TRANSACTIONS OF HORTICULTUKAl, SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILL. 269 



In answer to a question which are his most profitable market apples, 

 he said : Willow, Domine, Ben Davis, Minkler. (My wife don't think 

 as much of Minkler as I do. — Laughter.) These are all late keepers. 

 For summer and fall apples there is no discount on the Duchess — I 

 couldn't keep house without her, (this is one of our old sorts which 

 peddlers sell at fifty cents to a dollar apiece as a " Russian apple"); 

 Benoni comes next; and for fall Maiden's Blush and Cayuga Red Streak. 



A Voice. — Which are the best five sorts for home use? 



Answer. — Benoni, Cayuga Red Streak, Jonathan, Grimes' Golden 

 and Willow — then add Ben Davis, so as to be sure and always have 

 plenty of apples of some sort. 



Mr. Galusha called attention to the Wythe as one of the most 

 promising among our winter apples, saying that as far as yet tested it 

 combines more good qualities of tree and fruit than any variety in 

 general cultivation. 



He also spoke of the Salome, which some members of this Society, 

 not present, had tested, and were quite enthusiastic in its praise; and 

 referred the members to page 133 of vol. 12, and also page 22 of vol. 

 13 (then printing) of State Horticultural Reports. 



J. D. Piper said he set seven cions of Wythe, four years ago last 

 spring, in the tops of bearing trees, and this year they bore seven bushels 

 of apples ; that the apple is larger, handsomer and better than Rawles' 

 Janet, its parent; that all who use it like it. 



Dr. Slade. — I have about one thousand apple-trees in orchard. I 

 planted from two to three hundred Golden Russets with the intention of 

 top-grafting them with better sorts, and did "graft part of them with 

 Jonathan and others, but from one hundred Russet trees not grafted I 

 have realized more profit than from an equal number of any other winter 

 variety. The apples keep well, and have brought a better price than 

 others, as they were marketed later in the season. 



Mr. Minkler. — All the russet family should be kept in the dark and 

 have the air excluded from them, and then the apples will come out 

 sound and crisp in spring. Our oldest orchards are failing and we must 

 set new ones ; but we should not plant them upon the same site — select 

 other good land. 



Mr. Whitney. — New or fresh land should be selected every time in 

 planting orchards — that which has never before been in fruit-trees. 



Mr. Galusha. — I would like to have the experience of members 

 with Grimes' Golden. It fruited for me the first time this year, and cer- 

 tainly surpassed my expectations ; the trees seem to do pretty well and they 



