THE APPLE 225 



lings, and also introduce and experiment with 

 new varieties produced elsewhere, aiming always 

 to select those best adapted to the requirements 

 of the particular locality. In this way many 

 localities where the apple cannot be grown to- 

 day might produce thriving orchards. 



MAKING HARDY APPLES 



The apple is relatively hardy, but improve- 

 ment is still possible in the way of producing 

 varieties that will stand the excessive cold of our 

 northern winters. The work of crossing hardy 

 Russian apples and also the hardy American 

 crab with the better varieties of apples is now 

 being carried on quite extensively, especially in 

 Iowa and South Dakota. By this means some 

 good varieties have been produced that are espe- 

 cially adapted to withstand the extremes of tem- 

 perature of the northern Mississippi Valley, and 

 others are in prospect. 



Especial efforts are being made, also, to de- 

 velop varieties that will be immune to the attacks 

 of the insect pest known as the woolly aphis, 

 which does great damage in apple orchards, espe- 

 cially on heavy soils and in moist climates. This 

 pest is relatively harmless to the tree tops, but 

 does great damage when it infests the roots of 

 a tree. 



Vol. 3 Bur. H 



