THE COMMERCIAL APPLE INDUSTRY 

 OF NORTH AMERICA 



CHAPTER I 



IMPORTANCE AND HISTORY OF TEE APPLE 

 INDUSTRY 



THE object of this work is to deal particularly with 

 the commercial phases of the apple-growing industry with 

 reference to: (1) Distribution of important commercial 

 plantings under which heading will be discussed the ad- 

 vantages and disadvantages of various regions; (2) eco- 

 nomic problems such as cost of production and marketing ; 

 (3) scientific cultural methods. 



In presenting the subject, attention is first given to 

 the geography of commercial apple-growing in the United 

 States and competing foreign countries. It is important 

 to know not only where commercial apples are grown but 

 also the cultural methods employed in different regions. 

 The wide distribution of apple plantings in the United 

 States and the extreme variation in the character of the 

 orchards makes it difficult for one to determine the rela- 

 tive importance of any region, much less to have a definite 

 conception of the conditions which prevail in remote dis- 

 tricts. 



Few agricultural enterprises have experienced the 

 vicissitudes which seem inherent in the fruit-growing in- 



