TOP-WORKING VS. SEEDLINGS. 157 



We need the Duchess and Hibernal, and perhaps others that 

 testing- may bring- out as desirable for stock trees, on which to 

 grow our choice varieties. Many long years of experience and 

 extensive observation have convinced me thoroughly that our beat 

 results will come from using a good vigorous standard tree for top- 

 working. For quick returns and uncertain results, I would top- 

 work on crabs and hybrids (if I had them), but should advise much 

 caution in purchasing either, especially the former, except for some 

 special purpose. For evidence to further demonstrate our success 

 in top-working, I will note a few facts and tests made by friend 

 Heiss and myself in our immediate vicinity; 6 Wealthy on Duchess. 

 26 years set; Fall Orange, three trees; Conn. Seek-no-Further, one; 

 Jonathan, one; Grimes Golden, one; Northwest Greening, one; 

 Willow Twig, two; Miukler, one; Walbridge, three; Rawlin's Jannet, 

 one; Ben Davis, three; Wolf River, one. The above were all top- 

 worked seventeen or twenty years ago, except the Northwest Green- 

 ing and Wolf River, which were set thirteen years ago, and two St. 

 Lawrence set seventeen years. The above are now all as sound as 

 any Duchess set out on their own stems at the same tiine, except 

 the r4inkler and Willow Twig. These were set on crab stock seven- 

 teen years ago, and have recently gone out, root and top, but these 

 bore before '81 well and since (over ten years). I think they died of 

 exhaustion. 



In conclusion let me add that had I only presented to you but one 

 single tree or but one variety, and this one having been grown in 

 some unusually favored location, Ihen I might have thought to 

 have been on equal grounds with my seedling friends. But I have 

 not only shown a larger variety, I have shown you what is of 

 more far reaching importance: viz: that these have been tested, not 

 only bearing before but since '85, not only by one or two single vari- 

 eties but on a large number of trees, and a good number of well 

 known tender varieties. And what is by far more significant in 

 point of real proof is the fact that most of these evidences referred 

 to are on trees grown miles apart and under different conditions, 

 soils and surroundings, and on third and fourth rate sites; none 

 reaching higher than grade number three, and the majority of all 

 mentioned here running as low or lower than number three. While 

 our noted seedlings, so far as I am able to ascertain, are on sites that 

 drop no lower than grade number two, not lower than two and one- 

 half, on a scale of one to seven. When we fully weigh the advant- 

 ages to be derived from these most favorable environments that now 

 surround our inost noted seedlings, we cannot but see a inarked 

 contrast that now places top-working so much in the lead. 



As we leave this subject, let me drop a thought or two for reflect- 

 ing minds to pick up and consider. The Duchess is, without doubt, 

 the mother of all or nearly all of our now most noted seedlings. 

 This lacks much in (juality and keeping and is not perfect in tree as 

 we hope to find. On the maternal side we have nothing above half- 

 hard}^ varieties. Now, what can we expect in mating or crossing 

 such, especially so when we consider the fact that all our apple 

 trees, except our natives, have been crossed and re-crossed and 

 crossed again for the last three thousand years, in every conceive- 



