The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1922-12-27
WIRE CAGE FOR
$4,000 TREE.
New Jersey Farmer Sold Freak
Branch Which Bore New
Variety of Fruit.
BOUGHT BY NURSERY FIRM
Owner Was Paid $1,000 and viii Get
Two Cents for Each Bud That
Is DeveIoped-WiII Be Sub
iected to Exhaustive Tests.

/ constructed around the $1,000 apple
tree in the orchard of Lewis Mood, q
farmer living at Ferrell, in South Har-
rison township, Gloucester county
Mood recently sold branch from this
particular tree, producing an entirely
new variety of apple, to one Of the big
nursery firms of the country for what
| is said to be a record-breaking price for
this fruit.
The public will have to wait two
years or more before it can learn very
much about the Mood apple, as it is
being guarded with the greatest
secrecy, indicated by the erection of
the tree All that Is known SO far is
that 1t Is a red apple Of exceptional
size and sweetness. There Is no other
apple just like 1t IN this country, so
far as horticultural experts have been
able to determine.
To Be Tested.
This new variety will be subjected tC
the most exhaustive tests under vari
GUS climatic and soil conditions
throughout the United States, before
the nursery firm which has bought 1t
is willing to place 1t upon the market.
Orchard science as applied through top
budding will make it possible to pro-
duce the new fruit In quantities large
enough for experimental purposes with
in q year or two.
The new apple Is purely an accident
of nature, being a freak from one of
the ordinary orchard varieties. Mood
noticed several years ago that one O.
the branches Of a particular tree In
his orchard was bearing an apple that
was different, both in color and flavor
from the fruit from other limbs on the
same tree. He watched this apple care
fully for season after season. He took
off some buds and started other trees.
The big red Mood apples were In such
demand among his customers that last
season he sold $75 worth of apples
from the original tree alone.
Nursery Men Interested.
A representative Of a nursery com
pany learned that the Jersey farmer
had an apple that was attracting atten-
ton and he called to see Mood. II had
thought Of trying to put out this new
apple myself" said Mood in talking of
his find Il put Arice on the apple
that I thought would keep those fel
They got the head of the company here
to look over the apple and to see the
tree and we came to terms"
Just what these terms are are set
forth In q bill OF sale and surveyors
record of the exact location OF the
rec, which have been fled in the Glou-
,ester county clerks office at Wood
Jury. Even the particular branch of
he tree is designated In this unusual
'ecord.
According to the agreement on file |
which is corrObOrated by Mood In per- |
onal conversation, he has received |
Il 900 in cash and is to get $4,000 in |
royalties at the rate of two cents for |
ach bud that is taken from the orig I
nal branch or any trees developed |
rom It, These buds will be grated |
pon stock to produce trees of the new
arfety.
give thousand dollars seems like
ig price for an apple" remarked one
,ell informed nurseryman regarding
foods sale, "but in these days a new
pple Of exceptional quality, color ant
lie is worth a small fortune to any
ne who has the courage and organiza-
ion to introduce 1t to the nation"