356 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Twelve years ago a neighboring fruit-grower, Eli Wheaton, set out 

 50 apple trees— 40 Rome Beauty and 10 Ben Davis. They were set 

 out side by side and have received exactly the same treatment since. 

 The orchard is on high land, facing to the south. The soil is of a 

 sandy nature, with a little light clay mixed. 



In the fall of 1895 nine barrels of salable apples were picked from 

 the 10 Ben Davis. Last year they were also full of fruit. This sea- 

 son, when the winter visited the orchard, on September 22, they were 

 moderately full of nice, sound apples that were coloring up finely. The 

 40 Rome Beauty that stand by their side have not so far produced a 

 single crop. The trees look thrifty, and, although they were full of 

 bloom last spring, there is not a tree that has on it to exceed a peck 

 of small and inferior apples. 



The trees have been thoroughly and properly trimmed, and the 

 fruit on one should be the same as the other. It has been intimated 

 by some that the Ben Davis was a slow seller. Yes, they are, if yoa 

 grow an inferior type. So is any other inferior apple. 



The talk that the Ben Davis is looked down on by the buying pub- 

 lic is only the talk of those that have been unsuccessful in growing- 

 them. Show me a nice, smooth red apple and I will guarantee you it 

 will sell regardless of its name. The apples produced by the grower 

 in question, of the Ben Davis variety, have found sale side by. side 

 with Rome Beauty and others at the same figure. 



The day of the Ben Davis apple is no more past than is the day 

 of the Rome Beauty or other winter varieties that are grown for com- 

 mercial purposes throughout this section. Indeed, on more than one 

 fruit-grower's farm has the Ben Davis proven the bearer, while the 

 Rome Beauty and others failed to mature a crop. They have often of 

 late years olossomed profusely, set many apples, bat they have princi- 

 pally dropped off before picking time. It looks in some instances as 

 if the Rome Beauty, a native of the State, has had its day, instead of 

 the much abused Ben Davis, which is surely an apple that is holding 

 ita own in this section. 



That the Ben Davis is a good keeper is admitted by all. While at 

 picking time they may be inferior in taste to some other winter varie- 

 ties, how about the same apple in the late winter and early spring 

 months ? It is then the apple is at its best. Then, too, most other 

 apples are gone and the best prices prevail. The apple that at picking 

 time was not the best eating one is now at its proper season. If they 

 have been grown on upland they are not tasteless and will sell in any 

 market. 



The main drawback in setting out the Ben Divis, as well as any 



