42 STATF, POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



some parts of the Provinces where the Fameuse originated, that 

 variety is about the only variety grown in many orchards, and 

 various seedlings have been propagated from them as the Fameuse. 

 This he suggests is probably one of these seedlings, which is really 

 a cross of the Fameuse and some other variety growing near by. 



A few weeks ago a gentleman living in my town brought to my 

 place of business two apples which he wished me to test. They 

 were the most perfect russets I ever saw, and they were also the 

 handsomest. In quality they are fine, and though they may not 

 keep quite as long as the Roxbury Russet, they seem to be of equal 

 flavor. These apples originated on the gentleman's farm, a chance 

 seedling growing by the roadside. The quality of the apple was 

 accidentally noticed, and since then he has cut more or less scions 

 from the tree. 



These illustrations and others I might give, suggest that the 

 " coming apple " for Maine has not yet been found. A large part 

 of our fruit growers pronounce the Baldwin the most profitable 

 apple for us to grow. Some people prefer different varieties, 

 according to the markets in which their fruits are to be sold, but it 

 is quite generally agreed that they all have their faults. The Bald- 

 win, which most of our fruit growers now prefer, has been led in 

 the English markets bj' several other varieties which have sold 

 higher. The apple wanted in the markets must be attractive in its 

 appearance, and to receive continued favor must be of superior 

 quality. Then for profitable production the coming apple must be 

 a good keeper, and stand up well in transportation. In other words, 

 the apple we are in search of must have the combined qualities of 

 several varieties, and even then there will probably be chance for 

 improvement. A chance seedling will hardly be expected to be the 

 apple we are in search of, for we know in other departments the 

 best stock is not produced by chance fertilization. Good cultiva- 

 tion may improve the stock, but it cannot change its parentage or 

 eradicate its inferior qualities. In recent years, the florist's skill 

 has given us several strawberries that are superlative in their excel- 

 lence, and so incomparably superior to the varieties grown thirty 

 years ago, that those earlier varieties have nearly or quite disap- 

 peared from the fruit catalogues. There is good reason why they 

 should. It is the survival of the fittest. Now we need the same 

 skill in tlie culture, or rather propagation of the apple. It is more 

 diflScult, perhaps, to originate desirable apples — at any rate, it 



