406 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



that the past crop has been altogetlier beyond tlie needs of the market, — of 

 any market that can be reached with so transient a fruit as the strawberry. 



One grower on the line of tlie Michigan Central railroad told me that a 

 large portion of his crop, several acres, did not net more than about two cents 

 a quart after paying freights and commissions. Fortunately for myself, I had 

 only a small plantation — a half-acre or so — and being off the lines of railroad 

 I was enabled to realize a fair price for what I had to sell, getting from five to 

 six cents a quart, or about four cents on the vines. 



These prices would make the strawberry a paying crop if there were any 

 certainty of their being maintained. 



We have a number of varieties that can be depended upon, with good cult- 

 ure, for IGO busliels to the acre, or a bushel to every square rod of ground; 

 this, at three cents a quart on the vines, would amply pay, if the market were 

 only certain. 



That we have varieties that will wholly displace the Wilson, as yet seems 

 doubtful. That we have those that can successfully compete with it, espec- 

 ially in prolonging the season, is evident. 



Whicli are the successful competitors among the newer sorts it will take sev- 

 eral years yet to determine, even if in the meantime others more valuable than 

 any we have do not come to tiie front, Avhich to me seems highly probable. 



Apples have heretofore been the best paying fruit that is grown to any extent 

 here, and must, I think, continue to pay where any fruit crop pays. *' Why?" 

 This crop approaches more nearly to the cereals in its marketable character 

 than the other fruits. The winter sorts, at least, can be held for months and 

 shipped to distant parts of the country, while the more tender fruits must be 

 sold at once and in a near market. 



The Baldwin is manifestly the most popular sort among growers, and just 

 at this time is probably the most popular in the market and the choice of 

 dealers. 



The tree of this variety is a little tender here ; otherwise it could be planted 

 with a greater certainty of profit than any other sort that has been as well 

 tested. 



Tlie Rhode Island Greening, while still popular in the market, is not pro- 

 ductive, in this part of the state at least, and must be discarded. 



The Northern Spy has been for me the most profitable kind grown. It has 

 borne more fruit over a series of years than the Baldwin, and holding my crop 

 until spring as I usually have done, it has paid me well. 



*'Tlie Ked Canada" is the apple of the future in the minds of some fruit- 

 growers. "Wliile not as productive as the Baldwin or Spy, its keeping quali- 

 ties make it more desirable to handle than those sorts; and though the tree is 

 rather slender when grown in the usual way, when worked on a more vigor- 

 ous variety, as the Spy, it has given the best of satisfaction. 



The Baldwin, the Northern Spy and the Ived Canada are three of the six 

 most profitable winter apples for us, no doubt. The other three it is more 

 difficult to name. It is probable that a vote of the leading growers of the 

 State would name the Wagener as the fourth on the list. 



From my own experience I do not hesitate to name the Ilubbardston None- 

 such as the fourth, if, indeed, it should not be placed more nearly the first. 

 It is more reliable here than any other sort, and has a larger proportion of 

 marketable fruit than the Baldwin even. While of the best quaity for a mid- 

 winter apple, it does not hold, grown here, until spring, as well as is desirable. 



