214 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



the entire region extending- to tlic British possessions, and also among - our western 

 mountain slopes? We advise those having these era h trees in proximity with other 

 orchard trees, to raise seedlings from them ; plant them in hedge rows and test the 

 fruit. If our melting pears are all from the wild choke pears of Europe, what may the 

 future realize from hybridizing with the crabs? 



GATHERING AND KEEPING APPLES. 



Plenty of good, convenient ladders, and good, strong hall-bushel baskets are neces- 

 sary. Ladders can be cheaply made of good, clear stuff pine — a full inch thick will 

 do — sixteen feet long for large trees, the sides about four inches wide. The ladder is 

 about two feet wide at the bottom, and brought together at the top— at the top, it is 

 nicely fitted and nailed together with wrought nails ; the edges are nicely rounded at 

 the top, so as not to cut the bark of the trees. The rounds arc of red hickory, or good 

 tough white oak, put together with a three-quarter bit. The rounds should be nailed 

 — not wedged in. Finish up with a coat of paint. Such ladder* can be cheaply made 

 by an}' one, of any mechanical genius. The}' are light and can be carried about any 

 where by a boy. 



Many are in too great a hurry in getting their summer and autumn apples to market. 

 The evil of sending unripe apples to market, re-acts severely on the orchardist. And 

 further, fruit increases much in size in the last stages of ripening. Equally reprehensi- 

 ble is the practice of sending to market small imperfect fruit. 



Winter apples are often allowed to hang too long. Many varieties are inclined to 

 commence to drop the last week of September. They should then be gathered with 

 as little delay as possibly. Among the varieties that need to be first gathered may be 

 named, Hub. Nonsuch, Fulton, Tall man Sweet, Burau, Wagner, Jonathan aud North- 

 ern Spy. Every day that apples are left exposed to solar influence, after they are 

 mature and separate easily from the. tree, lessens their keeping qualities. 



By all means, apples should be carefully assorted ; ivormy applet should all go by 

 themselves. If the weather is perfectly dry, let winter apples be headed up in barrels 

 as soon as picked from the tree — all humbug about the necessity of laying in piles io 

 sweat. There is no way that winter apples will keep so nice and fresh as when headed 

 up in barrels. Of course some pressure is to be applied in putting in the head. They 

 may be taken at once to the cellar or remain a few days in the shade of the trees ; let 

 the barrels lie on their sides; they should have the same position when hauled, and 

 also in the cellar. 



If apples are properly assorted when put away in this manner, it is seldom necessary 

 to assort them again until they are to be used. 



The following table is presented with no claim of perfection. It is made out mainly 



from observations on my own grounds. The object of presenting this classification is 



to elicit a comparison of observation and judgment among horticulturists. It involves 



shades of distinction in which the best judges would be unable to agree. Criticism is 



solicited. 



Explanation. — The classifications are on a scale from 1 to 6; 1 being the best in quality, 

 growth, hardiness or productiveness, and G being the lowest or poorest. Those marked with 

 the * are recommended. 



TYLER McVv'HORTER. 



