The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1905-12-01
HORTICULTURE
IF. VALID EN-

that may be very properly answered
together One comes from w. II.
Heath, of Sumner, Wash, and asks
whether the varieties recommended
for a commercial orchard in a recent
issue of this paper, under the head
of Orchard Problems, are as well
adapted to the Sound country as the
Yakima The other query comes from
H. G. Atwell, Forest Grove, Oregon
and asks whether the Al Rome Beauty
trees. whose crop for this year was
reported in the last issue, are east or
west of the Cascades and if east, as he
correctly supposes, then what can
say of this variety as adapted to the
west side?
| have frequently pointed out in
these columns the fact that some ap-
pies do better on the west side than
they do on the east This is notably
true of the Baldwin, King and North
ern Spy. The probability is that the
same is true of some other varieties.
1t may be laid down as a general rule
that any apple that is deficient in col
or will not do as we'll anywhere on the
coast as it will in the warm, sunshiny
valleys of eastern Washington, east
ern Oregon or Idaho. The Spleen
berg (Esopus) does we'll on the west
side and as this is one of our best
apples and always sells high, it can
be safely recommended for this Sec
ton. The Yellow Newton being def
cient in color will not do so well.
should want more light on that sub
ject before l would plant it for a
commercial orchard. The Jonathan
and Winesap may be safely planted
in the Sound country. 1t must not be
forgotten that the Winesap must be
thoroughly thinned, wherever it is
grown, for it is small apple and will
not pack fourier without this thin
ming. Even after this is done, we Will
have some four and half and i've
tier apples but we can sell the small
sizes of this apple better than those
of any other variety with which l
am acquainted. AS to the Arkansas
Black, reports differ as to this apple
on the west side. J. F. Cass, OF Skaglt
county, for instance, says that 1t does
we'll and he is the best authority, OF
whom I know anything, in that Sec
ton. Others near Sumner and Olym-
pia do not recommend it SO favorably
If | might be allowed to hazard an
opinion on this question, it would be
that the apple will do fairly we'll IN
Whatcom and Skagit counties and On
the islands about the Straits, but
would not do so well in some sections
further to the south | should be
pleased to hear from growers in any
of the west-side sections of the coun-
try who have tried this apple.
AS to the Rome Beauty on the west
side, | have no information. That the
trees will grow well and bear we'll
have no doubt, but even in the more
favored sections it does not always
color well. 1t certainly would not
color to it's best in any sections where
there is not plenty of sunshine and
heat. Potash in the soil helps the
color of apples very much and it might
be that this deficiency in the Rome
Beauty would be overcome by liberal
application of potash. If any one who
reads what I have said of this superb
apple has made a success and mas
raised it with fine color west of the
Cascades, I would take it as favor
if he would report the same to me.
AS | am not informed, l would not
recommend the extensive planting OF
THIS apple III any SecIloh Wh0l0 IL 10
off in color. Will my readers please
bear in mind that I have said again
and again that we must study the To-
cal adaptability of any apple before
it is planted extensively?
George Heatherbell, Colwood, B. c.,
asks where he can get some good
two or three-year-Old Arkansas Black
apple trees and also whether | think
this variety a good commercial kind
to plant. In answering the last in
ouiry, would refer him to what | have