No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 421 



lately in the Mt. Poeono region and gives promise of great value, on 

 account of its fine appearance and its good keeping and shipping 

 qualities. 



Winte)' Blush — ^Strongly resembles Maiden's Blush, but is much 

 later. Its season being from December to February. 



York Imperial. — Varies greatly both in keeping and eating quali- 

 ties. When grown on rich, river bottom lands in Dauphin county, 

 it is a very low grade apple and will not keep until the holidays. 

 Under any circumstance it is not good to use in the fall, but when, 

 grown under proper conditions, on moderately high land, rich in 

 mineral matter and rather deficient in nitrogen, and is kept in shal- 

 low bins in a cool cellar, or better yet, in a cave, it comes out in the 

 spring a fairly good apple for any purpose. It will stand up longer 

 and bear more rough handling than any of the finer sorts, and coming 

 after all the strictly high class varieties are out of the market, it 

 sells well. For this reason the growers of Adams, Franklin, York 

 and Cumberland and some parts of Dauphin and Lebanon counties 

 have found it very profitable. It is not a good cold storage sort, but 

 scalds badly if kept too long. If placed in cold storage it should 

 always be marketed early in January. 



Smithes Cider. — A native of Bucks county. Is a mild, sub-acid, red 

 apple. Considered one of the most profitable varieties in Chester, 

 Berks and Bucks counties. It is excellent for baking, a good shipper 

 and a long keeper. It, hov/ever, requires a strong soil, and not much 

 elevation. When planted on poor mountain land it is apt to twig 

 blight, and has a general unthrifty appearance. 



Red Cider resembles Smith's Cider, but is a better keeper and has 

 more color and is in all respects a better apple. 



PEARS. 



The market for pears is likely to be greatly enlarged during the 

 next few years. They are in good demand in European markets, 

 when they can be placed there in good condition. The U. S. Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture is making careful experiments in the matter of 

 packing and refrigeration, two very important points in ocean trans- 

 portation. It is hoped that as a result of these experiments, condi- 

 tions will be BO changed that pears will become a common export. 

 Bartlett and Anjou pears have already been shijiped to Edinburgh 

 with such cold storage as we have, and sold at a profit, while Duchess 

 have arrived in good condition without cold storage. We need not 

 be afraid of planting too many pears at this time; before the treei 



