SECKETAKY'S PORTFOLIO. 313 



now IT IS OVEKDOXE. 



The porfccfc adaptability of onr soil for the growing of the apple, and the 

 altitude of onr country, has insured us a reasonable crop almost every year in 

 succession. This result, in connection with the demand for apples in the 

 past, has thrown many of the apple growers of the country and State off their 

 guard, — and to-day linds them in the back-ground, halting between two 

 opinions, inclining to the belief that apple-growing is overdone, and it will be 

 wise for them to cut their orchards down, except for family supply. With all 

 such we beg to differ in conclusion, and in so doing invite them to consider 

 present surroundings, compare them with the past, and see if the future is not 

 radiant with hope, even assurance, to him who will apply himself practically 

 and scientifically to the w'ork. The practical, scientific farmer who seeks to 

 have the best in all his surroundings will have no desire to cut down his orchard, 

 although the last few years have been years of depression in apple raising as in 

 all thingr else. When starting in culture he sought the best varieties. His 

 habit of doing all things well, did not permit him to overlook the feeding of it 

 liberally with manure as he would his cornfield. Science taught him that care 

 must be taken in trimming, in keeping free from injurious insects and prevent- 

 ing overbearing. The result is a fine crop of extra apples every year, fit for 

 any market. 



Few, in comparison to the whole, of our farmers come up to the standard. 

 Many are inclined to run largely to some specialty in cropping, to the neglect 

 of the orchard, the specialty always getting the manure. The result is a 

 scabby tree, overburdened with top, filled with vermin, and producing but few 

 apples fit for market. With such a spectacle before him he concludes that 

 apple growing is overdone, and it is best to cut his orchard down, and so say I. 

 With this resolve I would make one more, and that should be to start anew. 



THE REMEDY. 



I would not have over half a dozen varieties : these should be of the choicest, 

 adapted to the soil I had been making for years, to produce the specialty that 

 I had been following. I would use a little science in propagating. I would- 

 be painstaking as to worms, manure, cultivation and overbearing, when that 

 time arrived. With these particulars carried out and followed, there would be 

 no occasion to say that apple growing is overdone, for to such there would 

 always be a market at paying figures. I have assumed that apple growing is 

 not overdone. That the low prices and glut of market is owing to lack of 

 properly growing and handling our apples so as to place them before the con- 

 sumer with all their high qualities as when plucked from the tree. In proof 

 of this we have only to refer to the limited territory in the United States 

 adapted to the growing of the apple in full perfection. 



MICHIGAN' S ADVANTAGES. 



Wo name the Lower Peninsula of our State preeminently first in quality, 

 quantity and sureness for crop. Then follow New York, Northern Ohio, and 

 some of the New England States, with fair quality, but much uncertainty as 

 to crop. Pennsylvania, Southern Ohio, Indiana and Illinois are very uncer- 

 tain as to crop, and when obtained, is but medium at best. Kansas and Ne- 

 braska, behind their belts of timber and in screened positions, are developing 

 beautiful specimens to the eye, but destitute of the vinous flavor and aroma so 



