214 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE 



MICHIGAN FRUIT LIST. 



BY Lr. R. TAFT. 



Bulletin 168— Horticultural Department. 



-Letters are frequently received asking for lists of fruits of various kinds that will 

 be of value for planting in different parts of tilie State. Although the State Horti- 

 cultural Society publishes such a list once in two years, it is not in tiie hands of all 

 fruit growers, and to supply the evident want this bulletin has been prepared. 

 The list contains such sorts ns have been found generally successful under the 

 conditions mentioned, but as the nature of the sodl has much to do with the success 

 that will be obtained with any variety, and as this often varies on the same farm, 

 it is not claimed that the varieties mentioned will succeed in every instance. While 

 it is hoped that the list given will prove of value, we Avould recommend all pro- 

 spective planters of trees to study, if possible, how the different kinds behave in 

 orchards where the soil and surroundings are similar to those which will be used 

 for the young trees. Several of the varieties included in the list are comparatively 

 recent introductions and, although they have been tested in the State and seem to 

 have much promise, we would not advise their extensive planting, but they seem 

 to have so many good qualities that we would suggest their trial on a small scale. 

 As new varieties are being each year brought out, some of which prove to have 

 merit superior to those of the older kinds, we would recommend that in order to take 

 advantage of their merits and profit by the experience of others, instead of plant- 

 ing them extensively, the number obtained be barely sufficient to give them a test 

 and to secure a stock of scions and that the required number of trees, of some 

 variety that will make a good stock, be planted in the orchard, upon T^•ilich to top- 

 work such of these new kinds as show themselves to be worthy of extensive plant- 

 ing. In this wny several years can be gained, and the danger of loss from the use 

 of untested kinds wiill be much lessened. Tliiis method is particularly recom- 

 mended for apples, pears and plums. Another advantage of this method of starting 

 an orchard is that the danger of planting trees that may prove untrue to name is 

 greatly lessened and. when strong grooving, hardy stocks are used, as should al- 

 ways be the case, it will not only sti-engthen the growth of weak growing, but 

 otherwise valuable varieties, but will render them more hardy. 



In purchasing trees, it is generally advisable, when there is a reliable nursery 

 in the vicinity, where first-class, home-grown trees can be obtained, to secure them 

 there rather than to purchase trees grown at a distance, but if this cannot be done, 

 or if the price is much higher than it will cost elsewhere for a similar grade of 

 stock, one need feel no hesitancy in sending to nurseries in other parts of the State, 

 or even in neighboring states, for trees. Aside from a half-dozen or so large 

 nurseries which grow nearly all of their stock, a greater part of the plum, pear 

 and cherry trees, and in many cases apples as well, are grown outside of Michi- 

 gan, and, even when buying from the local nursery, it will often be found that the 

 trees are not Michigan grown. 



Farmers are frequently advised not to buy their trees from ti-aveling agents or 

 dealers. While this advice can often be followed to advantage, there are many 

 agents who represent reliable nurseries and, where the honesty of the agent and 

 the standing of the nursery can be depended upon, it will often be found that trees 

 can be ordered through the agents that will be fully as reliable as those that would 

 be obtained directly from the nursery, and the extra price of the trees would be 



