WHERE CAN WE GllOW APPLES SUCCESSFULLY? 113 



diseases, some believe, may be secured by spraying, but perfect air drain- 

 age, or circulation of air, conduces to health and longevity of the trees. 

 Depressions in orchards often show effects of lack of air drainage, for 

 trees die in such places, while the trees otherwise situated survive and 

 thrive. 



Quality of Fruit. The quality of apples grown along the Missouri 

 river can not be surpassed anywhere, and the territory under considera- 

 tion is far enough north so that we secure keeping quality that can not 

 be had farther south. We have an established reputation for quality that 

 is unquestioned and as the buyers of the future may be more particular 

 as to quality than buyers are now, there is an important consideration 

 in the selection of a location for commercial orcharding. If high quality 

 is desired, in fact, the highest attainable quality is desired, then it would 

 be useless to look elsewiiere for a location for meeting that requirement. 



Varieties. It will pay to select varieties of high quality rather than 

 those of poor or lower quality. Where the Jonathan, Grimes Golden, 

 and others of the best can be successfully grown, as they can be here, 

 it is poor policy to select Ben Davis and other low-grade varieties. Varie- 

 ties should be selected that are known to do well in the locality of the 

 proposed planting, and, happily, experience of nearby planters is at hand, 

 and it is a safe guide, due attention being paid to size, productiveness, 

 and so forth, of the varieties that do well in the locality. For illustration, 

 F;upposing the Grimes Golden and Roman Stem both do well in a given 

 locality; then the Grimes Golden should be chosen for the apples run 

 evener in size; a much greater proportion of them will grade first class, 

 and the fruit can be more cheaply gathered, graded, packed, and so forth, 

 and the fruit presents a more attractive appearance and sells better than 

 the Roman Stem. The qualify of both varieties is good, and yet there is 

 such a difference in the items above given as to generally eliminate the 

 Roman Stem as a commercial variety, while the Grimes Golden, where it 

 succeeds, should have a place in every orchard alongside of the Jonathan, 

 where they both do well; and fortunately both do well in most places 

 along the Missouri river and for a considerable distance on either side. 



Accessibility to Markets. One of the very desirable conditions that 

 presents itself to the prospective planter in this locality is the nearness 

 to market and splendid shipping facilities. The growing cities with their 

 splendid transportation facilities are worthy of especial consideration. 

 Again, we are near the northern border of successful commercial apple 

 growing, and the vast regions of the northland are to be supplied, and 

 if you do not supply their wants and demands it is probable that they 

 will not be supplied. It is nearly sure that in the future means of dis- 

 tribution will be so increased and cheapened as to enable all who desire 

 to do so, to have fruits when fruits can be had. It is also apparent that 

 there is a growing inclination to eat fruit, with an increasing determina- 

 tion of the people to have what they want, that there will be an increase 

 in demand greater than the increase in population. Part of the present 

 high cost of living is due to high living, and it is to be hoped that this 

 inclination can be fostered and increased, especially in regard to eating 



