Importance and History of the Apple Industry 15 



responsible for the bulk of New York apple production, 

 the average bearing orchard is over forty years of age. 

 Although they have had a remarkable record for longevity, 

 production can not be maintained indefinitely on these 

 old orchards which were for the most part planted in the 

 sixties and seventies of the preceding century. Therefore, 

 unless planting proceeds much more rapidly than in the 

 past, no increase and in fact a possible decrease in pro- 

 duction can be expected from western New York. 



New England apple orchards have been going back 

 rapidly the past several years. As a matter of fact, no- 

 where in the eastern states with the exception of the Shen- 

 andoah-Cumberland region, in New Jersey and Delaware, 

 does there seem likely to be any material increase in 

 production. It is a notable fact that a great decrease has 

 occurred in the number of apple trees all through the 

 Middle West and although a revival of interest is serving 

 to hold production at its present point, it does not seem 

 that on the whole this section of the United States will 

 show an increased apple production in the near future. 



The Pacific Northwest will unquestionably show an 

 increased production during the next several years and 

 will be an increasingly important factor in the commercial 

 apple situation. While the Northwest will continue to 

 ship more and more cars of apples, there will be no such 

 relative increase in production as that which occurred in 

 the past ten years. 



Unfavorable factors. 



To mistake hopes for facts in the determination to 

 see only the favorable side, regardless of true conditions, 

 has been too frequent. Production in the western 



