Florticulture. 333 



permitted to add a word of explanation. Through my acquaintance with th^ 

 Commissioners of the other apple growing States, formed at prior expositions, I 

 was enabled to test the very best of the various apples grown in the famous 

 districts of the Ozark regions of Missouri and Arkansas, the Blue Ridge section 

 of Virginia, the home of the now famous Yellow Newtown Pippin, the Osage 

 and Orange counties of New York ; the Illinois and Iowa apples, and last but not 

 least, Michigan and Wisconsin, and emphatically concur in the verdict of the 

 jury, awarding the grand prize to Oregon. 



It is not an easy matter to individualize, but I feel confident that when I 

 say that the Esopus Spitzenburgh stands at the head of the list, I will have 

 the endorsement of all apple lovers, and nowhere on earth doth this now cele- 

 brated apple grow more perfect than in our own Willamette Valley. Proof, if 

 proof were needed, was given at the Pan-American Exposition, when Count 

 von Arnim, the caterer for the Waldorf-Astoria, came in quest of apples for his 

 renowned hostelery, and after searching through the Horticultural Palace, came 

 to our section with some friends and pointed out the high color of some of our 

 Spitzenburghs ; overhearing his remarks I said : "They taste as fine as they 

 look," and the proof of the pudding is the eating of it. I took up a handsome 

 specimen and against his protestations, cut it open to divide. It was amusing 

 to see their expressions and hear their praises. He then made himself known 

 to me, and we exchanged cards, and he asked, "Where can I buy such apples ? 

 Can't I buy these?" I said, "Not very well, and besides these apples came by 

 express and cost us seven dollars and sixty-five cents per box," when he quickly 

 answered, "I'll take twenty boxes right now, the cost cuts no figure, as I want 

 such apples for our guests." I gave him several addresses to wire for some, 

 which he did. and secured a supply. 



In this connection it may be stated that all transplanted apples into Oregon 

 improve to such an extent that whenever they come into competition, invariably 

 defeat the parent district in which they originated ; not only the Spitzenburgh. 

 but the Newtown Pippin, and even that fine English apple, the Kuxbury Russet ; 

 and again all these famous apples show peculiar characteristics, even in Oregon, 

 which is due to the various soil and climatic conditions. If grown in the 

 Hood River, Grande Ronde or Eagle Valleys or higher plateau regions of Eastern 

 Oregon, or the apple regions of Southern Oregon, they have a very high color, 

 susceptible to a fine polish, so much desired by retailers, and superior long keep- 

 ing qualities, especially adapted for ocean transportation, while those apples 

 grown in the moister regions of the Willamette and tributary valleys excel in 

 fragrance, and have a very fine aromatic, winey palatableness, which makes them 

 the favorite with connoisseurs, who delight in a specially toothsome apple, but 

 do not possess the long keeping qualities attributed to the apples grown in 

 dryer and higher altitudes. It is these healthful and superior characteristics 

 which not only placed this famous apple on the fruit stands throughout America, 

 but also into the markets of all civilized nations, and makes the Oregon apple 

 the "King of Kings." 



FLORTICULTURE. 



By Miss Juanita Rosendokp, Pupil Oregon Agricultural College, Corvallis. Read 

 before Northwest Fruit Growers' Meeting, Portland, .Tanuary, 1004. 



The practice of florticulture has been regarded as the most healthy employ- 

 ment and most delightful recreation in which human beings can be engaged. 

 This holds true of all its branches unless it be the forcing of flowers under 

 glass, which is adverse to physical well-being. 



