7G 



Voronesh 27. — A promising variety imported under this number from Yoronesh, 

 Eiissia. Fruit very lai-ge, bright red, round, flattish, flesh juicy, sub-acid, pit small, 

 lipe 4th August; tree hardy, vigorous. 



Griiner Glas. — In appearance of tree and fruit resembling the last, but later. 

 Fruit large, bright-red, slightly more acid than last, ripe 8th August ; very produc- 

 tive. 



Bessarablan (or Eussian 62). — Tree a spreading grower, twigs slender, with 

 prominent buds; very hardy; fruit large, about same size as Wragg, round, de- 

 pressed, stem long, colour, dark-red when fully ripe, good quality, ripe 5th August. 

 Russian 207. — Medium to large, round, flattened above, bi-ight-red, long stem, 

 fair quality, juicy : tree upright, one of the most vigorous growers; ripe 6th August, 

 resembles Voronesh 27. 



Vladimir. — Here again as in the case of Ostheim there seems to be two 

 varieties under the same name. This one, imported by Prof. Budd, is a very early 

 cherry, the earliest of all here, ripe 28th July. Fruit medium size, nearly black 

 when ripe, roundish oblate, mild sub-acid, very pleasant, tree vigorous and hardy. 



Vladimir. (Imported by Mr Gribb from Moscow). — Is distinguished by its 

 slender twigs, and more conservative habit of growth ; shows every sign of perfect 

 hardiness. I cannot speak of the fruit. Still another Vladimir is on trial here. 

 This was introduced by a later importation of the Abbotsford Fruit-Growers' 

 Association. It diff'ers entirely from the two foregoing, resembling the Mazzard 

 family in leaf and habit of growth much more than the Morello. This one has 

 not yet fruited. 



Montmorency Ordinaire. — This is of the Morello type, but is not a late importa- 

 tion. It is one of the hardiest of the catalogued sorts and is worthy of more extended 

 cultivation than it now receives. Fruii about the size of Early Richmond, dark-red, 

 mildly sub-acid, very pleasant. Ripe, 2nd August. 



Observations on the behaviour of the above selections and a number of others 

 growing at Abbotsford on gravelly soil for several years, were made this season. 

 They had made a most satisfactory growth and, as already stated, with one or two 

 exceptions, had not suffered from the cold of winter. Fullei' intbrmation will be 

 published later. Due attention is being given to seedling production in this as well 

 as the other lines of fruit culture, 



RUSSIAN APRICOTS. 



In answer to a letter from the editor of American Garden last August, asking for 

 my experience and opinion on the behaviour and value of these fruits, the follo\vin<a- 

 note was wjitten, which so nearly covers the ground that it is not considered 

 necessary to add anything further at present : 



" The Russian Apricots, as a class — and they do not appear to differ much in 

 variety as far as tested here — seem to rank in hardiness with the Lombard plum. 

 The trees lost several inches of young wood last winter, and also show evidence of 

 injury to the stems. Alexis and Cathei'ine appear to be most promising. They have 

 good foliage and are vigorous growers. The soil and treatment depend somewhat 

 on the stocks upon which these apricots are worked. They are doing well in many 

 places on sandy loam, which tends to hasten maturing of the wood in the autumn. 



In advance of moie extended tests, it would not be safe to call them " a valu- 

 able acquisition." I do not think they will be grown to any extent in peach-growini/- 

 districts, and it is questionable if they are sufficiently hardj' to do well north of the 

 peach line. They biid and graft readily on the myrobolan and American plum (P. 

 Americana.) The latter, on account of its hardiness, I consider the most desirable 

 stock. Crown grafts on this have made a growth of from two to three feet since 

 spring, when they were set out." 



