130 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



have been iniifornily productive, the trees uninjured by meteorolo- 

 gical influences, and the fruit smooth and finely colored. Twenty- 

 five kinds from this orchard were exhibited by the Warsaw Horti- 

 cultural Society at the late State Fair, and attracted much attention 

 by their general appearance and beauty. 



My experience with, and observation of, apples froin Northern 

 and Southern Europe, has caused me to incline to the opinion that 

 we shall find the fruits of Central and Southern Europe better 

 adapted to our soil and climate, than those from the extreme north. 



In the last volume of the Iowa State Horticultural Society 

 Transactions, Prof. Budd gives an interesting account of his visit to 

 Russia, and his conclusions as to the adaptability of the varieties of 

 fruit found there to the changeable climate of Iowa. In the course 

 of that report he tells us that the inspection of the fruit of that 

 region would do more to convince people that they must quit fool- 

 ing with the fruits of Southern Europe than forty years' talk. My 

 observation does not bear out this theory, as I have found Russian 

 apples generally poorer in quality, and more subject to blight, than 

 our native, or Southern European, varieties. 



The professor has given this subject careful attention, and his 

 conclusions are worthy of consideration, but I would not advise any 

 one to plant largely of these North of Europe apples without a more 

 definite knowledge of their adaptability to our rich soil and chang- 

 able climate. But I would advise orchardists to plant, for experi- 

 mental purposes, every promising variety that can be procured from 

 Northern and Southern Europe, as well as every native seedling of 

 promise that comes under their notice, and we shall soon find some- 

 thing greatly superior to our present popular varieties. 



A. C. HAMMOND. 



NEW FRUITS. 

 STEAWBERRIES. 



I am ever on the lookout for better varieties of fruits, and espe- 

 cially of the small fruits. I have found none the past season that I 

 would like to substitute for Crescent, Downing, Capt. Jack, and a 

 few of the older varieties, although there are several new ones I 

 think will prove equal if not superior to them. 



James Vicl- is so near like its jiarent, Capt. Jack, I question if it 

 is any improvement. Mr. Samuel Miller, of Missouri, the originator, 

 in answer to an inquiry of mine in regard to this variety, says: 

 " With me it never has had a fair chance, but it will stand the 

 drouth with any other, and will outlive and outbear Capt. Jack, and 

 is a little later. In size and quality it is not superior to Capt. Jack 

 in my opinion. 



Manchester, I think, has come to stay. It is one of the promis- 

 ing new varieties before the public, I hear good reports of it from 

 all quarters. 



