-3- 



make it possible to figure accurately the per cent of each variety which growers 

 would plant in the future, it did indicate that the numbers of Mcintosh will be 

 materially reduced. Growers are now thinking in terms of 50 per cent Mcintosh 

 instead of 70 to 80 per cent. Baldwin will still be planted by many growers, but 

 it will not figure as prominently in the variety picture as it has in the past. 

 Varieties such as Cortland, Delicious or its red strains. Early Mcintosh, Rome 

 and its red strains, and Red Spy appear to be slated for slight to moderate 

 increases. 



"Gravenstein and its strain. Golden Delicious, Rhode Island Greening, Macoun 

 and possible Red Astrachan will just about hold their own; but Wealthy, Yellow 

 Transparent, Duchesa, Roxbury Russet, Winter Banana, Williams, Kendall, Stark, and 

 Wegener seem to be on the way out. In general, red strains are preferred to 

 standard varieties. Richared is the popular red strain of Delicious, with Starking 

 meeting with little favor. 



"One other point which the survey brings out is the attempt of many growers to 

 choose varieties which will extend the harvesting and marketing seasons. This is 

 particularly true among those growers who now have large acreages of Mcintosh. 

 Growers are beginning to see the folly of a one variety orchard." 



Before commenting on the 1946 survey it might be well to examine the figures 

 on the per cent of total tree numbers of varieties for Massachusetts. Figures in 

 the following table were derived in part from data presented in extension bulletin 

 number 343, Massachusetts Apple Tree Survey. 



The figures in the fourth column are my best estimates as to what the distribution 

 of varieties will be in 1970. 



The most important factor responsible for the changes in varieties is price. 

 Growers stop planting varieties which are no longer profitable and try to plant 



