376 GARDENING FOR .THE SOUTH. 



kept at a uniform temperature in a dry cool, situation 

 Choice specimens may be wrapped in absorbent paper, and 

 laid singly on shelves. They should not be exposed to 

 much frost, and still less to extremes of heat. Specimens 

 may thus he kept in good condition until March. A fruit- 

 room should be kept as cool as possible, and if the tempe- 

 rature could be kept uniformly at 32°, no decay would 

 take place. Packed in ice, they are sent in perfect 

 safety to the East and West Indies. . 



In selecting varieties for cultivation, as it is a matter of 

 some difficulty to raise a good supply (the apple being 

 adapted to a more noi-thern climate), we must guard 

 against over refinement. It is not our first question. What 

 varieties are of the very highest flavor ; but is the tree 

 hardy and productive enough to bear fruit at all. Will it 

 produce enough to be worth cultivating. It is then quite 

 early enough to select from those possessing these indis- 

 pensable good qualities those of the highest flavor for 

 the dessert or kitchen. 



Of northern varieties, those classed as Summer Apples 

 almost invariably succeed here. Some of the Early Autumn 

 varieties also do well, and, of course, are summer apples 

 with us. But the winter apples, as a class, are entirely 

 unsuited to our climate. We need good Autumn and 

 Winter varieties, and for them we must rely upon those 

 of southern origin, as the northern winter varieties usually 

 fall and decay before the middle of September ; besides 

 here very few of them exhibit any choice qualities. 

 Some fifty sorts have been tried here, and failed. Any 

 one possessed of native varieties that ripen in October and 

 November, or later, will confer a benefit on the entire 

 South by disseminating scions among our Southern 

 nurseries. 



I. Early May. — ^Fruit small, roundisli, sometimes slightly 



