GENERAL INFORMATION 



197 



conditions warrant. In general, however, the commercial areas have 

 been determined and it is in them or parts of them that most of the 

 fruit for market will probably be produced in the future. 



In naming these regions it must be kept in mind that they are not 

 adapted in their entirety to fruit production. Local factors enter in, and 

 much must be left to judgment and local experience. 



The deciduous fruit regions have been determined largely on the basis 

 of apple growing. Although other fruits will not thrive in all the apple 

 sections, particularly in the ones with low winter temperatures, yet it is 

 a fact that the growing of the other fruits takes place to a large extent 

 in the apple regions. Certain peach sections constitute exceptions to 

 this statement. 



As has already been pointed out in the section on selection of 

 varieties, varieties differ in their adaptation. In defining the fruit sec- 

 tions it becomes possible to indicate the varieties of commercial promi- 

 nence or promise for them. 



In general, the northeastern states are adapted to fruit growing, and 

 it is in these states that the industry first took on the aspects of a com- 

 mercial enterprise. Other sections have since come to the fore and are 

 providing competition that is both keen and at the same time helpful in 

 raising the standards of the industry. 



The chief fruit regions are outlined here without regard to order of 

 importance. Commercial rank is somewhat variable, and its emphasis 

 is shifting. It may be determined for any period in a general way from 

 the census figures of bearing and non-bearing trees and a study of carlot 

 shipments. 



1. The New England states, excepting the colder sections of Maine, 

 New Hampshire, and Vermont. 



2. New York, comprising the western New York, Hudson Valley, 

 and Lake Champlain areas. 



3. Michigan, in the southern half of the state, but also well distributed 

 along the eastern shore of Lake Michigan. 



4. Ohio, quite generally distributed with large production in the south- 

 eastern counties, along the Pennsylvania line, and about Lake Erie. 



5. Pennsylvania, about large industrial centers, along Lake Erie, and 

 in the south-central section forming a part of the Shenandoah-Cumber- 

 land region. 



6. New Jersey-Delaware and eastern shore of Maryland. These areas 

 are close to large consuming centers. They feature summer and fall 

 apples but also grow winter apples. 



7. Shenandoah-Cumberland region, including south-central Pennsyl- 

 vania, western Maryland, eastern West Virginia, and Virginia. 



