PROCEEDINGS OF THIRTY-SIXTH FRUIT-GROWERS' CONVENTION. 



123 



districts the Newtown Pippin is perhaps the most exacting in its 

 requirements. Cold winds and fogs stunt it badly and bring about 

 leaf spot diseases. Fogs at more moderate temperatures induce serious 

 infections with the powdery mildew, which also stunts the growth. On 

 the other hand, it is a sure bearer and resists drouth comparatively 

 well. On good soils, in a well sheltered locality, this variety makes a 

 sturdy growth rather resistant to diseases, but is quite subject to the 

 codling moth and apple scab. 



The^Yellow Bellfiower. White Winter Pearmain. and Red Pearmain 

 can be pushed much further into the zone of cold winds and fogs than 

 the Newtown, but the bellfiower may not bear well under these condi- 

 tions. The Missouri Pippin and Langford should also be mentioned 

 among those varieties which will endure a wide range of soil and 

 climatic conditions. The bellfiower requires a rich, well watered soil 

 and may fail in localities where Langfords, Red Pearmains, Missouri 

 Pippins, and Newtowns do well. 



The varieties of early summer apples are less numerous, and Skin- 

 ner's Pippin is probably the most adaptable, with the Red June a close 

 second. Both of these varieties are relatively immune to diseases. The 

 Gravenstein is subject to the powdery mildew and so should grow in 

 sheltered localities. 



All this information regarding the adaptability of varieties is the 

 result of experience, and unfortunately a large acreage was planted 

 before these facts were known. A good many of these orchards happen 

 to be in localities where all varieties do comparatively well, but others 

 show decided ^adaptability for certain types. The Newtown has been 

 badly misplaced, and is frequently seen to be so stunted as to be 

 worthless. In such orchards the best practice would be to remove the 

 hopeless trees and replant with varieties that will do well. 



With such attention to preliminary details the orchardist is in a posi- 

 tion to successfully combat pest, both because the insect and fungus 

 parasites will not be so destructive and the trees will have the ability to 

 withstand the injurious effects which may follow the application of 

 certain sprays. 



We are frequently requested to recommend some application which 

 will bring the trees out better, but unless the natural conditions required 

 to make a good tree are fulfilled this is impossible. On the other hand, 

 where such lack of vigor occurs in orchards that naturally should be 

 doing well, our present knowledge of remedial measures is usually suffi- 

 cient to make practical recommendations possible. 



The insect pests and diseases of the apple have been showm to vary 

 in kind and character according to climatic and soil conditions, but 

 there is apparently no combination of varieties and locality which will 

 insure complete immunity. There are numerous insects and related 

 organisms which make use of the apple as a food plant. Perhaps all 

 of them are capable of inflicting serious damage under the proper con- 

 ditions. Also, fungus and bacterial diseases, while not so great in 

 variety, may make up for this deficiency by a greater virulence. If the 

 troubles ended here they would be quite sufficient, but another group 

 of diseases may be present. The reference is to those disorders which 

 can not be attributed to a parasite, and are called physiological diseases. 



If all of these parasites and diseases were present, in destructive 



