The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1906-06-01


in many cases at least it would be
worth as much to the farmers. 1t
often happens that failures are but
guide posts to success, for they tell
us what to avoid.
Now let us make specific applica-
tion of these principles. There is a
controversy over the so-called Spencer
seedless apple. Will it pay to plan.
it extensively? What say the expert
ment stations? Has one of them rec
commended it as of commercial value?
Has the department of pomology in
connection with the department of ag-
riculture ever endorsed this apple? G.
B. Bracket was quoted once as en-
dorsing this apple, but he turned the
whole thing down with thud by de-
nying that he ever said anything of
the kind. So far as l know, not one
of the experiment stations in the Unit
ed States has ever endorsed this new
old thing as having any commercial
value Does H. E. Van Deman, who
was for eight years at the head of
the department Of pomology at Wash
ington, D. c., endorse this fruit as
having any value except as novelty?
Turn to The Ranch of September 10,
1905, and see what he has to say as to
it's origin and it's value Is this seed
less apple endorsed by the fruit grow
ers of Colorado, the state from which
it comes? Read the following from
the pen of T. Lytle, of Mazanola, Col,
clipped from the Rural New-Yorker of
May ~, 1906:
Regarding the "Seedless' apple,
know of no one in this part of the
Arkansas valley who is in any way
interested in planting it, and what
strikes me as little peculiar is that
no representative of this "Seedless
Apple Co." appeared before the meet
ings of the United Fruit Growers as
ISOLATION at Denver at any session.
Delegates representing some $3,000,
900 output were present for three
days, but not one word about Seed
less" Session held on April 8, 6, 7
and at Albany Hotel. AS these ses-
siOns were the subject of much notice
in the daily press at the time, and for
some time previous, and as we were
entertained by the Chamber of Com
MERGE, wholesale fruit commission
dealers, general freight and express
agents, Denver Fruit Growers Asso-
citation, the governor by reception,
also the mayor, we certainly appeared
to be known.
would by no means discourage any
one from testing this apple, but I
would not encourage any one to
plant it extensively till it is tested
and can receive the endorsement of
our experiment stations and the lead
ing pomologists of the country. Apply
the apostles rule above quoted, and
if it proves to be good, hold fast to
it and plant it extensively. How any
honest man can do more than this, |
do not know.
After saying what 1 have above rel
ative to the value of the experiment
stations, it would look like a careless
omission if l did not mention with
hearty approval the additional appro-
priation made by the present congress
for these stations. Heretofore the sum
of $4,000 annually has been appropri-
ated for each of these stations. The
sum is to be Immediately raised to
$4,000 annually and is to keep on in
creasing till the sum of 100000 is
reached and is to remain permanently
at that sum. This is a very wise use
of the public money. 1t is to be hoped
that when this full amount is real
lied the state college may see it's way
clear to reopen the Puyallup station,
Things are SO different on the west
side of the Cascade range from what
they are in eastern Washington that
the whole state can not be properly
served without carrying on expert
ments on this side also. 1t is true that
the west side does receive attention
to a considerable extent in the study
of insects and plant diseases Prof.
Melander as NAV be seen by referring