34 The Commercial Apple Industry 



1 New England Baldwin belt has decreased within recent 

 _ years. A great number of young orchards are coming in, 

 particularly in favored spots of New Hampshire and Mass- 

 achusetts, and these new orchards will tend to make up loss 

 among older trees. Many varieties, such as Wealthy, Mc- 

 intosh and other fall or early winter sorts, are proving 

 profitable. Mcintosh and Wealthy are becoming espe- 

 cially popular in the newer plantings. Such varieties as 

 Stark, Yellow Bellflower, Porter, Tolman Sweet, Russets, 

 and many other old varieties are still found in considerable 

 quantity, but are no longer being planted. 



The orchards of New England for the most part are 

 small in size and come more nearly being farm orchards 

 than do those of any other commercial section. They are 

 in many cases too small to be operated profitably on a 

 strictly commercial basis. 



A large part of the New England apple crop is marketed 

 locally, particularly in Massachusetts where many apples 

 are shipped in bulk or hauled in trucks to Boston and 

 nearby markets. In normal times New England exports 

 large quantities of apples, particularly of the Baldwin va- 

 riety. The barrel is the standard package for New Eng- 

 land apples when shipped in quantity to outside markets, 

 although for local consumption basket, box or bulk trade 

 predominates. In many cases, strictly high-grade apples 

 are put up, in boxes. The normal commercial produc- 

 tion for this region is about 1,250,000 barrels, and it is 

 not likely to increase ; in fact, unless planting is stimulated 

 to a greater degree than at present, production will de- 

 crease somewhat on account of the number of old orchards 

 which are dying or are losing their vigor. Production of 

 high-grade fruit will increase. 



