ORIGINATING NEW VARIETIES OF FRUIT. 1 79 



weak or weakened parentage. For hardy and vigorous as eidier 

 parent may be, they must not be debilitated by excessive bloom, 

 because the ripening of the flower is the supremest effort of the 

 tree to perpetrate itself, and the strongest tree will be weakened by an 

 abnormal or excessive bloom. Two-thirds- or three-fourths of the 

 bloom should be removed from the tree before the blossoms open, 

 so that the generative forces will be concentrated in the flowers that 

 you wish to pollenize. And for a like reason a large part of the 

 bloom should be taken from the male or pollen-bearing tree, so that 

 there could be no doubt as to the strength of its pollen in producing 

 the highest type of its kind. Every observing fruit grower knows 

 that when his trees are overloaded, that the fruit is small, insipid, 

 lacking its natural flavor and dropping from the tree before its 

 juices are perfected. 



Hence the necessity of thorough cultivation, spraying and doing 

 everything known to horticultural art to^ give potency, or life-giving 

 power, to the germs, or seeds, that are to produce the hardy tree, 

 and the beautiful and delicious fruit, for which Ave are earnestly and 

 anxiouslv searchins-. 



APPLES AT THE WORLDS FAIR, AT ST. LOUIS, 1904. 



This show was the grandest the world ere saw! 

 Apple Day! — on this rare feast you might gnaw. 

 Minnesota had the best show from seed, 

 In rich "Object Lessons" she took the lead. 



Sir Elliot gave us their pedigree. 

 In such clear style, that none could fail to see. 

 Then with his native Wealthy held them level 

 And "on the top shelf" did joyfully revel. 



Wiscons' held a big hand with Wolf River! 

 He who lived on that was a good liver. 

 Another state — with more artistic worth! 

 Showed Wolf River, twenty-one inches girth! 



Thirty-three ounces was marked as its weight! 

 We scoured a twenty-acre lot for mate. 

 Do you think this fair fraud the most unique? 

 "Apples of Sodom!" "Wooden Nutmegs!" peak! 



Perkins has eliminated the seed. 

 Now, Sir Elliot, what more do we need? 

 Solid pulp adds cash to the king of fruits, 

 Just how many millions no one computes. 



— Sam Bucus. 



