272 



WESTERN NOTES OF APPLES. 



and forms the shining substance known as " honey dew" 

 on the iippL-y side of the leaves beneath. Here, being 

 very sticky, it accumulates dust and the cast-off skins of 

 aphides, and in this way closes the pores and injures the 

 plant, ft also does harm indirectly by catching from the 

 air the spores of rust and mildew. 



To counteract these injurious effects, one of the best 

 means is to keep up the general vigor of the plant by an 

 abundance of plant food. It is also highly important to 

 instantly destroy the first aphides appearing in the spring. 

 Experiments have been made with various remedies, in- 

 cluding oxalic acid, benzine, carbolic acid and Nessler's 

 and Koch's fluids (soap solutions containing tobacco and 

 quassia respectively). The last two have proved the most 

 effective. Simple infusions of tobacco and tomato leaves 



have been found useful. It is necessary for the fluid to 

 come in contact with the aphides. The plants must 

 therefore be carefully sprayed from all directions, or the 

 affected parts dipped in the solution if possible. Unfortun- 

 ately the solutions, if too strong, are liable to injure the 

 plants. It is therefore desirable to wash them off with 

 water as soon as the insects have been destroyed. Re- 

 cently a substance called "Schmidt's Nicotina" has come 

 into use in Germany which is said to kill the insects 

 without doing any injury to the plants. 



Among natural enemies of the aphides are the lady- 

 bird 'yCoccinclla SL-pleinpitnitata) and an ichneumon fly. 

 The former, as well as its larva, feeds upon aphides 

 and the ichneumons deposit eggs in their soft flesh. — 

 Translated from Rosen Zeititng. 



WESTERN NOTES OF APPLES. 



Gano Apple, Fig. i. Fruit large ; form roundish, slight- 

 ly conic ; skin smooth ; color light yellow, covered with 

 rich crimson red. Some little mottled ; dots small, nu- 

 merous, yellow ; stem medium slender ; cavity wide, 

 deep, green, regular ; calyx rather large, slightly 

 open ; segments short, erect : basin narrow, abrupt, 

 rather deep, very slightly furrowed ; core large, wide, 

 closed ; carpels small, hollow ; seeds large, ovate, 

 dark brown ; flesh very white, tender, moderately 

 juicy, very mild sub-acid ; quality good ; season, 

 December to March. Tree vigorous, hardy and 

 very productive, very much like Ben Davis ; origin, 

 Parkville, Mo. This is one of the new market ap- 

 ples which may take the place of Ben Davis, as it 

 appears to possess all the qualities of it, is a much 

 handsomer apple and will sell better. It is adapted 



oblate, oblique ribbed, irregularly compressed ; color 

 light yellow, striped and mixed with brownish red ; dots 

 small, few, gray ; stem short, medium ; cavity wide, deep, 



Fig. 3. Seedless Apple. 



to the same range of country the Ben Davis is, and 

 perhaps further north. It is highly recommended in 

 Missouri and Kansas. An apple that can take the place 

 of Ben Davis is valuable wherever it can be grown. 

 York Imperial, Fig. 2. Fruit medium to large ; form 



Fig. I. The Gang Apple. 



irregular, wavy ; calyx small, closed ; basin wide, shal- 

 low, furrowed or ribbed ; core small, solid ; carpels wide, 

 compact ; seeds long, ovate, dark brown : flesh white, 

 firm, juicy, crisp, sprightly sub-acid ; quality good to 

 very good ; season, December to March ; origin, York 

 county, Penna. Tree vigorous, hardy, upright, spread- 

 ing ; an early bearer, and very prolific. This apple we 

 introduced into this country thirty years ago, and find 

 it one of the very best, keeping about as long as Ben 

 Davis, and is a much better apple. It should not be 

 omitted in planting out a commercial orchard. It has 

 about the same range as Ben Davis and will succeed 

 wherever it does. 



Seedless Apple, Fig. 3. Fruit medium ; form roundish 



