86 STATE HORTICULTURA.L SOCIETY. 



Springer of Fremont, Wis. He said that the varieties most successful in 

 his vicinity are Oldenburgh, Tetofsky, Haas, Walbridge, and Wealthy, 

 and thus continued: 



I do not consider the Russians the coming apple for the northwest. I 

 am not familiar with the Russian varieties, but I never saw a good show 

 of Russians at any state or other show of apples. No doubt some are good 

 but I do not believe there is a Russian that, tree and fruit, will come up 

 to the Wealthy, McMahon, and several other new apples (seedlings). 

 The Oldenburgh, I believe, is German. Its seedlings have proven better 

 in some respects than their parent. Some are good keepers and have as 

 good trees. The Alexander (Russian) has given some good seedlings, bet- 

 ter in quality and better in tree. They do not blight. But there are 

 many chance seedlings that in fruit-bearing, quality, size, and beauty equal 

 any Russian I ever knew. As for double working, I do not approve of it. 

 In the first place, trees would have to be sold at three prices to make it 

 pay. (2.) Most trees fail in the crotches, and if grafted below would 

 spoil in the crotches. If, for instance, you used a Virginia crab for stock 

 and then grafted in the limbs near the body, it would make a good tree, 

 but the price would be high at which you could afford to sell. I would 

 prefer the Virginia to any other stock. 



Mr. S. I. Freeborn of Richland Center, Wis., reported, as the varieties 

 bearing best in that part of his state, the following, in order of fruitful- 

 ness: McMahon, Wealthy, Titovka, Hibernal, Talman Sweet, Haas, and 

 Fameuse. Considerable trouble with "top blight" was reported. It was 

 worse than ever, having begun immediately after the " cold spell " of June, 

 and was worst on Alexander. " Some of the Russians are blightiog badly, 

 but no worse than American varieties, except Alexander." Continuing, 

 Mr. Freeborn said : 



I still have great faith in Russian fruits as something to build upon in 

 this cold climate for they are far beyond the American varieties for 

 hardiness; and not only in apples, but in pears, plums, and cherries as 

 well. There are many kinds of Russian apple which seem to blight hardly 

 any. The Longfield is one of them. I could not at this time give a list of 

 the blighting and non blighting kinds. We have new and promising seed- 

 lings, notably those raised from Switzer seed crossed with Oldenburgh. I 

 consider the Hibernal and Enormous the most promising kinds to use for 

 stocks for top-grafting, of anything I am acquainted with. 



The third letter was from Mr. O. F. Brand of Faribault, Minn. He 

 said the pomologists of his state had not yet been able to find any apple 

 among the Russians having leaves, bark, and buds adapted to their climate 

 of extreme changes. "They are evidently short-lived and can not be 

 depended upon." Mr. Brand was enthusiastic in commendation of the 

 Peerless as the only kind resisting blight, which he reports as being worse 



