THE PROBLEM OF VARIETIES. 



39 



It is one of the longest keeping sorts among the commercial varieties growing in the 

 Ozarks and may be held till April and May or even later. 



Like its parent. Ralls, it has a late blossoming period, and thereby often escapes 

 late spring frosts and produces fruit when most other earlier blossoming varieties are 

 seriously injured. 



Under favorable conditions the Ingram attains a high degree of perfection in this 

 region. The more productive trees, however, are apt to overbear. Doubtless the 

 must profitable and satisfactory method of handling the trees is to maintain them 



Fig. 4.— A tree of the Ingram apple in southwestern Missouri, about 12 years of age. This tree shows 

 the upward tendency of the branches, which is very much more marked in trees that have not reached 

 the bearing age. They become more spreading with age and weight of fruit. 



under high cultural conditions and to thin the fruit as may be necessary. This 

 course may be expected to keep the trees vigorous and to insure fruit of desirable 

 size. 



Properly handled, this variety is undoubtedly of sufficient merit to maintain a 

 prominent place in the apple interests of the Ozark region. In propagating it. how- 

 ever, it seems advisable that scions should be carefully selected from trees which 

 produce fruit of good size and in abundant quantity, in preference to trees that bear 

 email apples. 



