The Portland daily press., 1876-03-06
THE FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
Winter Apples.

Winter Apples.
For the better part of century the Bald
win, the Roxbury Russet, and the Rhode
Island Greening have been the standard win
ter apples for New England. The two for
mer are natives of Massachusetts,, and the
latter of Rhode Island; and as we have an
honest pride in their New England origin, we
are also somewhat sensitive on that account
whenever any attempts are made to depre-
ciate them. Occasionally, some unsuccessful
orchardist announces that with him they
have proved tender, unproductive, or liable
to disease and decay. Possibly. in some in
stances these statements are true; but in that
event they are to be regarded as exceptional,
or else may be considered as confessions of
bad management. We are very confident
that the farmer who selects good stock,
carefully prepares his ground-avoiding old
orchard sites-and plants his trees IN some
and cultivation, will always receive satisfac-
tory returns from these long established fa-
vorites. The fact that they have been so
widely disseminated, and for so long period
have held their own against the freaks of
fashion and the love of novelties, which pre-
uail among orchardists as well as elsewhere,
settles the question of their value. 1t is our
impression that in the northern states gener-
ally and perhaps our own state, they out
number all the other varieties of winter
apples.
Asw we write our eye falls upon confrma-
tory paragraph in one of our exchanges: /:
"The Roxbury Russet is the best keeping
apple, and in situations adapted to its
growth will be found as profitable as any
variety that can be raised. The Baldwin
gives more fruit per tree fit for market than
any other standard variety, and in places
where it thrives is as good a variety for gen.
eral cultivation as can be found"
In their westward course, these fruit tree
have not met with uniform success; suf
fering in some localities from imperfect drain
age or prairie exposure, and from slovenly
care or neglect. In latitudes corresponding
with their New England habitat, they have
been readily acclimated; and we have heard
Maine pomologists pronounce the fruit
brought hither from Michigan, to be superb
or in flavor and keeping qualities, to the
same fruit from their own orchards. A cor
respondent of an agricultural journal, in re-
cent report Of crops in Illinois, states; that
owing to the general failure of the apple crop,
their market had been supplied from Michigan
and Ohio-and he mentions our three varie-
ties, as occupying the place of honor among
their western competitors.
The veteran arborist Mr.. Emerson says: !:
"The apple is liable to great fluctuations
from year to year. Many people think that
all these species, especially in their tender va
rieties, are less successfully cultivated than
formerly. The change is probably not great
er than is to be ascribed to the loss or dimi-
mutton of the forests. These last few years
seem to be bringing back the olden time, and
make it probable that the apparent decline
of some previous years is only part of a cycle,
which, when completed, will bring round
again the seasons most favorable to these
valuable fruits"
While we believe that the catalogue of val
liable winter apples is not limited to the three
we have named; and that the future has in
store for us more choice varieties, we never
theless say to the owner of an old orchard,
and to the originator of new one; hold fast
to that which is good'-and do not be in
haste to adopt uncertain novelties.
No good reason can be given for the notion
that the choicest fruits of the earth contain
within themselves the elements of their ulti-
mate destruction-by virtue of their excel
lence-and that their tenure of existence
is always frail and precarious. On the con-
trary we are warranted in believing that
centuries of productiveness may be in store
for the fixed and well established plants of
to-day; as similar experience attends some
of the rarest and best which we inherit from
the East,
The accidental discovery of the Baldwin
apple and the remarkable success which has
accompanied its introduction. should encour-
age and stimulate everybody, whether orch
ardists or not, to scatter seeds in all direc-
tions, and to test carefully all the waits and
founding of their own localities-under the
shadow of stone wall or hedge, or choke d
by forest undergrowth, there may be some
candidate for royal honors.
To those who raise the standard winter
apples exclusively, we make the suggestion
that it is not well to rely upon them solely,
and thus only 60 to market when everybody
else Is carrying the same varieties; by giving
more attention to the generally neglected
summer and fall fruits, the range of cultiva-
tion is extended into region of higher
prices, and sometimes greater profits.