Ill 



GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS. 



Rapid Development of the_ Industry . - Within recent 

 years, there has been a marked forward movement in commercial 

 apple -orcharding in the State. The widespread and general 

 extent of this development came out clearly in a question 

 asked in this survey. 



"Is commercial apple culture on the increase in your 

 locality?" This question was answered by 235 growers; 229 

 answered it in the affirmative and 6 in the negative. 



From every fruit section of the State the report comes 

 that commercial apple growing Is increasing. Many described 

 this increase as a "boom" and "people have gone wild on the 

 subject" . Young trees that are being set are counted by 

 the thousands and tens of thousands. Many people from other 

 states and other countries are coming into Virginia and 

 purchasing orchards or fruit lands on which to set young or- 

 chards. As a consequence of this great demand for orchards, 

 land which is adapted to fruit growing has greatly increased 

 in value. 



Natural Drawbacks . - "Which are your greatest natur- 

 al drawbacks, frost, insects, or diseases?" 



Drawbacks No. of growers so reporting 

 Insects 122 



Diseases 81 



Frost 51 



