INDIANA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 233 



be supplied, we can not hope for success. From this we see that the proper 

 selection of varieties for commercial orchards is of great importance. 



In driving through Mr. Burton's orchard, we saw a nunrner of Mc- 

 Afee's Nonsuch and Lawyer that were practicallj^ barren of fruit. The 

 trees of these varieties were as large, vigorous and thrifty as any trees 

 in the orchard, yet Mv. Burton says they have never borne a profitable 

 crop of fruit, showing their laclv of adaptation to the locality where 

 planted, and are wholly unprofitable. The success of the varieties planted 

 is so dependent upon the soil and situation that it gives opportunity for 

 great diversity of opinion as to the best varieties to plant; however, there 

 are a few varieties of all of the different classes of fruits that seem to 

 have quite a wide range of adaptation, succeeding on a great variety of 

 soils and situations and under different treatment. 



I presume there is no other variety of apple in cultivation at this time 

 that has wider range of adaptation and is as generally profitable for com- 

 mercial purposes as is the Ben Davis. There have been more Ben Davis 

 trees planted in the past few years than of any other variety. Fortunately, 

 the Ben Davis seems to have nearly every good quality except quality. 

 It is an early and regular bearer, fruit of large size, good form and beau- 

 tiful color, always attracting the eye, and as the masses buy through the 

 eye, the Ben Davis sells well and at good prices. They often sell at five 

 cents apiece on the fruit stands. We have learned that size and color are 

 of first importance in marketing fruit, and on account of the characteris- 

 tics mentioned, the Ben Davis for several years has been the most profit- 

 able apple grown in the central west. 



For southern Indiana, a close rival to Ben Davis for profit, and in some 

 localities superior to Ben Davis, is the Winesap, a good bearer of medium 

 size, bright red, firm apple of good quality, and a good keeper. Southern 

 Indiana Winesaps seem to be the finest in the world, as they took the 

 premium over all others at the Paris Exposition. 



Probably the next best apple for commercial purposes for this locality 

 is the Rome Beauty, a fairly good bearer, fruit of large size, handsomely 

 colored, and of good quality. I have seen some as fine specimens grown 

 in southern Indiana as I have ever seen anywhere. 



For the fourth variety of apple, a late fall and early winter variety, 

 the Grimes Golden is without a rival as to size, color and quality. When 

 the trees are well cared for the fruit is large enough, is smooth, and of a 

 beautiful golden color, and the quality leaves nothing to be desired. To 

 my own taste there is nothing superior to it in its season, or at any other 

 season. It reaches its highest degree of perfection in southern Indiana as 

 to size, color and quality. When I eat the Baldwin, Winesap, or most any 

 other variety of apple, I know distinctly when the time comes to quit, 

 but when eating the Grimes Golden there is still a doubt as to whether I 

 should not eat another. However, the Grimes has two points of weakness 

 —first is that the fruit matures rather early and is a little inclined to drop 



