30 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 231 



Varieties Preferred 



The first choice of apples in English markets is for the Newtown 

 Pippin, which was a favorite of Queen Victoria, and is still known as the 

 royal apple. However, prices for this variety are usually so high that 

 consumption is confined to the well-to-do. The Cox Orange Pippin is 

 also highly esteemed; and the demand being greater than the supply, the 

 price is high. Frequently these choice apples, wrapped in cotton and 

 packed in cartons, are used as gifts at Christmas and other seasons. 



Most American varieties are salable in Great Britain, but compara- 

 tively few of the early varieties have been exported because of their per- 

 ishable quality. Nevertheless, the shipments of these are increasing, 

 considerable quantities of Gravensteins, Williams and Mcintosh having 

 been exported during the past season, 1925-26. For the most part ex- 

 ports are generally confined to later varieties, Baldwin being the principal 

 one from New York and New England. From Virginia the York Imper- 

 ial and Ben Davis, and from the Pacific Northwest the Jonathan, Winesap 

 and Delicious are the chief exported varieties. Table 18 presents facts 

 as to the preferences of chief European wholesale markets. These are 

 compiled from "Foreign News on Apples," the reports of the foreign agent 

 of the United States Department of Agriculture. 



It will be noted that the Northwestern varieties, Jonathan, Spitzen- 

 burg and Winesap are those most generally preferred. The York Im- 

 perial is liked in almost every British market. The Jonathan is probably 

 preferred in more European markets than any other American variety, 

 being reported as a favorite in eleven of the eighteen markets from which 

 information has been secured. As in our own markets, practically all 

 foreign markets prefer red apples. 



Sizes Preferred 



The demand on the British markets is for apples of medium size, 

 the larger sizes being penalized in some markets by a lower price. In 

 general the markets in the northern part of the United Kingdom will use 

 larger apples than will those of the southern part. Even here, however, 

 the preference is for sizes varying from 2^4 to 2V2 inches, or boxes con- 

 taining 163 to 180 apples by count\ While apples as large as ISO's will 

 sell, they are frequently found to bring from 12 cents to 48 cents less per 

 box. In the markets of the southern part of England and Wales, apples 

 of 2 inches to 2Vi inches (216 to 234 per box) are preferred by most 

 consumers. 



^ The sizes of apples correspondins; to thf ''count'' of boxed fruit allow a varia- 

 tion of % inch above or below the stated diameters. A box containing 163 to 200 

 apples, for example, is supposed to contain apples of 2% inches diameter, but they 

 may vary from 2 14 to 2 Y-^ inches. The fisrures given below show the counts and ap- 

 proximate sizes with their allowable variations. 

 Count Size Count Size 



(inches) (inches) 



Since grades are fixed liy color and condition as well as by sii-e, it is not possible 

 to add the corresponding grades to the aliove table. The Massachusetts grading law 

 requires a certain percentage of color for certain varieties, for the different grades. The 

 conditions as to blemishes also vary with the grade. 



