1910.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 31. 183 



And the following, once eaeli ; Aiken, Black Ben Davis, 

 Blenheim, Belleflower, Cox Orange, Fameuse, Gates, Ingram, 

 Janet, Kinnaird, Maiden Blnsh, Oliver, Red Russett, Salome, 

 Transparent and Winter Banana. 



It is evident that, on the whole, the sales of nnrsery trees of 

 this variety are decreasing, and with some nnrserymen with con- 

 siderable rapidity. One firm reports a falling off of one-half in 

 three years, another of 90 per cent, in five years and another of 

 50 per cent, decrease this year. One says, " We formerly grew 

 as many as of all others; now 5 per cent." A few say they 

 have ceased to propagate it. None report any marked increase 

 in sales. The firms reporting an increase are largely in New 

 York, and a few in Canada and some parts of the south. 

 Among the large nurserymen in the Ben Davis belt, the report 

 is almost unanimous that there is a falling off, and often a large 

 one. West of the great plains it is planted hardly at all. In 

 some parts of Maine and in southern Ontario and the Georgian 

 Bay district it seems to be slightly on the increase. In the 

 northwest prairie States it has not proved hardy and has been 

 discarded. 



The variety mentioned the most times as replacing the Ben 

 Davis is Jonathan, which is of much better quality, and of the 

 others that are taking its place in the Ben Davis belt, York, 

 Winesap and Grimes Golden are notably better. In the north- 

 east Stark is coming in and the Mcintosh is gaining in 

 popularity. In the northwest the ISTorthwestern Greening is 

 increasing, and in New York and Ontario the Spy is frequently 

 mentioned. In the Pacific northwest it is scarcely planted at all, 

 and many of the bearing trees are being worked over to other 

 sorts, such as Jonathan, Gano, Rome Beauty, Newtown Pij^pin 

 and Esopus. 



On the strength of this inquiry the writer ventures to predict 

 that the long-looked-for decadence of the Ben Davis is at hand, 

 and that twenty-five years hence it will have become a variety of 

 minor importance. 



Description of Fruit. ^ — Size, below medium to large, fairly uniform ; 

 form, roundish to roundish conic or oblong, base broad and flattened 



I Descriptions are original where not otherwise noted. This description is intended to include 

 all forms of the variety as grown in the United States and Canada. 



