and by which the suitabilities of the district are judged, are much too intricate 

 to be dealt with here. The examples will serve, however, to show that the 

 investigation has gone into the question much more deeply than can commonly 

 be done. There can be no question as to the essential accuracy of the deductions, 

 but until the material collected on the subject can be published, only the conclusions 

 as embodied in the variety list herewith can be submitted at this time. 



FACTORS INFLUENCING CHOICE OF VARIETIES. 



(1.) THE GROWING SEASON. 



The character of the season of growth is undoubtedly the most important 

 factor of all those connected with the choice of a variety. The " growing season " 

 is really the summer climate of the district, and it is well known that the summer 

 climate of different districts may vary a great deal, not only in length, but in 

 temperature, amount of sunshine, amount of rain, wind, etc. 



In the choice of varieties the length of the growing season is important, because 

 many varieties otherwise entirely suitable cannot reach maturity in an insufficiently 

 long season, such as is often found in a high altitude, though even on the same 

 altitudes different districts show great variation. 



The Yellow Transparent, Duchess, and other early apples thrive in seasons, 

 so short that the Northern Spy, Jonathan, and other varieties cannot possibly reach 

 proper maturity. It is practically useless to plant the late winter varieties, except 

 a very few unusual kinds, in those sections where the growing season is under 180 

 days. On the other hand, in the sections of longer growing season, combined with 

 high summer temperatures, the early varieties become very early indeed, and 

 very perishable. In seasons shorter and cooler the fall varieties may become 

 winter keepers. 



The temperature of the growing season is of almost as much importance as 

 its duration, and the two naturally go together. Such varieties as the Winesap 

 will not mature properly in a season, no matter how long, unless the summer 

 temperature is sufficiently high ; while other varieties, such as the Blenheim 

 Orange, King, Ribston Pippin, require a reasonably long growing season, but it 

 must also be reasonably cool, high summer temperatures injuring their keeping 

 quality and also their flavour. 



The relation of sunshine to varieties is also of importance. On the Coast, 

 the months of September and October are usually hazy, and while the sun may 

 be visible, the sunshine is not strong. Under these conditions, many sun-loving 

 varieties, such as Jonathan and Spy, refuse to colour up well, while others, 

 especially those varieties of English origin, gain their usual colour. 



The humidity of the air, while a factor which is not readily susceptible to 

 observation, has a great deal of influence on the choice of varieties. Where the 

 air carries a high percentage of moisture many fungous diseases thrive, and in 

 consequence those varieties of apples which are susceptible to such diseases should 

 be avoided. It is on this account that the Snow apple, so subject to apple-scab, is 

 usually badly deformed in Coast regions, and the Flemish Beauty pear is practically 

 impossible to grow in these sections on that account. For such sections varieties 

 originally propagated and developed under similar conditions are most likely to 

 be resistant, and to bear clean fruit. 



In other districts, such as the humid sections of the Interior, the relative 

 humidity is not so great as on the Coast, and it is quite possible, by reasonable care 

 in pruning and spraying, to grow susceptible varieties with very satisfactory success. 

 In the Dry Belt, where the humidity is naturally low, and evaporation therefore 

 greater, the skin of the apple becomes thicker and stronger, making it more adapt- 

 able for shipping. In this climate fungous diseases are almost unknown, and this 

 factor need not be considered in the choice of varieties. On the other hand, some 

 physiological troubles seem to thrive most readily in the non-humid sections, and 

 varieties susceptible to them should be avoided. In this section, too, those varieties 



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