The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1905-03-01

| have in times past read considerable
of this so-called seedless apple, but
always considered it somewhat myth
CAL or at best as lacking complete
verification. Admitting the truth OF
the said article, what do you think of
the idea of the apple being cooling
moth proof on account of being bloom
less?" | have read the article in
the Scientific American referred to by
friend Grindrod, and can say that
there is no doubt that such an apple
exists But much of the article is
the worst kind of "tommy-rot," and
this will appear before l get through
with this matter
Before answering this query as to
the seedless apple referred to, | want
to say some things in general. Any
new thing has to run the gauntlet OF
ridicule and hard knocks. This per-
haps is a good thing, for in this way
the worthless is most likely to be
killed off, but not always. That which
is really meritoriouS is apt to win
in the long run, but sometimes, like
truth, it may be crushed to earth, but
will rise again. John F. Spencer, OF
Grand Junction, Col, has introduced
the seedless apple referred to in this
article A company has taken hold
of this apple and it is proposed to
propagate them by the thousands,
even the millions, and sell them to
the fruit growers of the world at
enormous prices. This whole thing
smacks of a commercial graft. 1t is
supposed by the men who are exploit
ing this apple that many fruit grow
ers will almost fall over themselves
to get this wonder No doubt but many
man will be deceived by this system
attic advertising into buying this apple
to his sorrow There is but one thing
in favor of this apple that has either
truth or merit in it, and that is that
it is seedless. 1t is not claimed that
it is superior in quality to many ap-
Piles that are now grown with seeds
in them. | do not believe that any
man with any regard to truth Will
claim that it is equal in quality to
many of our we'll known apples, such
as the Grimes, Spitzenberg, Rome
Beauty, Jonathan and many others.
The highest praise said in it's favor,
so far as quality is concerned, is that
it has a flavor similar to the Wine
sap Others claim that it is far from
being as good as this old Well-knOWn
apple They say that it is a hard
apple, like the Lawyer or Delaware
Red Winter, and never gets mellow
and delicious. But if it should prove
to be all that is claimed for it-as
good as the Winesap-it still must
take it's place a long way from the
top of the list. l would much rather
have a good apple with seeds than
poor one without.
This apple has been pretty thor
oughly discussed in the leading fruit
and farm journals of the country, such
as the Rural New Yorker, the West
ern Fruit Grower, the Pacific Fruit
World, the Practical Fruit Grower
and many others that come to The
Ranch office as exchanges. The lead
ing horticulturists of the United States
have had their say and with scarcely
an exception have condemned the ex-
travagant claims put forth in favor
of this so-called new apple. 1t has
been abundantly shown that seedless
apples are no new thing under the
sun. | have picked seedless apples
in my own orchard quite frequently
and can do it again. Such things are
freaks of nature. If Mr.. Spencer can