8 - 



Most orchards are on M.9 rootstocks and most are trained as 

 slender-spindles with 680 to 1200 trees per acre. The minimal 

 frame-work on these trees is a striking contrast to the frame-work 

 on apple trees in Massachusetts. The slender-spindle training sys- 

 tem makes a large number of trees per acre possible and this com- 

 bined with little pruning for the first 4 to 5 years leads to a 

 large quantity of fruiting wood per acre within a few years. Thus, 

 early heavy yields are obtained. 



The oldest slender-spindle trees are probably 13 to 15 years 

 of age and it is possible that in some instances, the trees are too 

 closely planted. However, economics have forced growers to be more 

 concerned about producing heavy, early yields than the necessity for 

 early removal of the trees. Furthermore, shorter rotations (the 

 talk is that orchards will be removed after 15 years) will enable 

 the growers to more frequently apply the latest technological ad- 

 vancements in orcharding. 



The "modern" apple grower is a perfectionist by our standards, 

 particularly in training his trees, and he excels in production ef- 

 ficiency. Like the American grower, he has "pioneered" many con- 

 cepts used in fruit growing. 



The quality of Dutch apples on the tree is good. However, like 

 the United States, the major problems are in the areas of harvest 

 and post-harvest operations. Most fruit, regardless of grade, is 

 sold jumble-packed in open crates holding 44 pounds of apples. Al- 

 though the wholesalers are prepared to pay more for cartoned apples, 

 the growers are not convinced that increased returns for cartoned- 

 apples will offset increased packing and packaging costs. 



The apple industry is geared to the fresh fruit market and 



processing is practically limited to making of apple sauce. The 



Dutch consumer doesn't know fresh apple cider and, thereby, is not 



willing to pay a higher price for the product that the more economi- 

 cal "bottled" apple juice. 



Although 101 of the apples are sold at the farm, this method 

 of sales is much less specialized than in Massachusetts with no 

 roadside stands, consumer packaging, nor sales on Sunday. 



In general, packing is decentralized and selling is central- 

 ized. Growers store and pack their own fruit, but it is sold through 

 auctions. Too often, the storage is "speculative," the fruit is not 

 stored properly (like in the United States), and the Golden Delicious 

 in the packs are non-uniform in color. 



Intensification in Massachusetts 



Past . In the 1930's and 1940's, pomologists at the University of 

 Massachusetts had considerable expertise for this era on size-con- 

 trol rootstocks. Based on research at Amherst and several trials 



