No. 4.] VARIETIES OF APPLES. 65 



responsibility, we furnisliing all the rest of the help. The 

 buyers all conic into our section for the Baldwins. Other 

 kinds grow well, and we like to have them, but it is a question 

 with me whether we can grow anything to beat the Baldwin. 

 Other kinds are desirable for home use and for show pur- 

 poses, but not to grow extensively for market. 



Mr. S. H. Reed. Does it make any difference in the flavor 

 of fruit, what stock it is grafted on ? 



Professor Sears. We do not know; the whole question is 

 yet to be worked out. There have been cases where it seemed 

 to be pretty definitely shown that there was a decided differ- 

 ence in color. A friend of mine set out a dozen Baldwin 

 trees. The first to come into bearing bore a very handsome 

 red apple, small, but very fine. All the others came into bear- 

 ing except one, which was the last o.f all, and that finally bore 

 an apple very large and overgrown, with very little color. He 

 let suckers grow from both those trees, and the first one made 

 a short-jointed, dark growth, with leaves and bark dark, and 

 the leaves fell off long before frost ; those of the tree bearing 

 the large apples made a green, rank growth, the leaves being 

 ])right green, and hanging on until killed by frost. I remem- 

 ber a row of grafted Gravensteins. One was an old Spitzen- 

 berg, a dark-red apj^le of medium size, but the Gravensteins 

 which grew on it were perfectly red all over, like the Bald- 

 win, — no spotting at all ; those that grew on the other trees 

 Avere normal Gravensteins. Now, in these instances the color 

 was evidently influenced, but I cannot say as to quality. 



The Chairman. One point that has not been touched on is 

 the selecting of strains of different varieties. We know per- 

 fectly well that in flowers, carnations, for instance, we can 

 improve the variety by selecting the best types. I think the 

 same thing can be done with apples, and in fact I know of 

 such a strain of Baldwin apples. I think a great deal of work 

 can be done by individuals along this line. 



Professor Sears. These questions have been handed in on 

 paper : first, " What three peaches are best for a commercial 

 orchard ? " Mr. Chairman, will you answer that ? 



The Chairman. I would choose the Greensboro, the 

 Carmen and the Elberta. 



