314 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



common to tlie Michigan apple. Of all the other States and Territories,, they 

 are a failure in apple-growing, especially so far as quality is concerned. 



EXTENT OF THE APPLE MAPiKET. 



What is the extent of our markets, and ^Yill they continue as in the past? 

 Wo answer, most assuredly they will. The whole production of the West will 

 no more than keep pace with their increase of population. Should it develop 

 beyond calculation, the distance in transportation by rail would still give ns 

 Illinois, Wisconsin and the South, as heretofore. The facilities for manufact- 

 uring into dried and canned goods are other openings, the value of which we 

 can hardly compute. Three years in five we have found a good market in the 

 States east, owing to their failure to produce, and this has been demonstrated 

 for 20 years. Another interesting feature connected with the market for ap- 

 ples, is the fact that England is calling for some of our better varieties. Could 

 we have quick transit by water all the way from Michigan, a fine field would 

 be open to us. But our method of handling in barrels, witii the shaking by 

 rail to New York or Portland, would be a great drawback in their appearance 

 when they meet the foreign market. 



CONCLUSIONS. 



Our conclusion may be summed up in brief, as believing that apple growing- 

 is not overdone. That the methods of most farmers are so half way loose as 

 to give them very little, if any, profit in the business, and by this we mean : 



1. In propagating poor and wortliless varieties for market. 



3. In not properly caring for their orchards, in feeding, pruning, cultivating 

 and thinning when over-bearing. 



3. In not guarding sufficiently against insects, and 



4. In not handling fruit when matured with proper care. 



Could our practice on these four points be fully corrected, I am satisfied we 

 would not have more apples than we like. Neither would we liave any branch 

 of the farm more profitable than the orchard. 



If I am asked to name the varieties best adapted to our soil and location for 

 a market orchard. I should say Red Canada, Baldwin, Northern Spy, Jona- 

 than, Greening, Peck's Pleasant, Limber Twig, and Golden Russett. Here 

 are eight varieties, all possessing the finest attributes of quality, all hardy and 

 acclimated, and most of them annual bearers. Most of them have a world- 

 wide reputation, and are the first sought for. 



I would not add a greater number. If my soil was gravelly, the Red Can- 

 ada, Jonathan and Greening should predominate. If clayey, Baldwins and 

 Spys. For a family orciiard, or home use, I would have but one or two trees 

 of a kind, and I would study to get a succession. There is a great defect with 

 very many of the orchards of the country in this particular. From Septem- 

 ber to November you can find but very few choice eating apples in orchards or 

 market. Always plenty of windfalls, which are only fit for hogs. For the 

 comfort of self, family and friends, this deficiency should be supplied. It 

 could be done readily, and with little expense. 



WHAT IS A CRAB APPLE? 



Botanically, a crab apple is a wild apple. Of these there are several species^ 

 the best known of which are 



