IDEAL WINTER APPLE FOR THE NORTH. 329 



So much has been accomplished, but the full season of this noble 

 fruit has been only half bridged, and today we are face to face with 

 the latter part of our problem: a northern apple in the cellar and on 

 the market from December to June, or "The Ideal Winter Apple for 

 the North." 



As in all problems, much maj'^ be gained by a careful statement of 

 their nature and conditions, so in this we shall do well to have a 

 clear understanding of the points involved and of their relative im- 

 portance; and we will, therefore, attempt to consider separately the 

 qualities that must enter into and in varying degrees make up the 

 sum total of this valuable new fruit. 



First. Health and hardiness of tree. In this matter the Duchess 

 is a high and satisfactory standard, and it is with real reluctance 

 that we should accept anything that appears to fall below this mark. 

 Still it has been well related by our friend, C. L. Watrous, of Des 

 Moines, "It may prove far more difficult to secure late keeping 

 hardy sorts than those of earlier season," as the early maturity of 

 woody growth so necessary to the hardiness of a tree seems almost 

 incompatible with the late maturity of fruit so necessary to a long 

 keeping apple. We may, therefore, in the practical working out of 

 this problem find it necessary to lower somewhat this high standard, 

 and endeavor by the use of improved orchard methods, such as 

 shade of stem and forks and, perhaps, by top- working, to make use 

 of a variety that shall approach the hardiness of the Duchess, es- 

 pecially if it be one that fills very fully our requirements in other 

 respects. 



Second. Productiveness. Oh, for a keeper that would bear like 

 the Longfield! If in the matter of hardiness we are willing to relax 

 a little, here we must insist firmly for the highest possible standard, 

 for it lies at the very foundation of the business end of the matter. 

 Even a short lived tree may be tolerated if it is of that generous na- 

 ture that begins to fill a barrel when six years planted, but we are 

 not to be cajoled into accepting any shy or indifferent bearer under 

 any circumstances whatever, and will only look with a degree of 

 favor upon a tardy bearer if it ranks with those of the first degree of 

 hardiness. 



Third. The fruit inust keep. It is only with the license born of 

 necessity that we have been permitted to call such varieties as 

 Wealthy, Hibernal, Longfield, Okabena, Patten's Greening and Peer- 

 less winter apples. True, with careful, special treatment, such as 

 may be given in the home cellar for home use, any of them may be 

 kept well into the winter, and we have seen some of them in passa- 

 ble condition in February, but in ordinary seasons, treated in the 

 ordinary way, their usefulness as a commercial fruit ends some 

 time in November and frequently earlier. We must not forget that 

 we are after something that will have to compete with the Baldwin, 

 Spy and Russet, something that merchants can handle without the 

 fear of its going down on their hands, and that will endure the ordi- 

 nary abuse to which apples with ordinary packing and in ordinary 

 packages are subjected. The Malinda represents a high standard to 

 set for this quality, and would be perfectly satisfactory to all con- 



