ORCHARD NOTES. 47 



the variety in question was one of the resulting- seedlings. The 

 tree was isolated in 1875 and has been known locally for several 

 years as Stowe's Winter. Mr. Rufus F. Stowe, son of the 

 originator, writes that "it will keep longer than anything except 

 Ben Davis and is nearly equal to that." 



Other hardy local seedlings which are being more or less 

 extensively planted in northern Maine are Hayford Sweet, — 

 regarded as the best winter sweet — Monroe Sweet, and Mclntire 

 Sweet. Hayford Sweet is much hardier than Talman and takes 

 the place of that variety as a late keeping sweet apple. 



A SUGGESTION. 



The foregoing notes represent pretty nearly the present status 

 of the hardy apples which have been tried in Maine. The mul- 

 tiplicity of varieties may, however, be confusing to some who 

 purpose growing fruit for market. To such the oft repeated 

 advice, "for market plant few varieties," is most strongly urged. 

 Over a large portion of Maine any of the more prominent com- 

 mercial varieties will thrive, but in those sections where the 

 standard of hardiness is marked by Oldenburg and Wealthy it 

 is well to make a virtue of necessity and for commercial purposes 

 plant only those sorts which have a recognized commercial value 

 or those which are of such conspicuous merit that a market is 

 assured. The varieties named are hardy, productive, attractive 

 and have an established reputation in Boston and in English 

 markets, a fact which assures ready sale for all choice fruit. 

 English buyers are at the present time urging the more extensive 

 planting of Wealthy in southern Maine to supply the demand for 

 fall fruit in London and Liverpool, and will welcome the hun- 

 dreds of barrels that every year waste for want of local buyers 

 in the northern portion of the State. Really choice Oldenburgs 

 frequently net three dollars (sometimes more) per barrel in Bos- 

 ton, yet every year hundreds of barrels of this fruit lie on the 

 ground and decay. Alexander, also, is always in demand at good 

 prices. The need of fruit growers in northern Maine is not so 

 much new hardy varieties which will compare with Baldwin, 

 Greening and Northern Spy as it is a better appreciation of the 

 merits of the varieties already known to thrive, a better acquaint- 

 15 



