STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 247 



lice attacked one or two trees two years ago, but the vigorous growth last year has 

 defied injury from their suction. Black Detroit is a vigorous growing tree and 

 hardy, but apples only third-rate; still, as M. L. Dunlap says, it sells simply because 

 it is a red apple. Hold a red rag before a cock turkey and he will ' ' gobble, gobble. ' ' 

 Winter Swaar bears well annually, but the tree is too tender in branch and too weak 

 in the roots to be profitable; in fact, like some other organic things, they are dying out. 

 An apple that tastes like the Cranberry Pippin grows on a vigorous, hardy tree, anil 

 the apple is a good and late keeper. 



Speaking of "keepers," one of my old townsmen. Col. David Lee, has one hundred 

 bushels of Gilpins now in pit, precisely as potatoes are pitted, which he expects to 

 take out and sell at ^l.To per bushel first of June next, having done this with this 

 <<best apple in the market when others are gone " last year. 



Returning to the orchard aforesaid. The Mother apple, though only a medium vig- 

 orous tree, bears excellent apples abundantly ; and they are now in good condition in 

 my cellar. In other orchards within a mile, Roxbury Russet, Twenty-ounce Pippin, 

 and Winesap, are moderately vigorous in tree, and productive with us. 



Fall Strawberry has done well, the tree being handsome and moderately hardy; 

 giving annual crops of first quahty table fruit for seven or eight years in succession. 

 But some of the trees have fallen victims to a cankerous growth, extending from the 

 roots upwards to the main branches. 



The Fall Orange, with its very large shoots, and thin open head, bears annual crops 

 of large unblemished fruit, which is always readily saleable. The tree is a trifle 

 tender; but still it pays well. 



The Fameuse does tolerably well with me, but not first rate. But in this section 

 generally the tree is thrifty and hardy, a good learer, and the fruit very popular. 



In the northeast corner of this county Fall "Wine is equally good in tree and Iruit. 



Tallman's Sweet does well with me, both in tree and fruit. This apple is in season 

 here from November until April. It is valuable for l)aking, or boiling and baking first 

 and second. Sold thera in perfect condition at our State Capital, Madison, last week, 

 sound as a rock, in condition to keep a month. But so abundant is this fruit, that it 

 is sometimes a drug in the market in this vicinity. It is both a fall and winter apple. 



Now that Duchess of Oldenberg; a hardy tree, moderate grower, second class 

 fruit, for any purpose but drawer ripening for eating; with this treatment the Olden- 

 burg (won't you strike off their long handle "Duchess" at your next annual meeting?) 

 is good. But the Oldenburg apple— there is a Duchess pear— can never be made cither 

 popular or profitable; and l)e it understood I speak of the true Oldenburg, which is 

 pretty widely in bearing in this ((Irecnlake) county. 



Early Harvest— a slow grower and shy bearer. This apple is, in my opinion, an old 

 English variety, as a friend of mine recognizes the flavor and color as familiar to him 

 ill his boyish days. 



Red Astrachan is hardy and very vigorous in tree; just coming into bearing in this 

 vicinity. The fruit is large and good, but not quite enough in (luantity. More age 

 may improve it in this regard. 



Sops of Wine is vigorous in tree, healthy, and good l^earer of excellent and popular 

 fruit. A great favorite, and being much propagated hereabouts. 



Baily's Sweet is doing well in the prairie orchard of Col. Lee, before mentioned. 

 Also, Maiden's Blush; the Blush being a little tender in tree however. 



