83 



three sorts mentioned are chance seedHngs from northwest Arkan- 

 sas. 



Addmg stiU others to this category, there is Akin from Ihi- 

 nois. Bloomfield from ^Maryland. Doctor inchided in the first hst 

 of "apples most commonly cultivated" that was published in this 

 country, though still unknown to most fruit growers, A'irginia, 

 Beauty from sotithwestern A irginia : Carson from northern 

 Ohio ; the ^Magnate which originated apparently from the same 

 collection of AA'inesap seeds that produced Stayman \Mne- 

 sap from eastern Kansas : Ensee from southern Ohio ; Florence, 

 an apple somewhat similar to Jonathan having a fine virogous 

 tree but less desirable in dessert quality than Jonathan from 

 northwest Arkansas ; ^Mother perhaps now a century old, coming 

 originally from ^Massachusetts, but still largely unknown ; Coffman 

 an early sort of much promise from Tennessee: Celestia. another 

 sort from Ohio: Ramsdell fRamsdell Sweet) referred doubtfully 

 to Connecticut for its origin: Adams, a long keeping variety of the 

 Rambo type and of good quality from Blair county. Pa. All these, 

 and almost an endless number besides are worthy of some very 

 definite consideration by those of yoti who are seeking a reputation 

 for the production of apples of strictly high grade as to quality and 

 beauty of appearance. 



And still we need others. Of this collection, not one is per- 

 fect; not one that does not have some fault or objectionable feature 

 of some kind either in fruit or tree. 



Following tip the history of nearlv all of oiu" most valuable 

 and best known varieties, we find where we can trace them to their 

 origin that they came into being in most cases as chance seedlings, 

 without the aid or intervention in any way of man. 



.In this connection it may not be inconsistent for me to repeat 

 what ^Marshall P. AA'ilder as President of the American Pomologi- 

 cal Society said repeatedly 50 years and more ago: "It was my 

 first, so shall it be my continual and last advice : "Plant the most 

 mature and perfect seed of the most hardy, vigorous and valuable 

 varieties ; and as a shorter process, insuring more certain and happy 

 results, cross, or hybridize your best fruits.' " This advice I wish 

 was being more commonly followed to-da}'. If "chance" has ac- 

 complished so much in the past in producing apple varieties, what 

 are the possibilities in the production of varieties in the future, 

 should all the knowledge of the present time regarding plant breed- 

 ing and heredity be directed to this end? 



FiGTjKE 10— GR.\DING BOARD 



