56 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



NATURE'S AID IN PRODUCING APPLES ADAPTED TO 



CLIMATE. 



O. M. LORD, MINNESOTA CITY. 



The apple is a product of the temperate zone, which in width 

 extends from the tropic zone to the frigid zone, giving a very wide 

 area to apple production ; but the region near the center of this belt, 

 or zone, appears to be better adapted to their natural growth than 

 the extremes, either north or south. As we live north of the center, 

 we are more particularly interested in the adaptation to our climate 

 and further north. 



The acclimating of different fruits and plants to higher and lower 

 temperatures has received a good deal of attention and discussion ; 

 and the conclusion is, in nature's work it is at the best a very slow 

 process and governed largely by environment and conditions of ex- 

 posure, altitude, moisture, etc. For instance, the seeds of the apple 

 when planted in a soil naturally adapted to timber are much more 

 likely to result in the production of fruit than when the seed is sown 

 upon the wind swept prairie. Nature comes to our aid in the pro- 

 duction of apples by being wonderfully lavish in producing seed. 

 Not as much so as with many other plants to perpetuate the species, 

 but even with the apple thousands are produced where one results 

 in producing fruit. But when one seed produces a tree with abund- 

 ant fruit, the seeds are multiplied immensely. Take Lyman's Pro- 

 lific, which bore last year 40 bushels, probably 300 apples to the 

 bushel, and as each normal apple contains 10 seeds, we have 120,000 

 seeds produced in one year. 



Again, nature makes a wonderful provision for the protection 

 of the life of these seeds, being enclosed in such a manner as to- 

 withstand intense cold, and only starting into life when implanted 

 in a congenial soil and exposed to the proper amount of heat and 

 moisture. And again, nature has provided in the cotyledons foods 

 for the germ sufficient to sustain life till the plant can gather it from 

 the elements adapted to its growth. 



It is claimed that the seed growing naturally in the woods or 

 by the roadside, without artificial help or provision, will adapt itself 

 to climatic changes more readily than if the plant was stimulated 

 by cultivation. There is little or no scientific data from which to 

 form a just conclusion in this respect, but it is well known that the 

 ability to stand climatic changes depends upon the character of the 

 plant in its natural habits. If the foliage matures early the wood 

 becomes hard and firm, it withstands the cold, but if the last growth 

 remains immature or succulent it is effectually ruined by freezing. 



