-3- 



Adjustments are being made in the handling of standard storage apples to have 

 them cleared from storage before the "CA" apples start to move. The extent and 

 success of these adjustments can only be knovm after the season has ended. Close 

 study of available market information is necessary as individual forecasts of 

 movement and price are made by packers and shippers. 



Increases in population, the concentration of the producing industry in the 

 hands of skilled commercial growers and Increasing skills in marketing create a 

 favorable long-time outlook for the industry as a whole. Persistent reports of 

 new plantings of popular varieties in economical units indicate a growing strength 

 in the industry. Substantial accomplishment in keeping costs of production on a 

 practically level plane in recent years has kept the local industry competitive 

 and the outlook for apple production in Massachusetts is favorable on the basis 

 of expected regional competition and demonstrated consimier acceptance of good 

 apples . 



-—Frederick E. Cole 



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TREES ON EAST MAILING VII MAINTAIN HIGH YIELDS 



Production records in 1958 from a block of 15 year Mcintosh on East Mailing 

 II and VII Indicate that these trees are capable of producing high acre yields 

 of fruit. The average yield for E.M. II was 11 boxes per tree while the average 

 yield for E.M. VII was 12 boxes per tree. The spread of those trees is somewhat 

 over 20 feet so that a planting distance of 20* by 30* is required. With this 

 planting distance there are 72 trees per acre which at the above rates would 

 produce 864 boxes per acre for E.M. VII and 792 boxes for E.M. II, 



A closer planting plan might be adopted where the slope of the orchard site 

 permits sprayer travel in two directions. Under this condition it would be 

 possible to set the trees 15' by 20* so that when the trees commence to crowd 

 every other tree in the 15 foot row would be removed leaving a 20 by 30 planting 

 distance. With this planting plan the number of trees per acre would be doubled 

 and the yield could theoretically be increased to 1600 to 1700 boxes per acre 

 as long as the trees were not crowded. Whether or not a grower adopts this close 

 planting plan will depend on the orchard site available and his willingness to 

 double the cost of trees for planting. 



— W. D. Weeks 



I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 



STACKING APPLES IN REFRIGERATED STORAGES 



A number of apple growers in New Hampshire are stacking apples in their 

 storages on pallets which certainly requires less labor and makes handling easier 

 than stacking by hand. However the cost of fork lifts is considerable and the 

 pallets require some space thereby reducing the amount of fruit that can be 

 placed in storage. Some growers feel that the extra boxes stored by hand stack- 

 ing more than off sets the extra cost of labor required. 



