186 Report of State Board of Horticulture. 



Famuse, Mother, Porter, Stayman Winesap, Yellow Belleflower, Grav- 

 ensteln. 



Varieties of highest quality rating nine to ten are few in number. They 

 are: Primate, nine; Dyer, nine to ten; Esopus, ten; Grimes Golden, nine 

 to ten; Summer Pearmain, nine to ten; Yellow Newton, ten. 



If I were to select for my own locality three of the above varieties, I 

 should not hesitate to name Yellow Newton, Esopus, and Jonathan, but 

 these kinds are not the best for the cool, moist climate of other portions 

 of our state, and I again emphasize the point that in selecting your trees 

 you must take into consideration their adaptation to your climatic and 

 local conditions of soil, temperature, and moisture. 



Having selected your trees, planted and cultivated them to maturity, 

 there may be disappointment yet in store for you on account of their 

 variableness. Trees of the same variety and grown under similar condi- 

 tions vary greatly as to vigor and fruitfulness, and as like begets like in 

 both animal and vegetable kingdom, is it not reasonable that these varia- 

 tions are transmitted from generation to generation? 



We have been far too careless in the breeding of our trees. The stock, 

 poultry and even Belgian hare man lays great stress in "pedigree," but 

 we horticulturists have been indifferent to the ancestry of our trees. 



I am of the decided opinion that if we cut our scions and buds only 

 from vigorous, fruitful trees and these worked on thrifty, healthy stocks 

 only, beneficial results would follow and the physical conditions of our 

 orchards vastly improved. 



Our orchards also vary in a yet more marked degree and from quite 

 a different cause, namely, the variableness of the owners. 



Adaption of soil is scarcelj^ of more importance than adaptation of the 

 fruitgrower to his chosen pursuit. Fruitgrowing in Oregon, unlike that 

 of twenty years ago, has become a scientific profession, and the novice 

 who engages in it without qualification seldom overtakes the rainbow of 

 his expectations. There is another element at times sadly lacking in this 

 noble industry — that of conscience. We need more conscience in the nur- 

 sery in order that the fruit of trees labeled late winter may not decline 

 to remain with us later than August or September. We need more con- 

 science in the packing liouses, where we should cease to cover over lower 

 grades with a veneering of No. 1. And we need somehow to overcome that 

 fatality of the salesroom which so frequently reports consignments in 

 bad order and tke markets glutted. 



I hasten to conclude this brief paper, trusting that we may glean much 

 truth from the storm of criticism that I am confident it will arouse. 



The apple has been well called the king fruit of the temperate zone. 

 Evolved from the humble crab it may not yet have attained its greatest 

 excellence; and though beset with numberless enemies the intelligence of 

 man shall overcome them. The apple consumers of the world are rapidly 

 increasing through improved facilities, transportation and markets hith- 

 erto unknown opening up to us on every hand. Fellow horticulturists, let 

 us go in and occupy the land. 



