514 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



severe for their powers of endurance, and thus betrays the fact that they are 

 upon the extreme border of their appropriate domain. 



Repeated adverse experiences of the character indicated have, long since, 

 called attention to the necessity of originating new and hardier varieties, 

 with the requisite ability to endure, unscathed, the occasional paroxysms of 

 cold to which this region is liable. This process has now been going on for 

 many years and has already developed some valuable results, not here only, 

 but in the prairie regions generally. The Pewaukee, the Gbb and various 

 others of Mr. Peifer's own originations, as well as the Wolf River, the North- 

 western Greening, the Brier's Sweet, the Waupaca and perhaps others of \Vis- 

 consin parentage, are proof positive that this State is doing its share of such 

 work. 



Aside from this, Mr. Peffer entered early and earnestly upon the work of 

 testing the ability of the Russian apples to meet the requirements of the soil 

 and climate of Wisconsin. The trees upon his grounds, as well as his public 

 utterances, indicate that his experiences with these have been not alto^^ether 

 satisfactory. It is claimed by Prof. Budd that the earlier introductions of 

 Russian apples were mainly from the Baltic region — a locality whose climate 

 is unlike that of the prairies; and that the actual parallel with the climate 

 of the northwest occurs in eastern Russia, whence his and Mr. Gibb's more 

 recent importations (which are mainly yet untested) have been derived. To 

 what extent this may be true, and if so, how the future may modify past 

 results, is a problem which only the future can solve. 



Mr. Petfer has also engaged, in testing more or less of the new varieties of 

 the Americana species of native plums; which have, within the last few 

 years, begun to attract attention; some of which, and among them the 

 De Soto, especially, approach in quality the medium varieties of the doniesiica 

 species. 



On Monday, August 15, we were indebted to Mr. Peffer for a buggy ride 

 of five or six miles, to Waukeslia; at that time in its glory as a fashionable 

 summer resort, with several thousand visitors thronging its spacious hotels, 

 and drinking the cold, pure and limpid waters of its half a dozen (mineral) 

 springs. 



Taking the train from here, we passed through a settled and improved 

 region; passing the rough but romantic summer resort of Devil's Lake, late 

 in the day, and reaching Baraboo toward evening; where we called on Mr. 

 A. G. Tuttle, so long and extensively known as probably the earliest importer 

 of Russian apples; and one who, at the first, probably did more than almost 

 any other person in testing and disseminating them. 



The next day was spent here, in looking over the nurseries, orchards and 

 vineyards. A plantation of Fameuse, from ten to fifteen years of age, showed 

 signs of severe and ultimately fatal injury; said to be the effect of the cold 

 of last winter. Red Astrachan, St. Lawrence and Early Joe were also badly 

 injured, apparently from the same cause, while Alexander, Green Streaked, 

 Zolotereff, Montreal Beauty and others had been seriously injured by fire 

 blight. 



Several varieties of Russian pears, from the recent importations of Prof. 

 Budd, standing in nursery rows, were apparently in perfect health and vigor. 

 A bearing orchard, including some eighty or more varieties of Russian apples, 

 a large share of them carrying more or less fruit, was, of course, an item of 

 special interest. Several of the early varieties were already past season, a few 



