394 The Commercial Apple Industry 



this chapter may assist in outlining in more detail the 

 geographic distribution of the commercial sorts. It is 

 interesting to note how many of these most desirable vari- 

 eties are not new discoveries, but are over a hundred 

 years old. 



STJMMEB VABIETIES 



The question of summer varieties requires separate 

 treatment. In their selection, the proximity to markets 

 is an important factor. The great perishability of early 

 apples limits their production to such regions as have access 

 to ready markets. 



It is sometimes suggested that the commercial grower 

 may well have a number of varieties ripening at different 

 times in order to supply the demands of local or nearby 

 markets throughout a long season. In some instances 

 this may be advisable, particularly in the case of small 

 growers in the vicinity of large cities, who do most of their 

 own work and where the orchardist or a member of his 

 family markets the fruit locally. The extra expense of 

 harvesting apples in small quantities is a strong argument 

 against too wide diversification. 



The growing of summer varieties has proved very profit- 

 able to many growers who are so situated that their fruit 

 reaches the market in advance of that from other regions 

 and to growers who cater to local and special markets. A 

 light soil which warms up early is essential. 



It is difficult to draw a sharp line between summer, fall 

 and winter varieties. A variety may be known as a fall 

 sort in one section and as a winter in another. It is prob- 

 ably safer to make an arbitrary distinction based on har- 

 vesting dates rather than on varieties. Summer kinds in- 



