In 1917, Purdue University took over control of the experimental orchard in Lawence County Indiana. They put out this publication at that time to document the research done there previously on Apples. Interesting is the planting of 10,000 seeds of known maternal parentage in search of new varieties and also plantings of known crosses.
The most interesting fact was that the Society in 1912 paid $500 to transport a carload of soil from Wenatchee Washington to Indiana to study if the soil in the Pacific Northwest was the key to their successful apple growing. A pit 10x18 feet by 3 feet deep was made and one tree of Grimes Golden and one of Winesap were planted in it. As a control, trees were also planted in native soil. In 1916, growth and yields were evaluated and concluded that the soil didn’t make a difference.
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I found a brief report by the orchard superintendent Joe Burton in 1908 discussing the first results of the planting of seeds. About 240 fruited with none being identical to the parent. But none were worthless and some will need to be fully evaluated for possible release. He was surprised how many were sweet apples and noted the quality of the fruit of the sweet apples were generally better than the sour types.
Here’s a quote on his thoughts:
“We are expecting about 1,000 seedlings to bear next year.
There are two very trying things connected with this work: (1) j
To destroy a very fine kind just because it is not any better than
some other apple; (2) to find out whether it is, or is not better than
another. They must be tasted early and tasted late. It will
require at least a dozen tastings for each variety. 1,000 varieties
would then require 12,000 tastings. Most of this must be done
during September and October, or during a period of sixty days. That is to say, I must taste 200 apples a day for sixty days. The
Lord pity my stomach!”
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