STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 51 



H. D. Brown — How about the Keifer and Le Conte pears; 

 are they free from blight? 



Mr. Webster — The tree is fine looking; also the fruit, but they 

 sometimes blight. 



Prof. Van Deman — I have eaten the Keifer in all sections of 

 our country from Michigan to Texas. In the north the fruit is less 

 palatable than it is when grown in more southerly regions. In most 



instances have found the tree in favorable condition. 



• 



Charles Patterson — 1 have fruited a few trees of Keifer, and 

 was probably fortunate in my manner of ripening the fruit. I gath- 

 ered, a little before ripe, and set them in a dark room to ripen. Under 

 this treatment we found them very good. 



Prof. Van Deman — All over the northwest a deep interest is 

 felt in this question of hardy fruits. I speak without prejudice 

 when I say we shall probably gain more from testing our own seed- 

 lings than in any other way. Heretofore the best results have been 

 in this direction. As yet the Russians have done little to sustain 

 their reputation for hardiness or productiveness, in this country, and 

 this remark will apply with equal force to the Russian apricot. In 

 the way of Russian cherries we are doing better. We have also 

 been over to Japan for plums, but they are not found to be hardy in 

 this State. Kentucky and Tennessee have also condemned them. 

 There are doubtless plums and pears too in Japan, which are better 

 than any we have as yet introduced. I have as much faith in test- 

 ing fruits from Arkansas, especially apples, as from more northerly 

 regions. I have been much impressed in regard to the value of some 

 of the newer southern varieties. As to the Japan persimmon, it is 

 not hardy, even in Northern Texas. But we yet hope to get a per- 

 simmon by hybridization with our common natives, on the Japans, 

 which will be a grand improvement, and which is doubtless attain- 

 able. The quality of the Japan is good, but the fruit is too soft. 

 The Japan chestnut, with us, is not hardy, and is unworthy of cul- 

 tivation. In nomenclature there is much confusion. Some of the 

 so-called Japan plums are undoubtedly from our already familiar 

 home-grown varieties. 



T. E. Goodrich — When the Le Conte and the Keifer were first 

 introduced, it was with a grand flourish and great promises. They 



