The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1889-02-08
Apples for Winter.


A paper read at the meeting of the
Peninsula horticultural Society by
George Balderston OF Colora.
There is no section of the United
States that prides itself more on its
success in fruit culture than this section
known as the Peninsula, or the Della
ware Peninsula, for there is another
strip of land adjoining Lake Michigan
designated by similar title that is
also becoming famous in the same di-
rectioD. Both are favored by nature
in the proximity of large bodies of
water that exert modifying influence
upon the climate and make them more
congenial to the growth of the peach
and other fruits especially liable to in.
jury from sudden changes and exces-
sively low temperature. There is also
something of humidity in the air that
is supposed to be conducive to fair
fruit. Grapes are perhaps more in
Auenced by atmospheric condition in
both fruit and foliage than the small
fruits or trees. While all fruits of this
latitude thrive here for some reason or
other the apple has been left behind
in the race. Why this is SO hope
may be subject for your special con.
sideration. Our peaches and straw
berries have reputation the world
over and pears are planted largely as
a special crop and pay we'll. What is
to hinder us from supplying our home
market with apples also?
This has been an exceptionally fav-
cradle season for apples in large por-
tion of the country and we have been
blessed with an abundant crop of them
here. enough to supply our home mar
kets for the fall and winter at least.
They have been SO plenty with those
who haYe not grown them as crop for
market, that they have been at loss
to know what to do with the surplus.
These have been, in many cases, thrown
upon the local markets in very unde-
sirable shape, without proper care in
handling, transported in bags it may
be, SO as to he in the worst possible
condition for keeping.
This poor asserting and careless
picking and marketing have as nat.
ural result given a bad name to all our
home grown fruit, and our markets
will be very generally supplied from a
distance after this date, while our home
product has rotted or will decay In all
sorts of places where it has been stored.
This condition of things furnishes a
text for this article.
lst. That apples will grow here as
easily aud plentifully as anywhere else
in the United States may be set down
as established.
I'd. That the fruit we now do grow is
not kept for winter and spring mar
ket, or even sold properly on its merits
in fall and early winter, we all agree.
Sd. 1t is also selfevident that while
we do in these exceptional years have
abundant crops of perfect apples, 1--WE
do not grow enough of them to make
it business to take proper care of
them or place them upon the market
in the best order.
4th. We have not here, as in other
fruit.growing sections, made necessary
provisions for caring for the surplus by
drying, canning or in some other way
than preserving what now is permitted
to waste.
We submit that there are adequate
remedies for all the drawbacks specified
above, and before enlarging upon them,
it may be also remarked that we have
not as yet been troubled with the cod.
lin moth here; an insect pest now doing
great mischief in western New York
and other apple growing sections. A
wOrmy cored apple is rare in this
country.
Our proximity to markets and means
of transportation are unexcelled, and to
these now equipped for handling large
crop of peaches, the extra preparation
to lengthen the season with apples need
not be great.
In the upper section Of this Penin-
sula where the writer lives, we are