364 STATE BOAKD OF AGRICULTURE. 



The tree is entirely hardy on any ground where an apple tree should be 

 planted in this State. It is a little slow, it is true, in coming into bearing, 

 but it amply repays all delay, when the bearing habit is once established. Ic 

 has also the advantage of the Baldwin in this, that it is not so likely to bear 

 only alternate years, giving often two or three crops in succession, before tak- 

 a rest. 



The tree has the virtue of holding on to the fruit, however heavy the crop, 

 until you are ready to pick it, which is no small merit. 



The faults of this variety are, unless the trees are properly pruned and cared 

 for, there is a liability that a large proportion of the crop will be unsalable. 



Buyers do not like it so well as some others, especially in the fall, as it does 

 not hold so well after shipping as those of tougher skin and less delicate 

 texture. 



It is thought by some not to be a good keeper, but when well grown and 

 submitted to the proper conditions it keeps well. It should not, however, be 

 barrelled if to be held for the spring market, but be put in crates holding two- 

 and-a-half bushels, and stored in a cold dry cellar devoted to fruit alone. 



When properly handled it Avill sell in the spring for more than the Baldwin. 

 I think it on the whole, one of the really valuable sorts, at least for the enter- 

 prising cultivator. 



Tlie Red Canada. 



This variety has a growing reputation in all parts of the State. Although 

 but recently introduced into western Michigan, it lias been grown in the eastern 

 counties for a long time, and is still counted second to none, as a valuable and 

 reliable sort. 



As a keeper, it is superior to the Northern Spy, Baldwin or Golden Russet, 

 and is eagerly sought after by buyers, where it is known. Wliile it will not 

 compare with the Spy or Baldwin, perhaps, in productiveness, its general fair- 

 ness and unsurpassed keeping qualities, together with the hardiness of the tree, 

 and the popularity of the fruit in market make it one of the really valuable 

 sorts. 



One reason why it has not been more generally planted is the fact that the 

 tree is a slow grower in the nursery, taking four years to attain the size of a 

 Baldwin at two ; consequently nurserymen dislike to grow it at the price of 

 other trees, and only those who know its value care to buy it. It makes a fair 

 sized, healthy tree in the orchard, not having been winter-killed by our sever- 

 est winters, so far as I know. 



On account of its rather weak habit, it is better top-grafted on some strong, 

 hardy variety, like the Northern Spy. Grown in this way it makes a tree of 

 more vigor than if grown as a root graft, has a more beautiful shajie, and gives 

 good crops of fair fruit. 



Tliis plan of grafting on uniform, hardy, and vigorous stocks, such of our 

 valuable varieties of apples as have a weak liabit, or that are a little tender, is 

 beginning to attract tiie attention of planters. 



In the last few years I have had quite a number of orders for Northern Spy, 

 one hundred, two hundred, and more, for this purpose, from men wlio both 

 study and observe, rather than accept the stereotyped ideas of the pomological 

 Avriters of fifty years ago. These are the exceptions, however, the majority of 

 men preferring to take the chances of a tree on its own roots, liowever weak, 

 rather than pay five cents extra for one reworked on a vigorous stock. 



