SUMMER MEETING AT BROOKFIELD. 73 



VARIETIES OF APPLES. 



At the time my orchard was planted, a failure of the peach crop in 

 St. Louis county was the exception and not the rule. Under such con- 

 ditions early apples would be and were a drug, therefore I sought to 

 plant only late varieties and long keepers ; later I did plant a tree or 

 two of the Yellow and also the Carolina Red June for old acquaintance 

 sake. I tried still later to obtain an Early Harvest, but failed. The 

 June varieties do not ripen their fruit all at once, but furnish a few ripe 

 apples every day for a month or longer, and therefore are desirable. I 

 I am sorry to note the fact that with me they scab badly. I well know 

 that they require a rich soil and fertilizing, and perhaps regular culti- 

 vation also. I intend to give them extra attention, and may report any 

 improvement noted. 



The only real fall apple I have is the Eambo, though all the other 

 varieties, to wit: Dominie, Wagoner, Spitzenberg, Michael Henry Pip- 

 pin (scabs badly), Ben Davis, Smith's Cider, are now all over ripe, and 

 we shall be fortunate if we have any green apples by January 1 next. 

 The Winesaps, of which I have a few trees, also have scant and small 

 foliage, and consequently the apples are small. This variety can be 

 seen in almost every orchard in our county in the same deplorable con- 

 dition. I must notice here that the sorts named are all of character- 

 istic good flavor and fair size, also that my Dominie trees were so 

 loaded with fruit that every beholder uttered great exclamations of 

 admiration. I think that the quality of Ben Davis is much affected by 

 soil, situation and treatment, and that for culinary purposes, except pie, 

 it is a very fair and desirable fruit. Let me, if you please, take a step 

 back. I wish to bring to your notice that the wood of the Dominie is 

 very tough, so that when the branches were gleaned of fruit there was 

 such a rebound that they almost recovered their position. Next, their 

 superabundant crop was no doubt due to their position in the orchard, 

 being in the eastermost row, thus having more light and space and the 

 shelter of all the orchard on the west. 



But, alas, alas, all these so-called winter varieties and long keepers 

 do not keep in our climate and section of the State under ordinary 

 treatment. There will be few green apples in our cellar after New 

 Year's day, as already mentioned. 



THE REMEDY. 



If local dealers in ice would fit up rooms by way of cold storage, 

 one could afford to pay a good rental and then luxuriate in green apples 

 for dessert at any time between New Year's day and April 1 or later. Of 



