18 FIELD NOTES ON APPLE CULTURE, 



CHAPTER IV. 



SELECTING VARIETIES OF FRUIT. 



Whether an orchard returns a profit to the owner will 

 depend in a great measure upon the kinds of varieties, 

 and the number of each, which it contains. There is 

 probably no greater mistake among orchardists than that 

 of neglecting to give earnest thought to the varieties to 

 be planted. ' Care in the selection of varieties is the first 

 stone in the foundation, the first step to success. It is 

 to the orchardist what the selection of the breed is to 

 the stock-raiser. . 



There are several things to be taken into consideration 

 in the selection of varieties. For profit, a fruit must 

 combine these four qualities and preferably in the order 

 named : hardiness, productiveness, beauty and good 

 quality. These terms are all relative. An apple which 

 is hardy in one part of the country may not be hardy in 

 another part ; the same is true of productiveness, and to 

 a less extent of beauty and quality also. Hence, the 

 subject of the selection of varieties must be a local ques- 

 tion. The same fruit may not succeed in different parts 

 of the same State. I have known good Sour Boughs to 

 be raised successfully only sixteen miles from a place 

 where they grew small, black and gnarly. If the grower 

 has not had personal experience in his locality, the safest 

 plan to pursue is to visit all the growers in the immedi- 

 ate vicinity, and to ascertain the most satisfactory varie- 

 ties. Ask what fruits endure extremes of weather beat, 

 which ones bear the best, which are handsomest and best 



