168 STATE HOKTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



are beginning to consume more apples ; if we can furnish them at cheap rates 

 this consumption will increase. 



The orchards of New York State and the New England States are not in a 

 condition to produce apples sufficient to affect the market seriously. Most of 

 the apple orchards there are quite old, having passed their prime, and are be- 

 ginning to fail from age. To say the least they never will be any better or 

 more productive than at present. The chances are that not more than enough 

 young trees will be set to replace those that fail. The same is partially true of 

 Pennsylvania and Ohio. 



Now, one of the most important points in the solution of the apple problem 

 is, will the great West in the future ae able to grow its own apples? Past expe- 

 rience and the present condition of the orchards already there, would not indi- 

 cate much success with apples, but it may be fairly presumed that almost 

 ceaseless efforts will be made to grow at least part of their apples in some, if 

 not all of the western States. Already the crab apple and some of the Kussians 

 with a few of the iron-clads of western origin, are producing some fruit, and 

 are able to withstand the rigors of their cold winters ; but the fruit is not of 

 good quality, and they are by no means sure of a crop except under 

 favorable circumstances. How many of these difficulties the enter- 

 prising people of the West will yet overcome remains to be seen. 

 That they will be partially successful in growing some varieties of apples in 

 some parts of the West is almost certain, but that they will ever be able to 

 grow apples to any considerable extent upon the prairies of the West I very 

 much doubt. We must expect that the wide-awake people of the West will 

 make every effort to grow at least some part of the apples they consume. Our 

 future market is somewhat depending upon their success. Having examined 

 somewhat in detail the outward surroundings likely to affect the price and sale 

 of apples, it may not be amiss to give a few thoughts upon the growing of 

 apples. 



To enable any one to grow apples successfully, and at a profit, it should be 

 under favorable circumstances and in a proper manner. So mucli has already 

 been said and written upon that part of the subject that I pass it by without 

 comment, and will only offer one more suggestion. In selecting varieties for a 

 commercial orchard, I should not go outside of eight or ten varieties, and in 

 an orchard of one thousand trees I should select the larger part from three or 

 four sorts. I do not think it good policy to sell the bulk of the fruit in the 

 fall; by so doing we tlirow too many upon the market at one time, which has 

 a tendency to break it down. The varieties intended for early to midwinter 

 use should be disposed of in the fall ; the balance, which should be two-thirds 

 of the entire crop, should consist of good keeping sorts and be packed for spring 

 market. Of course this requires a cool cellar or room provided expressly for 

 that purpose. The subject of fruit cellars ought to be thoroughly discussed. 

 The experience of those who have sucli collars, and have kept their apples over 

 winter and sold them in early spring, will be more practicable and to the point 

 than anything that I could say. We can overcome most of the difficulties in 

 the way of producing apples, but we cannot so successfully control or provide 

 the market for them. But one thing is certain, the American people will have 

 good apples to eat, and Michigan will furnish her share of them : she will rank 

 in this as she did at the Centennial, at the American Pomological Meeting, 

 and at the Chicago Exposition, taking the highest honors, and adding laurels 

 to the pomologists of our grand old Peninsular State. 



J. N. Stearns : I want to call attention to the sub-topic, *' How much 



