88 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 228 



Producikg Regions 



Apple growing in Massachusetts centers in several rather distinct sections, 

 although apples are grown for home consumption in every part of the state. 

 These are Franklin County, Connecticut Valley, Nashoba area and Essex 

 County. 



The chief section, lying partly in Middlesex and partly in Worcester coun- 

 ties and known as the Nashoba area, includes the towns of Littleton, Acton, 

 Groton, Harvard, Stow, Sterling, Hudson, Boxborough, Bolton and Westford. 

 Other towns which form a southern continuation of tliis area are Berlin, 

 Marlborough, Northborough, Westborough and Millbury. Shirley, Lunenburg 

 and Fitcliburg form a similar group to the northwest. The topography of 

 this section differs from that in other apple sections of the state, varying 

 from fairly level to very rolling. Tlie outstanding cliaracteristits of this sec- 

 tion are numerous small orchards and high production due to good orchard 

 practice. 



The Franklin Cotmty section, in the western part of the state, is included 

 chiefly in the towns of Colrain, Shelbume, Buckland, Cliarlemont and Ashfield. 

 Few growers here make apple growing their chief liusiness, as orciiards are 

 mostly secondary to other farm enterprises. The varieties commonly grown 

 are Baldwin and Mcintosh, with a few Greening and Duchess. Tliis region 

 is hilly, almost mountainous in parts. Most of the orchards are irregular 

 plantings on hillsides, trees being set in blocks in but few orchards. 



Similar in many respects is the section in Essex County in the northeastern 

 part of the state. Varieties grown here are chiefly Baldwin, with some Mcin- 

 tosh and small numbers of other kinds. In both Essex and Franklin counties 

 most of the orchards are old and production is declining except in a few 

 towns. It is doubtful if recent plantings in either of these sections have been 

 sufficient to offset the dying of old trees. 



The section in Hampden and Hampshire counties is composed of several 

 separate areas lying on the hills along the Connecticut Valley. The towns of 

 Cummington, Williamsburg, Easthampton and Granville form that portion 

 lying west of the Connecticut River, while Amherst, Belcliertown, Hampden 

 and Wilbraham are included in the section east of the river. 



CHART 2. Non-bearing and Bsaring Trees, by Counties, 1925 



BADN^TABLLl 

 BEBK5H1QE. 

 Bei5T0L 

 PLYMOUTH 



NORFOLK 



HAMPDEN 



E.55LX 



HAMP5HIBE 



FPANKLIN 



W0DCE5TEB 



MIDDLESEX 



BLABINQ EZa 



NONBE.AeiN<j ■ 



'//////////^ 



150 ZOO 



THOUSANDS 



300 



.550 



