158 3Iississippi Valley Horiicultural Society. 



or Roman Stem (some of our best varietes in quality), should be taken with 

 the large Ben Davis, Willow Twig, Winesaps, Jonathans and Pennsylvania 

 Redstreak. 



It is hard to convince a man against his own eyes, and say what we may, 

 we must pander to the beauty of an article and to the eye, if we want a mar- 

 ket fruit. It is not only so with fruits, but you find it so in every walk of 

 life, in every business, in everj' trade. 



In the lumber business once I found this just the same as in our markets 

 of to day. Take a pile of good lumber and have it scattered promiscuously 

 and you will hardly find a buyer ; but pile it up nicely and ten chances to 

 one if the next man will not make his purchase from it. 



Our merchants in our stores know this matter perfectly, and they do not 

 seek to educate the people to a different standard, but use this hold they 

 have of people to pander to the eyes. So you will see the displays every 

 where, and every one of us will buy from such an one, before the one who 

 tries to convince us against our sight. 



But one says we must keep growing better and more sensible in this mat- 

 ter, and yet this very horticulturist will have his apples in bright, new bar- 

 rels, with planed heads and a nice stencil mark on it ; he will have his ber- 

 ries in good new boxes, clean and not stained either by berries or mould on 

 the boxes; and why is it? simply to please the eye, nothing more, nothing 

 less. Send your apples to market in old salt barrels, and then in bright, new 

 apple barrels, and see if the same fruit will bring the same prices ; pack one 

 with three layers of apples at the head and the other with none and sec if 

 you will get the same prices for the same apples, and yet no buyer believes 

 that the \\ hole barrel is layered like the toj). What is it for? Simply to 

 please and attract the eye ; nothing more. 



In spite of all we may say against a fruit as to its poor quality, etc., yet wo 

 can not preach successfully against the eye. 



Our market then at Kansas City demands for the apple a good size, bright 

 red color and good keeper. The apples that fill this bill are the Ben Davis, 

 Winesap, Willow Twig and Rome Beauty, for the winter varieties, and .Ton- 

 athan and Pennsylvania Redstreak for fall. These are the market ap])les, 

 because they are hardy, productive, and good color and good size ; because 

 they sell the best of any others and sell the easiest ; because they bear well 

 and full, and because they bring the most money of all others. 



The Ben JMvis is the best market apph^ for Kansas City ; pays the most 

 money per bushel, bears the most and sells the easiest, and pays the best per 

 acre of all other varieties. 



The following are ten reasons why it is the best market apple : 



1. It is a good grower in the nursery. 



2. It makes a handsome tree in the orchard. 



3. It bears young. 



4. It i)ear8 oftener and better than any other. 

 T). The apples are usually large and (hie. 



