No. 4.J APPLES. 131 



APPLES. 



BY PROF. S. T. MAYNARD, AMHERST. 



The subject is an important one. We have had a very 

 heavy crop of apples this year, and the question is, whether 

 there are better varieties than those we are growing. Any 

 one who has attended the large fairs of our State, and of 

 other sections, understands that there is a very large num- 

 ber of varieties. I suppose we have between one and two 

 thousand named varieties of apples that are of some impor- 

 tance. Many of them are valuable in certain localities and 

 not in others. It is a fact that almost any variety of large 

 size and good color may become popular in a locality. For 

 instance, the apple we call the Ben Davis is the most popular 

 apple among growers in some parts of the country. It comes 

 into bearing very early, can be handled in any way you 

 choose, and will keep until June. Buyers are often more 

 anxious to get it than almost any other kind. It is very 

 poor in quality. We do not care to grow it for our own use, 

 and we make a mistake if we think it good enough to sell. 



The question we must ask ourselves is whether we can 

 make the varieties we are now growing profitable or not. 

 Are there better varieties than the Hubbardston, Baldwin, 

 Rhode Island Greening, Roxbury Russet, etc., for profit 

 in New England? We know we can grow these varieties 

 to perfection. Take the Baldwin. Is there any apple that 

 will sell better or give us more profit than Baldwins like 

 these on the table ? Take the Rhode Island Greening. When 

 we have apples of that color [referring to specimens], is 

 there any trouble in selling them, and for a high price ? Can 

 we grow them in that condition? For our local markets I 

 think there is nothing better, perhaps, than these varieties, 

 if grown to perfection, but we have to consider competition 



