APPLES 



HE September freeze greatly damaged one 

 of the best apple crops in western Montana 

 that the state has had in the past three 

 years. About half of the crop was picked 

 at the time of the freeze and the unpicked 

 portion was practically an entire loss. As 

 placed by the December estimate, 1926 

 production of 325,000 bushels will probably 

 need some upward revision next December, 

 as indicated by the season's shipments to 

 date of January 29th of 338 cars. The very 

 favorable crop of 1926, had it matured 

 without damage, would have been larger 

 than at first supposed by growers. 



OTHER FRUITS AND BERRIES 



There is still a small production of pears and plums in western Montana, 

 although much damage was done to orchards by the December freeze two years 

 ago that has not yet been wholly remedied by new plantings. Sweet cherries 

 were becoming somewhat popular before the freeze damage but since that time 

 the principal increase in small fruits has been with the sour canning cherries. 

 A considerable tonnage of sour cherries was canned in 1926 in the Bitter Root 

 and the experience of growers was generally favorable. Some new plantings 

 of sour cherries has been reported. 



Strawberry production has shown some tendency to increase in western Mon- 

 tana as a result of recent favorable seasons. 



WESTERN MONTANA ORCHARD 



