HORTICULTURE AND LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 155 



lEerent places. The first difficulty is easily evaded, as out of some thousand 

 varieties in cultivation not more than twenty-five usually prove to be profit- 

 able in any locality, and even of this number there are seldom more than five 

 or six which can be confidently recommended. The second difficulty must 

 be overcome by a close attention to the apples which succeed best in the 

 vicinity. The three most important points in a market apple are these : A 

 hardy, vigorous tree ; a good bearer ; a large, red fruit. Unfortunately, 

 there are very few apples which combine these features in Michigan. In 

 general, we are fortunate if we secure two of them in one variety. 



Agents have been canvassing the State for the last two months, and many 

 sales of worthless varieties have been made. The blame is not always, if, 

 indeed, it is usually, the agent's. Too many buyers are in condition to be 

 imposed upon. Very often the agent sells in good faith trees which are 

 valueless for the locality in which they are sold. It is to check such sales 

 or to enable purchasers to make intelligent substitutions in their purchases 

 that this bulletin is issued. 



Until the last few years the Baldwin has held the first place among mar- 

 ket apples. The increased severity of the winters, resulting from the 

 destruction of timber, has caused the Baldwin to suffer above most other 

 popular varieties. During the winter of 1884-5 fifty old trees were killed in 

 the College orchard, of which over forty were Baldwins, the remainder being 

 mostly Rhode Island Greenings. In fact, there is not a vigorous tree of 

 these varieties left in the orchard. All others among the market sorts were 

 not injured. It is more and more ev^ident that the Golden Russet is one of 

 the best market apples for this region. The tree is remarkably hardy and 

 vigorous and a good bearer. The apples are uniform in size and color, very 

 firm, fair, and good keepers. In market they bring twenty per cent, less 

 than Baldwins, but this difference is overbalanced by their productiveness 

 and hardiness. Russets should be barreled in the fall to prevent withering. 

 The Spy is a tardy and unreliable bearer ; the apples are often very imper- 

 fect, and they are too tender for distant markets. I should not recommend 

 it here for the flatter lands. Fameuse is one of the best when the fruit is 

 fair, but it is unreliable. Canada Red, top-grafted, is one of the very best, 

 and in this vicinity undoubtedly ranks next to the Russet, or perhaps 

 superior to it. The St. Lawrence, Oldenburgh and Twenty Ounce appear 

 to be among the best fall apples for this vicinity. The Oldenburgh demands 

 a close market, however, as it decays soon. The Russian apples of recent 

 introduction are not yet sufficiently known to be recommended for profit. 



The reports of our State Horticultural Society contain many lists of 

 apples, and they should be consulted before an orchard is planted. As fur- 

 ther aids I add recent communications from leading orchardists. It is high 

 time that everyone take aggressive action in regard to this matter of varieties 

 of apples. The success of our apple culture demands it. In general, pur- 

 chasers should beware of novelties and high prices. The standard kinds can 

 be had for from $10 to $18 by the hundred for two-year-old trees. It is prob- 

 able that the following choices contain all the sorts generally valuable in 

 Southern Michigan. These choices, of the best five varieties, are made in 

 reference to hardiness: 



From Hon. Henry Chamberlain, Three Oaks, Berrien County. — I should 

 select for our vicinity, Baldwin, Canada Red, Northern Spy, Maiden's Blush, 

 and Stark. The Golden Russet has never proved satisfactory with us. 



