The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1922-02-17
The Most Profitable Apple,
This District.
(By p. 5. Darlington.)
Dist. Hort. Inspector.

(By p. 5. Darlington.)
Dist. Hort. Inspector.
There is probably more interest De-
inc manifested in new orchard plant
inp in this district the coming spring
than has been the case for the past
eight years. This is especially true IN
the newer orchard sections, such as
the upper Okanogan yalley-Tonasket
to Oroville.
With the experience that has been
had in the Wenatchee valley proper
and the older orchard sections in TINS
district. it would seem that the newsr
and similar orchard communities
might profit by some of the mistakes
made in the older sections, especially
as regards the selection OF varie-
lies. Ii would therefore seem that
discussion of varieties best adapted
for planting in this district might not
he out of place at this time.
This is commercial apple district
We are not growing apples for our
own personal tastes but for profit For
this purpose we must grow not only
the most desirable market varieties,
but also varieties that are good. reg
ular producers and that are adapted
to our conditions Experience in the
older orchard sections of this district
has shown that the number OF varie-
ties that meet these conditions are
very limited In fact the writer be-
lieves that seven varieties will include
about ali that have stood the test and
that seven are enough to provide most
Of the needs OF commercial fruit dis
trict. With this in mind the writer has
asked some eight or ten of the best
posted fruit men in the Wenatchee val
ley to name seven varieties best
adapted to this district and in the or
der of their preference. 1t was found
that there was so little difference of
opinions in choosing the first seven
that it is not worth while enumerating
the difference In fact the following Is
practically a concensus of opinions of
those that reported:
1-Winesap
delicious.
3-Stayman.
Rome
White Winter Pearmain
6-Winter Banana.
Jonathan.
A discussion of the merits and de-
merits of these varieties should be of
interest here.
Winesaps.
Winesap Is good producer.
good seller. brings a good price
and is good keeper. That is
about all that can be asked of good
commercial apple II has probably
averaged for the grower in the past
| ten years more money per tree or per
acre than any other variety. Winesap
has some faults, probably the two
worst OF which are. First: There is
tendency for this variety to produce
smaller and smaller apples as the tree
gets older. Second: There is also
| tendency for this variety to water core
badly. These two faults can be readily
overcome-the first, by proper pruing,
thinning and fertilizing, and the sec
| ond. by not allowing the apples to
hang on the trees too late. This variety
Is best adapted TO the lower valleys.
which have "a long growing season. 1t
should not be planted extensively in
the higher valleys or higher attitudes
where the growing season is much
shorter than under the Columbia
river conditions.
Delicious.
Delicious has grown in popularity
very rapidly in the past ten years. For
number of years past this variety
has topped the market. 1t is a hardy
tree, but only fair producer. Deli
cfous does we'll in all parts of the dis.
trict. but because of its extreme hardi-
ness 10 low temperatures. and because
II is better keeper and generally
more highly colored under short seas
on conditions rather than long seasons
it is especially adapted to the higher
valleys. Delicious grown under Co.
lumbia River conditions natures too
early to be good storage apple. and
must be handled on an early market
Delicious. together with other soft va
rites. such as Jonathan. Spitz. Ban
ana, King David and Grimes. now con-
stitute about 45 per cent of the plant
in this district. These varieties should
all be moved not later than November
!. There is therefore some question as
to the advisability of extensively in
creasing the plant of Delicious under
Columbia river conditions to what
might be beyond the ability of trans
portation systems to handle in season.
Stayman.
Stayman is regular and a heavy
producer and high quality eating
apple. In the past 1t has not been pop
ular with the trade. due largely to the
fact that it has not been handled as
carefully as need be to get it to the
trade in prime condition. Stayman is
growing in popularity as we learn
more and more about the proper meth
DDS of handing it. 1t is tender skinned.
easily bruised and stem punctured.
and has tendency to scald in cold
storage. but not as readily in common
storage. We are finding WAYS and
means of overcoming all these
troubles to large extent and it seems
reasonable TO expect that Stayman
viii increase in popularity, with both
the trade and the grower This variety
does best under Columbia river condi-
tons and in the lower yalIevc II
should not be planted in the higher
valleys as it is one of the most suscep-
fibie varieties We grow to winter in
jury.