CHAPTER X. 



THE APPLE. 



J^HE APPLE is a native of Northern Europe and Asia. Its 

 ,^5 botanical name is Fyrus mains. The crab-apples have de- 

 scended from the wild Fyrus baccata of Siberia. These two 

 species readily hybridize, and there are quite a number of varieties 

 of the apple in cultivation that show the characteristics of both 

 species. The American native crab-apple {Pyrus coronaria), so 

 abundant in some sections, seems to be poorly adapted to cultiva- 

 tion. It often blights badly in its wild state, and when exposed in 

 the orchard is not nearly as hardy as the hardier kinds of culti- 

 vated crab-apples. There is, however, one variety (the Soulard) 

 belonging to this species, that is cultivated to some extent. 



This is the most ancient and also the most highly esteemed and 

 valuable of cultivated fruits. It reaches its highest development 

 in tree and fruit in cold climates, yet in extremely cold situations 

 it seems to be somewhat beyond its limit and to require special 

 care to make it profitable. Many of the failures which have 

 attended the planting of apple trees in the northwestern states 

 need not be repeated if the subject is given careful study before 

 new plantings are put out. It is far better that one should be en- 

 tirely ignorant of the subject, but come to it with a desire and in- 

 tention to learn every detail, than that he should undertake it with 

 the belief that his experience in Eastern orchard methods and vari- 

 eties is sufficient to guide him in similar work here. The methods 

 and varieties adapted to Eastern and Southern orchards do not 

 hold well here, and the following out of such methods, and the use 

 of such varieties as are used there, has generally led to failure and 

 discouragement, and to the often heard remark that "apples can- 

 not be successfully grown here." 



Among those who have given this matter the most careful 

 attention there is a well grounded belief that this section will 

 eventually raise all the apples that can be used within its borders, 

 and that too of varieties adapted to every season. The season of 

 1892 saw the markets here abundadtly supplied with the Duchess 

 of Oldenburgh apple, and many car-loads of it were shij)ped to 

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