Varieties

A proper soil and a good location and site having been

selected, the next important question to be decided is the varieties

to be planted. So much and so variable advice is given on this

question that many persons are at a loss as to what to plant and too

often decide the matter by planting the wrong varieties. Rightly

viewed, the question of varieties is a comparatively simple one.

Personal preference, tempered by careful study of certain factors and

good judgment, are all that are required. Beginners, especially, are

too apt to rely entirely on another's opinion. The only safe way is to

learn the facts and then decide for yourself.



We have already indicated that soil is a determinant in the choice of

varieties. This should be absolute. It is very unwise to try to grow

any variety on a soil where experience has shown that it does not do

well. The experience of your neighbors is the best guide in this

respect.



The limitations of climate should also be carefully heeded. An apple

may be at its best in one latitude or one situation and at its worst

in another. Find out from experienced growers in your region, or from

your State Experiment Station what varieties are best adapted

climatically to the place where you live. It is an excellent rule

never to plant a variety that you cannot grow at least as well as any

one else, or still better, to plant a variety that you can grow better

than anyone else. Grow something that not everyone can grow. Do not

try to produce more of a variety of which there is already an over

supply.



A few examples may make this more clear. Western New York is the home

of the Baldwin, the Twenty Ounce and the King. Albemarle Pippins grown

on the eastern slope of the Blue Ridge are famous. The Spitzenburg

appears at its best in the Northwest. The Northern Spy, the McIntosh,

and the Fameuse are not to be excelled as they are grown in the

Champlain Valley, in Vermont, or in Maine. To attempt to compete with

these sections in the growing of these varieties, except under equally

favorable conditions, would be foolish. Your section probably grows

some varieties to perfection. Find out what these varieties are and

plant them.



All these are general factors to be observed which cannot be

specifically settled without knowing the soil and particular locality.

Certain other factors governing the choice of varieties can be more

definitely outlined. If the prospective orchardist will get these

factors thoroughly in mind and apply them with judgment mistakes in

planting should be much more rare. The more important ones are: The

purpose for which the fruit is intended to be used, whether for the

general market, a dessert or fancy trade, or for culinary and general

table use; whether the trees are to be permanent and long lived, or

temporary and used as fillers; whether the earliest possible income is

desired or whether this is to be secondary to the future development

of the orchard; whether the stock of the particular variety is strong

or weak growing; whether the variety is high, medium, or low as to

quality; and whether the market is to be local, distant, or export.



The following tables were originally compiled by Professor C.S. Wilson

of Cornell University. They have been slightly revised and modified

for our purpose. We believe that they are essentially correct and that

they will be a safe guide for the reader to follow in his selection of

varieties:



GENERAL MARKET APPLES DESSERT OR FANCY TRADE

COMMERCIAL BOX WELL



Baldwin McIntosh

Ben Davis Northern Spy

Hubbardson Fameuse

Northern Spy Wagener

King Grimes Golden

Rome Beauty Yellow Newton

Oldenburg Red Canada

Alexander King

Twenty Ounce Sutton

Winesap Hubbardson

York Imperial Esopus Spitzenburg



CULINARY AND GENERAL TABLE USE



Rhode Island Greening Grimes Golden

Gravenstein Twenty Ounce

Newtown Yellow Bellflower

Alexander Oldenburg

Tolman Sweet Sweet Winesap



GOOD PERMANENT GOOD TEMPORARY

TREES TREES--FILLERS



Baldwin McIntosh

Rhode Island Greening Wealthy

Northern Spy Wagener

McIntosh Rome Beauty

*King Oldenburg

*Twenty Ounce Jonathan

*Hubbardson Alexander

Alexander Twenty Ounce

Rome Beauty Hubbardson





* When this variety is set as a permanent tree it should be top

worked on a hardier stock, such as Northern Spy.



Age at which variety may be expected to begin to fruit. (Add two years

for a paying crop).



FIVE YEARS OR UNDER EIGHT YEARS AND UP



Rome Beauty Esopus Spitzenburg

Oldenburg Fall Pippin

Maiden Blush Golden Russet

Wagener Northern Spy

Yellow Newton Baldwin

McIntosh Gravenstein

Fameuse Tolman Sweet

King

Rhode Island Gr.

Twenty Ounce

Winesap



ESPECIALLY HARDY STOCKS POOR RATHER WEAK GROWERS*



Northern Spy King

Tolman Sweet Twenty Ounce

Ben Davis Esopus Spitzenburg

Baldwin Hubbardson

Fameuse Grimes Golden

Winter Banana Sutton

Canada Red



* Other varieties are medium.



HIGH IN QUALITY LOCAL OR PEDDLER'S VARIETIES



McIntosh Rhode Island Greening

Esopus Spitzenburg Wealthy

Northern Spy McIntosh

Newtown Fameuse

Gravenstein Tolman Sweet

Red Canada Grimes Golden

Fameuse Jonathan

Grimes Golden

Hubbardson GOOD GENERAL MARKET VARIETIES

Rhode Island Greening

Baldwin

MEDIUM TO POOR QUALITY Rhode Island

King

Ben Davis Twenty Ounce

Oldenburg McIntosh

Rome Beauty Hubbardson

Roxbury Russet Northern Spy



GOOD EXPORT VARIETIES



Baldwin Newtown

Ben Davis Esopus Spitzenburg

Northern Spy Jonathan



Only the best and most common varieties for the more northern

latitudes have been included in this list as it would make it too

cumbersome to classify all our known varieties. It must be remembered

that this is not an arbitrary classification and that it is made as a

guide to indicate to the reader the general characteristics of the

variety. It should be used as such and not taken literally. The

characters of the different varieties grade into each other. For

example, the McIntosh is very high and the Ben Davis is very low in

quality but the King and the Twenty Ounce are neither very good nor

very poor, but midway between.



We must again remind the reader that the choice of varieties is a

matter of judgment, tempered by the facts regarding them. One who is

not capable of rendering such judgment after studying his conditions

and the characteristics and requirements of leading varieties had

better stay out of the apple business entirely, as he will often be

called on for the exercise of good judgment in caring for the orchard.

The facts here given are intended as suggestive. The reader who

desires to know more of a particular variety will do well to consult

Beach's "Apples of New York," published by the Geneva Experiment

Station.