96 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 228 



Wagener 



This variety has recently come into favor, particularly in large orcluirds. 

 Eighty growers reported a total of 15,000 trees in 1925, 60 per cent of which 

 were already bearing. About 50 per cent of the plantings are fillers. Most 

 of the planting has been done during the past ten years, very few trees being 

 more than fifteen years of age. The favor with which this variety is being 

 received by the growers indicates that it will be of more importance in the 

 future. 



Greening 



The Rhode Island Greening, one of the oldest Massachusetts varieties, is 

 fast passing out. A total of 14,000 trees was reported, of wliich only 2,000 

 were non-bearing. Since most of the bearing trees are old, production per 

 tree is high and a total of 26,000 bushels was reported. The poor market 

 for this variety has caused many growers to cut down their trees. The va- 

 riety is of little commercial importance except in certain sections of the 

 western part of the State. 



Astrachan 



This variety, formerly a favorite in the farm orchard, is now of little com- 

 mercial importance. Nearly half of the 13,000 trees reported are non-hearing, 

 and new trees are planted at the rate of nearly 3,000 for each five-year period. 

 The crop is about equal to that of Transparent or Duchess, and comes on the 

 .market at about the same time. 



Northern Spy 



Only 1 per cent of the total number of trees reported were Northern Spy, 

 and plantings are growing less. One-third of the 10,000 trees reported were 

 not bearing, and 70 per cent of the trees are not fifteen years of age. Late 

 bearing and poor market demand account for the lack of popularity of 

 Northern Spy among growers. 



Williams 



This is one of the older early varieties and is popular in a few sections of 

 the state. Only 7,000 trees were reported, and of this number 2,000 were non- 

 bearing. Recent plantings of over 1,000 trees for each five-year period indi- 

 cate some increase, which will probably be offset by the cutting of old trees. 

 The production of 17,000 bushels compares favorably with the other early 

 varieties, but is not of sufficient importance to become a factor in the market. 



Miscellaneous Varieties 



Many other varieties were reported, among them Hubbardston, Wolf River,! 

 Grimes Golden, Tolman Sweet, Pippin, etc., none of which is of commercial 

 importance. 



Size of Beari>g Orchard 



Tlie size of the producing orchard, measured in bearing trees, varies from 

 a few trees to as many as 12,000. The average for all tlie growers visited is 

 3.54 bearing trees. Over half report fewer than 200 bearing trees and the 

 most conmion size is about 150 trees. 



