenberg, for example, is a failure in the valleys of the interior, 

 though satisfactory at points on the valley borders. From experience 

 already had it seems likely that some of the Russian varieties, with 



