54 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



have been ever since, and they are not on wet land at all, but on rolling 

 land, and they have done remarkably well every year. 



President Cook: There has not been anything said about the varieties 

 that this j^oung man, or this old man, or this middle-aged man shall set out 

 in this Michigan orchard. If it is a proper time and place, I would like to 

 have that discussed. Question No. 2 on the program is called for. 



Q. Name four of the best varieties of winter apples for commercial 

 orchards in southern Michigan, including two early bearing sorts. Four 

 for northern Michigan? 



Mr. Scudder: I do not know just exactly what I would suggest, but my 

 opinion would be that I would stick to the old standard varieties, although 

 for early bearing apple I think the Wealthy is an apple that comes very 

 early; and the Wagner is another. I would plant Northern Spies for southern 

 Michigan. 



Mr. Halsted: A great many people are planting Jonathan, Spies, and 

 Rhode Island Greenings, which are the three principal varieties at the present 

 time. 



Mr. Hutchins: There are a number of best varieties, and I do not know 

 as there is any one best variety. There are advantages and disadvantages. 

 The Spy is one of the best varieties, but it is a shy bearer. The Greening 

 with me is one of the best varieties, but a good many people do not like it; 

 it is a regular bearer, does not over-bear; the fruit is good size; and it has a 

 reputation in the market, and it sells. The King is a good variety, but there 

 are objections to that. The Wagner is a splendid variety, but there are 

 objections to that. They all have their advantages and their disadvantages. 

 While there are a number of them that appeal to me, if I should advise you 

 to plant them, you would probably be disappointed and curse me for recom- 

 mending them so highly. 



Q. I would like to ask about the Grimes Golden. Is that a success? 



Chas. Wilde: In Kent county I think Grimes Golden is one of the best 

 bearers we have. It stands ahead, I think, of most anything we have as 

 a nice winter fruit, unless it is the Jonathan ; but the color is a little against 

 it, on account of it being a yellow apple. It is certainly ver}'' hardy and a 

 wonderful bearer. The Northern Spy is probably the best market apple 

 in this market of an}^ I know. I have trees that are over 50 years old, and 

 bearing as well as they ever did. The Shiawassee Beauty is a fine apple; 

 bright red, a fine eating apple, and a very nice looking apple. 



It is a late fall apple. Norton's Melon is one of the finest flavored apples 

 we have; nice color, and good size; hardy tree. Probably the Jonathan 

 and Northern Spy are the two best market apples that are well known at 

 the present time. The Grimes Golden is better known, and if better color 

 would be one of the best. 



A Member : Some speak of the Steele Red, but I suppose the Red Canada 

 is the proper name. The}'' crack so it makes it almost impossible to get 

 perfect apples of the Red Canada; and they are very shy bearers in Calhoun 

 county. 



Mr. Bassett: Give them the same care as Mr. Halstead and Mr. Simmons, 

 and they will be all right. If you do not spray, you cannot raise any kind 

 of an apple. 



Mr. Simmons: If you come down with us and let us show you how to 

 take care of those Steele Red apples, we will show you how. We can sell 

 those Steele Red apples in the fall when the Greenings and your Baldwins 

 have no market at all. You can sell them for a good round sum. 



