The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1904-02-16
lowa's Apples.


There is going on in Iowa a steady
development of the apple growing in
dustry. An indication of the rapid in.
crease of this branch of horticultural
activity is seen in the two last census
reports by the national government.
In 1890 the number of apple trees re-
ported was 3,140,588. In ten years
the number of trees doubled in num-
Der, the 1900 census showing $780,
5SS. 1t is noted that the great bulk
OF these trees are in the southwest
portion of the state. Moreover, the
orchard paintings follow the courses
OF the rivers and most of them are
found along the banks of the rivers
The quality Of the apples produced is
very good, in fact, far better than in
some states more advantageously stu
ated for the growing of fruit. The
cause of the orchards being found
largely along the streams is probably
that there is less distinctively prai-
rie soil. On some farms in the locali-
ties mentioned the apple crop is the
great money maker.
Unfortunately for the easy handling
OF this crop, most of the varieties
grown are summer or fall keepers.
Late-keeping winter apples are not ex-
tensively grown, as the apples of that
character that grow we'll in Iowa are
rather inferior in size and quality,
while the trees lack productiveness.
The Ben Davis does not reach it's best
nj in Of Iaa
in the state where apples are largely
grown. Some foreign varieties of fair
quality have been introduced, and the
trees that produce them are hardy,
but the fruit seldom keeps longer than
the middle of December, under ordi-
nary farm conditions.
AS result of these conditions the
Iowa apple orchardists are earnestly
considering the cold storage of their
fruit, and some experiments have al.
ready been made along that line Last
winter the Horticultural Department
of the Iowa Experiment Station stored
several lots of apples in a Des Moines
cold storage warehouse. A self-regis-
tering thermometer was kept in the
storage room from November till April
10. The temperature varied from 81
to 81. Fifteen barrels of apples were
placed in this cold storage plant Sep
TENDER 20, and consisted of Wealthy,
Fameuse (Snow), Wolf River and Nc
Mahon's White. On October q sew
enty-two barrels more were added,
! these consisting of Jonathans, Do
mines, Seek-No-Furthers, Ben Davis,
Willow Twigs, Janets, Red Romantics,
Roman Stems, Northern Spys and
White Pippins.
AS it was desired to learn the keep
ing quality, some from each variety
were taken out each month, beginning
| January IA. On that date the percent
age of decayed fruit in each variety
was: Wealthy 81, Mcmahon White
! 81, Fameuse 4, Wolf River 10, iona
| than 8, Domino 8, Seek-No-Further 10,
Ben Davis less than 1, Janet 3, Roman
Stem u, Northern Spy II, White Pip
pin 7. Note the large loss with the
| McMahons, which were taken out of
storage altogether
On February IA the percentages of
decayed fruit were; Wealthy 4, Fa-
meuse l. Wolf River sc, Seek-No-
/ Further 4S, Jonathan %, Ben Davis 8,
1 Janet II. Romantic 4, Willow Twig 6,
White Pippin 80, Roman Stem 16,
Domino Z. Note the large percentages
of loss with Wolf River, Seek-No-
Further and White Pippin.
On March IA examination showed
the following losses: Wealthy Is, Fa-
meuse 10, Ben Davis II, Domino 16,
Janet 8, Romantic 3, Roman Stem Al,
Pewaukee Sc, Willow Twig g. White
| Pippin SO.
On April IA the percentages of de-
cayed fruit were: Domino IA. Ben
Davis IS, Willow Twig 10, Jonathan
23, Seek-No-Further 81, Romantic "a.
Domino, Ben Davis and Willow Twig
were thus shown to be the best keep
ers of the salable varieties. Janet and
Romantic are even better keepers.
but they are too small to store COM
mercially. The Pewaukees were put
in by mistake, but were found half de-
cayed at the March examination. The
White Pippins did not stand storing
well, and went down" quickly when
taken out. The results with the
Wealthy and Snow were most crafty
ing, as they show that those apples
can be kept well till midwinter, when
they sell readily.