76 



A\'e can readily understand that some of these at least in addi- 

 tion to temperature and moisture have a very close relationship to 

 the behavior and value of dillerent varieties. 



Another very important matter in the adaptability of varieties 

 is the location and site selected for the orchard. There are count- 

 less orchards throughout the country that are practically worthless 

 because of their location. But when we stop to consider the sig- 

 nificance of the location we find that it is mostly local climate. 

 It has to do with frosts, and air drainage which are temperature 

 factors ; with soil drainage which is a moisture factor ; and with 

 A\inds, etc. So here again we come back to the climate. We must 

 consider the climate in its several elements at every turn. 



But I have not forgotten that my subject calls for some com- 

 ments about apple varieties. Perhaps, though. I need make no 

 apologies for the background I have endeavored to set up. Per- 

 haps any remarks about the adaptability of varieties that may 

 follow will have greater significance than would otherwise be the 

 case because of the ''setting'' which I have tried to place for them. 



Even now before I reach the part of this discussion which 

 gives my paper its title, I want to ask your forbearance a little 

 further. I have recently been very much interested myself in mak- 

 ing a sort of inventory of the apple varieties that have entered into 

 American pomology. A portion of this inventory may not be with- 

 out some interest to you because of its connection with your state. 



About six years ago there was published a bulletin by the 

 United States Department of Agriculture, in the Bureau of Plant 

 Industry series, entitled : ''Nomenclature of the Apple : A 

 catalog of the known varieties referred to in American Publica- 

 tions from 1804 to 1904." You will at once see the comprehensive 

 character of this bulletin. The year 1804 was taken as the start- 

 ing point because that is the year in which the first list of apple 

 varieties grown in America was published. It therefore marks 

 the beginning of American catalogs of varieties. The work of 

 compiling the data for the bulletin mentioned was completed in 

 1904, thus making the period covered by it an even hundred years. 

 The American publications reviewed for the data, included the 

 standard pomological books, horticultural societ}^ reports, experi- 

 ment station bulletins and reports, horticultural papers and maga- 

 zines, etc. 



The catalog contains all known names of varieties that had 

 been published up to and including the year 1904 and approximates 

 14,800 in number. This includes all synonyms as well as accredited 

 varietal names. Of the latter there are about 6,700 in number. 

 This means of course that there has been that number of dift'erent 

 varieties referred to by name in American publications in the hun- 

 dred years that is covered by this catalog. A bit of arithmetic 

 shows 8,100 synonyms, thus giving as an average more than two 

 names apiece for every variety, but as several varieties have over 

 forty different synonyms to their credit and others only a slightly 

 smaller number, the distribution of names is not on a very equit- 

 able basis. 



