246 STATE HORTICULTURAL S0CIE3:Y. 



THE APPLE ORCHAED. 



BY L. E. TAFT. 



Bulletin No. 124. 



A few years ago the apple crop in Michigan was of large commercial 

 importance and the fame of Michigan apples reached all parts of the 

 country. For a number of years the crop has been small and in some 

 seasons has not been sufficient to supply the local demand. While other 

 causes may have contributed to the loss of the crop, neglect, or at least 

 lack of proper care, can be charged in many cases with being the principal 

 reason for the loss. Letters are frequently received inquiring as to the 

 best methods of planting and caring for an orchard, the soil and fertilizers 

 needed, and the remedies for the insects and diseases to whose attack the 

 apple is subject; and to supply an evident desire for information on the 

 subject, this bulletin has been prepared. 



HISTORY OF THE APPLE. 



Although there is no direct evidence as to the origin of our cultivated 

 varieties of apple, they are supposed to have been derived from the wild 

 crab, which is common in all parts of temperate Europe. Improved vari- 

 eties of this fruit were certainly in cultivation long before the Christian 

 era, as Pliny and other writers of his time speak of the apple as one of the 

 fruits of the Romans, who were said to have brought it from Armenia. 

 Even in those times varieties were plentiful, as Pliny enumerates twenty- 

 two, including sweet, dessert, and cooking sorts, and one kind that was 

 seedless. 



The apple was carried to all parts of the empire where Roman garrisons 

 were established, and undoubtedly thus reached England. When this 

 country was settled, seeds, scions, and trees were brought over, and from 

 the orchards then or soon after planted many of the varieties of today have 

 been derived. While a few varieties now in cultivation have been brought 

 directly from Europe, most of the kinds commonly grown are of American 

 origin and have come as chance seedlings from older sorts. In many cases 

 it is probable that they are the result of natural crosses, but in a few cases 

 artificial crossing has been practiced. 



As a rule when apple seeds are planted, many of the trees obtained will 

 be thorny and will give strong evidence of their origin. Most of them 

 will produce small fruits that will be inferior to those borne by the original 



