72 



Arabka (Imported by Ellwanger & Barry). — Large, oblong, irregularly ribbed, 

 dull red on sunny side, shading to dark green. Calyx closed, basin shallow, deeply 

 wrinkled. Stem short, thick set, in closed cavity. Flesh greenish, white, rather 

 coarse, mildly acid. Season November to March. In the west the tree has been 

 somewhat subject to blight, but it has not been affected this wa}' in the east. In 

 hardiness it may be graded with "Wealthy. This will undoubtedly be valuable in the 

 colder districts. Trees planted ten years ago at Abbottsford have been bearing 

 heavily and regularly the last four ^^ears. The Arabka imjjoned by the United 

 States' Department of Agriculture is quite different — an early fall apple of the 

 Duchess type, very vigorous and hardy. 



Gipsy Girl. — One of the hardiest and most vigorous of all the Eussians. Speci- 

 mens were taken this season from trees planted two years ago on the Experimental 

 Farm. The fruit is large, highly coloured, of fair qualll^ , and keeps till Februar3\ 

 Wherever this tree has come under my notice, it has been doing well. 



Royal Table. — This apple is of North G-erman origin, a later importation by Prof. 

 Budd. The trees at Abbotsford, are compact growei's, with round topped heads, 

 slender twigs ayd medium sized leaves; they have made vigorous growth, and seem 

 perfectly hardy. Fruit medium to large, conical, ribbed, greenish with dull red stripes 

 on the sunny side, calj-x open, basin wide, wrinkled, stem short thick, cavity wide 

 shallow, flesh greenish white, inclined to be tough, quality fair. Season; at this date 

 (January 25) specimens in my cellar are firm and in good eating condition. It should 

 keep through February. As already stated notes were taken on a considerable num- 

 ber of varieties which fruited at the Experimental Farm and at Abbotsford the past 

 3"ear, but it is thought better to reserve such information for future publication. 



IMPORTATION AND PROPAGATION. 



Arrangements were made last winter by the Fruit-Growers Association of 

 Ontario, through the Secretar}^, Mr. Woolverton, for the importation of a large 

 collection of scions of Russian apples, pears and plums. By arrangement with Mr. 

 AVoolverton this consignment was placed in my hands to be propagated, for 

 trial on this and the branch Farms, tmdfor distribution to the members of the associa- 

 tion. Owing to the length of time in transit, the scions were not in good condition 

 when received in March. They were root grafted at once, and set out at the proper 

 time in spring. Last fall it was found, that 44 out of 45 varieties of apples had 

 grown, giving in round numbers 1,350 trees. Specimen trees of 6 out of 7 varieties of 

 the pears were obtained — in all 78 trees ; 15 trees of one variety of plum also made 

 a satisfactory growth. It is proposed to increase these as rapidl}^ as practicable for 

 dissemination, and trial at different points in the Dominion. A number will be top 

 grafted next spring, with a view to obtaining specimens of the fruit at as early a date 

 as possible. This work of distribution of rare plants and new fruits, which the 

 Ontario Fruit-Grower's Association has practiced among its members during a num- 

 ber of years past, is one highly to be commended, and is productive of valuable 

 results. 



SEEDLINGS, NATIVE AND RUSSIAN. 



Of the seedling apples raised from seed imported under your direction from 

 Russia, about three thousand have been planted in a special " seedling orchard." 

 Thej have been set 5 feet apait each way and will remain there until some idea of 

 their probable value can be formed, when the more promising will be transplanted to 

 permanent positions for more extended trial. Smaller assortments of these have 

 been sent to the branch Farms for testing in a similar manner. 



Efforts have also been diiected towards gathering in, all the native seedlings 

 which have been reported as worthy of propagation, or have come under my notice, 

 as possessing good points. 



Thus far, thirty seedlings have been collected, principally from the older apple 

 growing districts of the Eastern Townships, from Montreal and Northern Ontario. 

 Those received in spring were crown grafted, most of which made satisfactory 



