IIQ BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



being hardier tluiii Red Astrachan. It is a good bearer ; the fruit 

 hangs on remarivabl}*, considering its size, and sells well in market. 

 "With care it will keep all through November, and sometimes longer. 

 It is not tart enough for a good cooking apple, nor good enough for 

 dessert, but is just the thing to get the first premium on at a fair, 

 from an average "Fruit Committee." It is a Russian, imported 

 man}' years ago. 



lUabinouka. — This is another Russian, of the Department of 

 Agriculture's importation in 1870. "When n\y two trees of it first 

 liore I thought it the Alexander, which it resembles in size and color. 

 It proves, however, to be distinct, the shape being different and the 

 quality much better. The tree seems to be entireh* hardy, thrifty 

 and productive. Season, October and November. 



Plumb's Cider. — This is a large yellow apple, faintly striped with 

 red on the sunny side. The tree is hardy and a very vigorous 

 grower, but at twelve years old has not shown much productiveness 

 with me. It is, however, regarded as a profitable variety in Wis- 

 consin, whence I obtained it, and is well spoken of in the report of 

 the Iowa Horticultural Society. I suppose cider could be made 

 from it, but it is not a cider apple in the ordinary use of the term. 

 It is a mild, pleasant flavored, late fall apple, sometimes keeping till 

 January. 



Wolf Rh'cr, is another "Wisconsin apple, perfectly' "ironclad" as 

 regards the winter's cold, a strong grower, and reported to be pro- 

 ductive. It is as large and handsome as the Alexander, and, sa3's 

 the honest gentleman who sent it to me, "not much better." Sea- 

 son, late fall and early winter. It has not yet fruited with me. 



Winter Apples. 



Fameuse, (or " Snow apple,") is a Canadian apple, which we all 

 trj' to grow, but in the severest localitie>s Avith only moderate success. 

 It is one of the best of desert apples, and though small, one of the 

 handsomest and most salable. The tree is more tender in the nur- 

 sery, and after being transplanted, than when it gets larger. I have 

 lost no trees after the}- have come to bearing, but a good many l)e- 

 fore. I grow them most successfully by scattering them through 

 the nurser}' at pi'oper distances, and letting them remain when the 

 rest of the nursery is taken up. Season, early winter. Further 

 south it is a late fall apple, and in warm seasons the same with me. 

 Occasionally it will keep nearly all winter. 



