20 STATE HORTICTTLTURAL SOCIETY. 



varieties should find little or no place; and, since most winter varieties 

 possess the requisite handling qualities, the selection of varieties depends 

 very largely upon the vigor, hardiness, and especially the productiveness, 

 of the tree. 



THE MARKET APPLE. 



Under existing circumstances, one of the first and most essential 

 qualities of a market apple is ability to withstand the outrageous abuses of 

 express and freight employes, abuses which might doubtless be remedied, 

 or at least greatly lessened, if fruitgrowers could be induced to bring their 

 combined influence to bear, forcibly, at the headquarters of the resjjon- 

 sible parties. 



2. The color should be clear, bright, and attractive, since in most mar- 

 kets buyers give more attention to beautiful appearance than to quality. 



3. Apples of good, medium, even size, both handle and sell better than 

 those very large or too small, for the reason that, especially upon fruit- 

 stands, small fruits will not command attention, while large fruits yield 

 fewer specimens to the bushel, yet fail to command a corresponding 

 price. 



4. The quality should not be too low, since, although most consumers 

 who buy in the market are not critical, so far as quality is concerned, 

 disappointment in this particular will surely induce a diminished 

 consumption, if not also a resort, instead, to the sub-tropical fruits with 

 which our markets are now so constantly and cheaply supplied. Few 

 buyers are likely to repeatedly patronize a Pennock or a Ben Davis fruit 

 stand, while at an adjoining stall he can obtain oranges, pine apples or 

 bananas at moderate prices, while the same is also true of hotel and even 

 family tables. In the cases of Red Canada, Northern Spy, Jonathan, or 

 Hubbardston, and especially of Shiawassee and Melon, this tendency will 

 be almost if not altogether reversed. 



Mr. Robinson asked as to the proper time for pruning. 



Mr. Lyon: Two purposes are served by pruning, but you can not have 

 too little of it after you have secured the requisite form for your trees. 

 The preferable time is earliest spring or late winter; by all means before 

 the sap starts. If pruning is done to force fruitfulness, it should be after 

 the leaves start but before the time for formation of fruit buds. Never 

 cut large limbs if you can avoid it; but, if you do, protect the ends with 

 paint or shellac in alcohol. There is not much danger of large limbs 

 rotting to the heart if cutting is done at the right time, yet it will some- 

 times occur. Shellac affords better protection to cut surfaces than 

 anything else, unless it be paint. Ordinary paint cracks, so it is best to 

 repeat application of it. 



Mr. Marsh: I have often noticed orchards which seemed unpruned 

 and "craggly" in shape. Would not such better be pruned? Neglected 

 orchards are often such merely from infertility. If this state results only 

 from lack of judicious pruning, it should of course be practiced. Four or 

 five laterals and one central branch afford the best form. 



Mr. Pearsall: The cut large limbs will rot some at the surface but be 

 sound beneath. It is better to cut such limbs close to the tree than out a 

 few inches. 



Mr. Scott : These things are for neglected orchards only. There is no 

 need of having such limbs if trees are started right in the first place. 



