1911.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 31. 205 



an effect by liberating increased amounts of i)bint food. It 

 does not seem possible to account for the increased size by tem- 

 perature conditions. 



Data from other localities similar to that previously pub- 

 lished might be presented, but inasmuch as they show no new 

 features, it is deemed unnecessary to do so. 



On General Development. 

 The question of variation in form and size having been espe- 

 cially considered, we may now proceed to a consideration of 

 the differences in the general development of different \'arie- 

 tics, with more particular reference to color, keeping quality 

 and table quality. These are the characters of paramount im- 

 portance in determining the commercial value of a lot of apples. 

 In order to discuss these questions we have found it convenient 

 to divide the country into belts. 



Apple Belts of North America. 

 We find in pomological writings frequent mention of differ- 

 ent apple " belts," such as the Baldwin belt or the Ben Davis 

 belt. This term is understood to designate a certain area over 

 Y.'hich the variety named is the leading one grown. We find 

 many other varieties referred to a given belt, as the Northern 

 Spy and Rhode Island Greening, which are ref(M-red to the 

 Baldwin l)elt. In connection with the work herein reported, 

 and for convenience in the discussions, the writer presents the 

 division of Noi'th America into apple belts, shown in Fig. 5, 



1. The northern belt, in Avhich the Fameuse is the most char- 

 acteristic sort. 



2, The north central belt, ]icrhaps the most recognized of 

 any. It is characterized by the Baldwin, Northern S})y, Bhode 

 Island Greening, Hubbardston and numy others. It comprises 

 the oldest and in some ways best understood portion of the 

 a]iple region of North America, 



'*). The Annapolis valley, in which we find varieties similar to 

 the second belt, but where the season is shorter and many of the 

 varieties of the second belt do not mature well. 



