El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-05-24

the fruit resulting from this cross
is planted by intent or chance and the
seeding finally bears fruit that is an
Improvement over the parent trees
production To get one Seeding that Is
an Improvement by this chance OF the
right cross perhaps may not happen
once in 100000 tImes5 yet mostly by
this method through centuries has
come the development Of our fruits.
The present knowledge in this line IS
such that more can be accomplished
now in four or five years than for
merly in a hundred
The Original Apple.
Prof L H. Bailey, professor Of hor-
ticulture in Cornell university, in MS
volume on plant breeding, gives the
following interesting history Of the
first apples-
THE original apple is not definitely
known, but it was certainly small
and inferior grabbed fruit, borne most
1y in clusters When we find it first
described by historians it was still OF
small value. Pliny says that some
were so sour as to take the edge OF
a knife. But better and better seed
linEs continued to come up about habi-
tatiOns, until when printed descriptions
of fruit began to be made, about SUI
years ago, there were many kinds In
existence The size has improved
vastly, and with this increase came
the reduction Of the number of fruits
in a cluster, so that at the present
time while apple flowers are borne
in clusters, the fruits are generally
borne singly-that is, most OF the
flowers fail TO set fruit and complete
their mission when they have shed
their pollen for the benefit Of the one
which persists"
Prof. Bailey does not say why this
change of habit but it must have been
brought about by selection from trees
that by some chance. developed this
habit Of reducing the quantity in num-
Der and by so doing increased the
quality and size Of the fruit
Best Localities.
Speaking generally, our lower and
broader valleys are not well suited 10
the apple, but there are some sltua-
lions which are much better than
others. However, in most parts Of
these valley excellent early apples may
be produced. Our high maximum Of
heat through the summer and early
fail months is not favorable TO the late
apples; but in the higher foothills and
in the mountains as fine late apples
can be produced as can be grown any
where. Excepting the very early ripening
varieties, the apple does not relish the
forcing heat which brings such per-
lection to the peach and the grape; but
to insure late ripening and long keep
ing. with accompanying crispnessY
juCiness, and flavor, it must have at
mOspheric surroundings taYorlng
slower development.
Soils for the Apple.
The apple will do well in any soil
excepting the very heavy clays and
adobe as one extreme, and the very
light, open, sandy soil as the other
extreme. The roots should never be
in standing water. The apple likes
a moist soil, but il must be well
drained The soil which is perhaps
the best for this fruit is a rich, moist,
clay lOam The subsoil must be sound
and open to the passage Of moisture.
A clay subsOil which holds water is
the most unfavOrab1e condition.
Pruning
The method of shaping fruit trees
described in a former article on prun-
ing answers admirably for the apple.
Head trees low. and If the tree is Of
spreading habit and it is desired TO
have it grow more erect. prune TO
an inner bud. If it is desired to have
the tree spread, cut to an outer bud
Always have a definite purpose when
you prune and remember that the fol-
lowing growth viii be in the direction
Of the last sound bud left on the