62 MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



WHAT VARIETY OF APPLE TREES SHALL I PLANT THAT 

 WILL BRING J HE BEST RETURNS. 



BY A. AMBROSE, NEVADA. 



This question has been asked so often that it may seem out of place 

 at this time and at this meeting, where we find so many veterans in 

 horticulture, and I imagine I can hear every extensive fruit grower 

 within the sound of my voice answer this question even while I am 

 asking it, and more especially if perchance he be from Vernon connty. 

 True, this question has been asked hundreds of times and answered as 

 often. But has it been answered correctly ? This, of course, we cannot 

 tell ; neither do I expect that any person will answer this very impor- 

 tant question correctly. 



The great trouble and most perplexing part of it is, that we are un- 

 able to see far enough into the future, and the only safe guide left us 

 is past experience. 



Now, Mr. President, I haven't come here for or with the expecta- 

 tion of teaching anyone anything new on this, to my mind, very impor- 

 tant question, but rather to learn from others, that I may (as I am a 

 nurseryman) be the better enabled to understand what the planter 

 wants, as i must confess that at times I have been in grave doubt as to 

 what varieties I should graft extensively. Now, in asking the question 

 as to what varieties of apples pay best, I have had reference especially 

 to a commercial orchard, not even taking into consideration the apple 

 for the evaporator. Mr. President, at former meetings of this kind I 

 have noticed (and with some regret, too,) that there was, seemingly, a 

 strong inclination to jump the apple queslion, only giving it a passing 

 notice ; and why this is, 1 am unable to comprehend. I have very fre- 

 quently heard members spe^k of this as being the case, and expressing 

 surprise and disappoint^nent in nol having the apple more fully dis- 

 cussed. 



Now, while I am not vt-iy largely engaged in growing fruit for 

 market myself, yet I have iiici gnod opportunities to learn from others 

 in the business, and I hav^^ mei ihem from all parts of Missouri and 

 Kansas, and I have conversed veiy fully with them on this subject, and 

 I have visited large orchards and have been shown through them by 



