TWENTY-FOURTH ANNUAL FRUIT-GROWERS' CONVENTION. Ill 



France more than twenty-five years ago, of which a few were selected 

 by the best savants there for their vigorous and upright growth. Fore- 

 most of these seem to be Rupestris St. George and Martin. What I 

 have seen of the Rupestris St. George is certainly very favorable. It 

 roots readily, striking downward with its roots like a bird with its 

 claws, and Mr. Jacob Beringer, one of our best vineyardists, has shown 

 me vines, planted in 1898 as cuttings and grafted the next spring, 

 which produced several fine bunches in 1899, and are strong enough to 

 bear a full crop next year. Mr. Paul Masson, of San Jose, who 

 imported it five years ago from France, is also enthusiastic in its 

 promise, and says he wants no better stock for grafting. 



I fully believe that with these two varieties as a basis our vineyards 

 can be established on a safe footing, and grape-growing become one of 

 the leading and most lucrative industries of the State. 



APPLE CULTURE. 



Essay by EDWARD BERWICK, of Monterey. 



Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen: I must crave your indul- 

 gence for departing somewhat from the printed program. I have no 

 u written essay." I will, however, essay to talk to you on apple culture, 

 and you must assay what I say and separate the gold of truth from the 

 dross of error. 



When I was a youngster I was taught to mind my P's and Q's. 

 To-night I'll mind the P's only (referring to his chart*). They are the 

 points I hope to make. The Q's shall be yours, the queries you put to 

 me afterward. 



P No. 1 is Preliminary. What king goes to war without first sitting 

 down and counting the cost? So, likewise, must the would-be apple- 

 grower. He must size up, not-only his pecuniary pile, but also his pile 

 of patience and perseverance. Can he afford to wait ten years for a 

 harvest? Can he exercise ten years of "eternal vigilance" in his unceas- 

 ing fight with legions innumerable of untiring foes? Then does he sigh 

 to be an apple king, or will he be happy as an apple-princelet, or even 

 a plain apple-grower? Take my advice and don't try to own the earth. 

 Let the other fellow have a chance as well. 



Then as to P No. 2 — Position. Determine what kind of apples you 

 want to grow and to what market you expect to ship them. If you want 



* Prior to his talk on apple culture, Mr. Berwick pinned on the wall his notes — a 

 sheet of white cloth, on which was painted in black a large capital P, the initial letter 

 of all points touched on, this being appended below, as follows : Preliminary, Position, 

 Plowing, Planting, Pollination, Pruning, Pests (painted very black), Picking, Packing, 

 Prices, Profits, Pie, Pudding. 



