62 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



We must all remember, furthermore, that the question as to 

 whether it is best to grow a certain variety or not is always 

 influenced very much by the soil, climate and other circumstances 

 in which it is to be grown. And also equally as much by the 

 character of the man who is to grow it. In fact these three 

 things which I have named are of greater importance — any one 

 of them is of greater importance — than the merits of the variety 

 itself. The market, the general circumstances, and the apple 

 grower are three factors all of which are to be considered before 

 we come at all to the question of what varieties are best to plant. 

 It is no doubt a serious matter for a man to make up his mind 

 when he is setting out a new orchard whether he shall plant 

 Baldwin, Spy, vSpitzenburg, Greening or Ben Davis, but that 

 question cannot be taken up until these others have been settled. 

 It is all very well to treat this variety question thoughtfully, but 

 it is all wrong to emphasize it over these other matters all of 

 which are of greater importance and all of which must precede 

 it in order of consideration. 



In conclusion I wish to say most emphatically that I hope none 

 of you will go away from here and say that I recommended Ben 

 Davis. On the other hand I should not want you to say that 

 I have spoken against Ben Davis. I have tried not to do either 

 one. They say it is a very difficult thing to straddle a question 

 gracefully, and perhaps I have not done it in this case, yet I own 

 that that is precisely what I tried to do. My real and original 

 intention was to take both sides of the question. It has two 

 sides, and both sides are right. It is all right to plant Ben Davis 

 if that variety suits the planter and if he has the sort of con- 

 ditions for it and if he sells in the general market ; and it is all 

 wrong to plant Ben Davis if the apple grower does not like that 

 variety and has a market for Baldwin, Spy and Spitzenburg. 



Secretary Knowlton said Prof. Waugh had treated the subject 

 very fairly and he was pleased to have the matter considered. 

 There is one objection to the Ben Davis ; it blossoms late and the 

 season is frequently so short that the fruit does not mature well. 

 Whatever conclusions might be reached in this discussion he 

 wished it understood that the Pomological Society has always 

 stood for quality in fruit and he was not yet ready to have the 

 standard lowered. This year more than ever before Maine Bald- 

 wins and Greenings have come in competition with the Ben 



