The Apple in Oregon. 137 



One Observation, however, needs to be made at this point. Records 

 kept at other places, both within and without the State, show that the 

 periods of blossoming of certain varieties do not remain invariable. In 

 other words, two or more varieties that blossom at approximately the 

 same period at Corvallis may not blossom together at Hood River and 

 La Grande, or at Medford and Cove. 



For example: It will be observed that during the season of 1903 

 at Hood River — 



Early Harvest and Red Astrachan were in füll blossom on May Ist. 



Jonathan, Spitzenburg, Ben Davis, and Baldwin were in füll blossom 

 on May 8th. 



Yellow Newtown, May lOth; Northern Spy, May 12th. 



It is noted at Cove — 



Early Harvest and Red Astrachan were in füll bloom on May 5th 

 and 20th, respectively. 



Jonathan, Spitzenburg, Ben Davis, and Baldwin were in füll blos- 

 som on May 20th, 25th, 20th, 16th, respectively. 



Yellow Newtown, May 25th, and Northern Spy, May 20th. 



The same season the records at Corvallis show that the Early 

 Harvest tree under Observation did not blossom; that Red Astrachan 

 was in füll blossom April 28th; Jonathan, May Ist; (Spitzenberg, no 

 tree old enough to blossom in the College orchard) ; Ben Davis, May 4th; 

 Baldwin, May 5th; (Yellow Newtown Pippin, no tree in the College 

 orchard) ; Northern Spy, May 12th. 



On closer comparison it is found at Hood River that, while there 

 is uniformly seven days' difference between füll blossom of Early 

 Harvest and Red Astrachan on one side, and Jonathan, Spitzenburg, 

 Ben Davis and Baldwin on the other; at Cove there were two days' 

 difference between the first two, and as between these and the other 

 four the time varied from nine to twenty days, and at the same time 

 the variations between the members of this second group were from 

 four to nine days. 



At Hood River the Yellow Newtown preceded the Northern Spy by 

 two days. At Cove this Order was reversed with a difference of five 

 days.* 



While it is reasonable to think that no very great value can be 

 attached to the_ observations of one or two years, it is evident from the 

 records kept at Corvallis, though they are very incomplete, that a very 

 variable relation exists from year to year not only between different 

 varieties, but between the various phases of development in the same 

 variety, for example: In 1896, Delaware Red and Dominie were in fuil 

 blossom 17 days apart, but in 1897 there were in füll blossom only 

 two days apai-t. Then in the record of Fameuse we find a Variation 

 between the opening of first blossoms and füll blossom to vary from 

 seven days in 1896, to three days in 1897, to twelve days in 1898, to 

 nine days in 1900, to fourteen days in 1901, and to eight days in 1903. 

 Or in other words the period from the opening of first blossoms to 

 the time when the tree is in füll blossom may vary from year to year, 

 from three to fourteen days, which is equivalent to the vai'iations 

 between different varieties doing the same work. 



An interesting note is made by comparing the average of time that 

 elapses between first blossoms and füll blossoms in different sections. 

 Fi-om the table of Cove data it will be observed that the minimum time 



*It is quite probable that some slight Variation in these dates may be 

 accounted for tlirough the difference of individuality of the observers, but it is 

 improbable that it can all be accounted for in this manner when we take inlo 

 account the personality of the observers in these two instances. 



