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 best, 
which ones bear the best, which are handsomest and best 
re 
