54 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



fered the heaviest damage. While the decrease in yield due to 

 frost has meant a serious financial loss, it seems rather trivial 

 compared to the blow dealt to fruit growers in the eastern half 

 of the State by the ice storm of November 28 to 30. Damage 

 from this source is not easily computed, as its effect will be felt 

 for many years. The bearing surface of many old trees was 

 reduced from one-third to one-half. Trees in prime-bearing 

 age did not lose nearly as many bearing branches, but many 

 large limbs were broken, leaving them in a weakened condition. 

 Young apple trees were damaged but little. 



The local Massachusetts commercial apple crop for 1921, 

 according to final estimates, is 172,000 barrels compared with 

 375,000 barrels for 1920. The hill towns of Franklin County, 

 the largest wholesale shipping section, w^ere fortunate in having 

 a 60 per cent yield. 



Unprecedented conditions prevailed in Franklin County dur- 

 ing the apple-shipping season of 1921. The shortage of apples 

 throughout the State and country, together with the fact that 

 nearly all of the orchards in this section had escaped serious 

 damage from the spring frost, created an unusual demand for 

 Franklin County apples. This resulted in a large infiux of 

 new buyers. Many of these came with auto trucks and pur- 

 chased in bulk, thus eliminating the grading of a large part of 

 the crop and deflecting the shipment of probably half the crop 

 from the railroad to the highways. The brisk demand thus 

 created kept prices at such a high level that the large apple 

 handlers, who usually take nearly the whole crop, bought com- 

 paratively small quantities. There were therefore no out- 

 standing buyers, but rather a large number of small buyers. 

 Many of these were pedlers from central and western Massa- 

 chusetts cities speculating in apples for the first time. These 

 new buyers, some of whom were financially irresponsible, and 

 nearly all of whom came to the county only because they were 

 unable to obtain apples elsewhere, raised the price to the 

 farmer somewhat for the present season. The discouraging 

 effect which their presence had on the large wholesale concerns 

 and other legitimate buyers, upon whom the growers depend 

 for their usual source of distribution, may tend, however, to 

 offset any increased value which has accrued from this year's crop. 



