STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



25 



apples would be of no special advantage to this locality. These 

 so-called fall and winter varieties of northern Wisconsin become 

 summer and fall apples when brought this far south. I saw 

 nothing equal to the Minkler or Roman Stem among the Rus- 

 sians for an all around winter apple for Illinois. 



For early summer the White ( Yellow ) Transparent, Early 

 Champagne and Red Wine may prove of value to us, but in the 

 autumn and winter lists a number of the old standard sorts are 

 far ahead of any Russians I saw for Illinois. For those who 

 wish to test some of the most promising varieties, those above 

 mentioned are the best in our opinion ; no notes having been 

 taken of those whose appearance condemned them as unworthy 

 of trial. 



Mr. Tuttle, who believes firmly in the future of the Russians 

 for northern latitude, expressed the opinion that probably for 

 central Iowa and Illinois there were varieties among the native 

 sorts that would prove of more value than the Russians. 



The Hibernal resembles somewhat the Minkler in growth of 

 tree, but the Hibernal is hardy as iron, and would, in my opin- 

 ion, be a splendid stock on which to top work our semi-hardy 

 varieties. I desire to call the attention of those of our mem- 

 bers, who are using the crab stock for this purpose, to this variety. 

 The crabs do well for the nursery, but are of too slow growth in 

 the orchard on which to top work our strong growing varieties. 



A little device that interested me was a picking box or form 

 into which the berry box was placed while being filled with black- 

 berries or raspberries, by the picker. The box was made of tin 

 of a suitable size to receive the quart box; the box has a hinged 

 cover with a funnel shaped hole through which the fruit is drop- 

 ped into the berry box within. There is a slot on one side for 

 the strap which goes around the picker's waist. This box pre- 

 vents waste in picking fruit, and the box being held by a strap 

 both hands are left free to gather the fruit. Mr. Tuttle has also 

 a very sensible picking ticket which is hereto attached. The 

 letters a a a are for one quart, b b b for two quarts, and so on 

 up to eight quarts for the letter h H h. 



The Lucretia Dewberry that we saw in fruit was very fine in 

 appearance and very poor in quality. 



