216 Mississippi Valley Horlicultural Society. 



Tlie s:ime skill and attention devoted to the discovery and production of 

 new iippk'S, would, no doubt, have given us a fruit far superior in size, color,, 

 flavor and keeping qualities to any now in existence. For want of proper 

 attention but few new varieties of importance have been brought to notice 

 during the last decade. 



Many years ago I sent South for new varieties that were highly recom- 

 mended for testing in our latitude, hoping to get something that would im- 

 prove the keeping qualities of our fruit. I have fruited most of them and 

 (ind many identical with our old sorts. Xickajack proved to be our old Car- 

 olina Red, or Blue Pearmain; Buncome, Lady Finger, Buckingham and 

 Equinctley, so highly eulogized, produced our Fall Queen, that has been 

 ^rown from sprouts, in Kentucky, for more than half a century. I got some- 

 good keepers, however, but deficient in size and color necessary to make a 

 valuable market apple. Some of them may be grown profitably for home 

 market. 



This question of introducing new* varieties is one (jf viUil importance to- 

 the fruit-grower, and should be handled with great caution. What we want 

 in the South is an apple of good size and handsome a^jpearance, that w-ill 

 hang on the tree till frost, and not speck. 



In giving the following list it is difficult to determine how far Vjack I 

 should go, in naming new varieties; some of them may have been long fa- 

 miliar in certain localities, while they arc unknown at other places. I shall 

 first name those not generally grown, and a« they are described in our fruit 

 books, I will only give their value as a market fruit; and in naming this cata- 

 logue of apples valued for their market qualities, I shall regard size and ap- 

 pearance as the main requisites, rather than the cultivated taste of the ama- 

 teur or pomologist. 



I have nothing new to offer in the extra early sorts superior or equal to- 

 Red June, Early Harvest, and Red Astrachan. The Red Astrachan has not 

 been profitable with us. 



Hames is a few days later, larger and much more sightly. We have the 

 best of authority for this valuable apple in P. J. Berckmans, of Augusta, 

 Georgia. 



Summer King — Received from A. D. Webb, Bcjwling Green, -Kentucky. 

 This is a beautiful apple, of good size and excellent quality; an old variety, but 

 not known much out of its native locality; tree, a good grower, erect or 

 spreading when of bearing age; an early and good bearer alternate years :^ 

 season, 10th of July. 



We have a large list of varieties not in general cultivation, that are fine 

 market sorts, and ought to be tested in ditterent latitudes. They would, no 

 doubt, improve our present stock in many localities; but as they are all de- 

 scribed in the books, I will merely name them. 



Hagloe — A large, yellow sort, an improvement on the Horse, which seems 

 to be on the decline. 



Carolina Watson — The same season, red. 



