120 State Horticultural Society. 



watering trees and even getting fine peaches from seedlings. j\Ir. Evans> 

 replied that it would not be profitable or possible to tend 500 acres in this 

 way.) 



1 



HOW TO START THE APPLE TREE. 

 (By Jacob Faith of ^lontevallo, Vernon County, ^lo.) 



]\Iany years' experience and observation have lead me to the con- 

 clusion to start an apple orchard to grow and bear successfully, select 

 apple seed from the large uniform, well matured fruit from long lived,, 

 hardy, vigorous growing varieties. For summer and fall sorts I pre- 

 fer the seed from Red Astrachan, as this is a vigorous growing tree 

 and long lived. For winter varieties also plant seed from large, vigor- 

 ous growing trees such as ]\Iinkler, Red Romanite and other long- 

 lived, vigorous growers. I am sorry to see that the most apple seed- 

 ling roots come from the cider mills — from knotty, immature, wormy,, 

 wind fallen culls. 



Much is printed about wdiole apple tree roots, and scions grafted 

 on wdiole seedling roots. If the seedling root has such influence on the 

 long life as is claimed, wdiy not the seed have the same effect? Why 

 propagate from poor seed? Another great mistake is to use scions 

 from trees of poor, irregular bearing qualities. Often scions are cut 

 from nursery trees and winter sprouts. Then w^e wonder what is the 

 reason trees don't bear and why trees are so short lived. Scions for 

 grafting and budding should be selected from the best, most uniform 

 bearing trees. This can be done by watching a few 5'ears' fruiting. I 

 emphaticall}' object to taking scions for grafting from nursery stock or 

 winter sprouts. 



In breeding raising stock Ave select the best. See the success and 

 advancement made in hogs and other stock the past 30 or 40 years. 

 The same is true of the many new and better varieties of fruits, but 

 are we not falling short in long lived, regular bearing trees? I claim 

 the low^ prices have driven the nurserymen to grow short lived, un- 

 productive trees. The low prices have driven me out of the business. 

 A few years ago I walked through a nursery in which there w^as a row 

 about six years old that looked like a wilderness. The proprietor said 

 that he used this row to cut scions for grafting. I remarked that it 

 was a poor w^ay to propagate trees to bear. He agreed with me that it 

 was, but said he grew trees to sell for the mone}- there was in it. and 

 that water sprouts and nursery trees made the straightest nursery 



