Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1871-04-21
APPLES FOR NORTHERN IOWA,

APPLIES FOR NORTHERN IOWA.
Report Of the Committee Of the Iowa
State horticultural Society to Re-
wise the Apple List for Northern
Iowa.
1t is very easy matter to write
down the names of a dozen or so va
rieties of apples that can be success
fully grown i'll Northern Iowa. But
this is very differant thing from
making a list for general cultivation
Tor home and market purpose, which
shall contain only the most desirable
sorts and leave out none which
should be retained. Especially is
This true in Northern Iowa where
the settlements are comparatively
of recent date and the experience of
cultivators limited in either length
Of time or number Of varieties test
cd. Many kinds promise well in
nursery and are highly praised by
beginners, but they fail to be salts
factory in orchard from unproduct-
ivcness, or other reasons. Some
sorts are comparatively tender in
nursery, and for the first few years
in orchard, which improve with age.
Many sorts of recent origin or intro
duction have not yet established a
reputation which their merits may
entitlc them to. Again, there is a
vast difference in the soil of differ
ent sections of Northern Iowa, and
the experience of those whose adj
vice we have sought, widely varies
on this account. Many varieties of
great value in some localities are left
cat of the list because they do not
succeed generally. 1t has been the
cndcavor of your committee not to
admit any varieties to the list but
what will with proper treatment give
remumerative and satisfactory re-
suits on any well drained ground in
Northern Iowa. That this list is
perfect we do not even hope, but we
have faith that it may be valuable
temporarily as a guide to those plan
tiers who have spent less time and
study than your committee in inyes-
tigating this matter.
MARKET LIST.
SUMMER.-Tetofski, Red Astrac-
han, Sops Divine. Duchess of Old
enburg.
FALL.-Saxton, St. Lawrence, Fall
Orange, Gross Pommicr, or Haas.
Winter.-Fameuse, Plumb's CT
der, Perry Russell, Blue Pearmain,
Ben Davis, lsawle's Janette, Talman
Sweet.
All these varieties may safely be
classcd as Lonclads unless you ex-
ccpt the Rawle's Janette and Tai
man Sweet, and these while so near
ly hardy are SO good, productive and
such long keepers that they cannot
be dispensed with.
The above list has been made
with much care, and the following
brief descriptions are appended as
cmbodying some of the reasons
which influenced your committee in
their selection.
1etyski.-This variety was put
upon the list with some hesitation,
on account of its scarcity in nurse
ries, and its high price, but this
sturdy little Russian has given such
good account of itself in every in
stance that there is no doubt of its
extraordinary adaptability to the cx-
treme Northwest, its Northern limit
being beyond any other cultivated
sort. 1t is a stout, upright, slow
growing tree with large light green
foliage, commences bearing very
young, and bears wonderfully full,
the tree becoming usually dwarfed
from over fruitfulness. 1t needs
good culture and good soil. Fruit
medium, smooth polished surface,
yellowish with some stripes, skin
delicate, easily showing bruises.
Ripens first Of all apples and the
soonest to perish. Quality, acid,
juicy, pleasant, refreshing, but not
rich.
Red -1strachan.-This is hardy,
and bears moderate crops while
young, but at mature age in the
North it bears good crops of such
handsome fruit of fair quality, that
no orchard is complete without it,
and further, it comes in market ear.
ly when apples bring a good price.
Season, August.
Sdps Of UIne.-A beautiful,
thrifty, hardy tree in nursery, and
while young is thrifty and upright
in orchard but with age its great
crops Of fruit checks its growth and
bend the branches to a spreading
form, and often render the tree short
lived; fruit medium to large, mostly
bright red. Bears carriage better
than any other early apple; of a rich
high flavor, but not very iuicv.
Season 18th August to 18th Sep
TENDER.
Duchess Of Oidenburg. This Rus
sian is the hardest Of all apple trees
except the Tctofski, which it nearly
or quite equals, rather slow, crook
cd and stout in nursery, where it of
ten commences fruiting at fonr years
from the root graft. 1t bears the
first of any tree in the orchard and
bears very full on alternate years.
Takes it long time to make large
tree; fruit large, grcenish yellow
striped with bright carmine, mag
ni6ccnt looking apple; first-rate for
cooking and drying, but only sec
ond-rate for eating, except for those
who like crisp, juicy, quite acid
fruit. Fruit very perishable, last
ing only from August 25th to Septem-
Der goth.
&drton.-This is one fthose very
few varieties that are perfectly at
home on the rich prairies of North
ern Iowa. Tree ofmedium growth,
rather upright, shoots blunt and |
straight, leaves large and round,
bears quite young, though for the
first few years only moderate crops;
soon, however bears very heavy and |
regularly. Fruit medium size or
above, nearly covered with bright
red, quality nearly first-ratc, being a
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