APPLES 
‘pertection” 1s a relative term and that 
nothing known to us 1s absolutely per- 
fect But in the sense in which we use 
the word it means lacking nothing that 
is desirable or essential to complete de- 
velopment or the highest attainable qual- 
ities” Since some apples are of higher 
quality than others, as 1s the case of 
the Spitzenburg as compared with the 
Ben Davis, it seems necessary to give a 
definition something like this: “Lacking 
nothing requisite to its kind.’ In this 
case each and every variety of apple 
would be judged in accordance with the 
ideals of the judges as to the standards 
of pertection of the variety being judged 
and not by standards of excellence of 
other varieties. 
Exhibitors often inquire, “What is a 
perfect standard?” ‘‘Who has the right to 
fix a standard which will determine the 
perfect specimen?” ‘‘Who is authority on 
this subject?” 
It is not easy to answer all the inquiries 
made as to why a particular exhibit is 
given a premium while another which, to 
the unpractised eye, looks as good or bet- 
ter, is not given an award. It is impor- 
tant, however, to state that the standard 
is set by the best pomologists of the 
American Pomological Society. These 
pomologists consider that certain vari- 
eties of apples have certain distinguishing 
characteristics. These characteristics were 
determined, perhaps, by the nature of the 
original tree, but no matter how they 
came to be fixed characteristics they are 
nevertheless features which differentiate 
it from other types. After a type is es- 
tablished, described by pomologists, and 
comes to be known as possessing certain 
qualities, the problem of the judge is not 
so much concerned with the quality of the 
apple as compared with other varieties, 
as how nearly it approaches the perfect 
type of this variety. In other words, Is it 
“true to type?” 
Further, there is a tendency for apples 
to vary on account of soil, climate, sun- 
shine, elevation and other factors which 
enter into their environment. After all 
the factors are considered pomologists gen- 
erally select the apple most like the orig- 
375 
inal type. It has been the writer’s good 
fortune to attend apple judging contests 
during the last twelve years and he 
would earnestly recommend that in every 
important contest there be appointed three 
judges instead of one The reason is clear 
when it is remembered that so many fac- 
tors enter into the question as to what 
constitutes a perfect type of any partic- 
ular variety 
Since the market value of apples enters 
so largely into the question of apple grow- 
ing and determines in so great degree 
what will be the grower’s profit, it seems 
to me that of three judges two should be 
commercial fruit dealers and one a Sscien- 
tific pomologist The pomologist is likely 
to have in mind the hereditary traits of 
the apple while the commercial dealer will 
have in mind the selling quality of the 
fruit. Since the decisions are educational 
and since the education should be of such 
a character as to produce the highest 
values possible with a given amount of 
labor, the decisions of the dealer are of 
more practical value than those of the 
pomologist. The writer has in mind sev- 
eral contests where the competition was 
so keen that in order to reach a conclu- 
sion it became necessary to remove all 
the apples from the boxes and to pass 
upon each apple separately. 
Where the decisions have been rendered 
by three judges, even where the contest 
was close, the contestants have seldom 
questioned the accuracy of the conclu- 
sions. But where the contest is close 
and the matter is decided by one alone, 
there is almost always dissatisfaction. 
RoBert MorGANn 
Suggestions for Score Card for Exhibi- 
tions of Boxed Apples 
The score card here suggested was ar- 
ranged by Frank Kinsey, author of the 
article on Apple Packing in this work, 
who has had a wide experience East and 
West in preparing boxed apples for ex- 
hibition. The suggestion is concurred in 
by ©. J. Sinsel, of Boise, Ida., well known 
as an expert in these matters. The score 
ecard of the International Apple Show is 
also given as the “Spokane Card.” 
