RUSSIAN AND OTHER FRUITS. 313 



than with the apple. These influences will therefore be more fully considered 

 in connection with that fruit. 



In advance of a thorough trial, Professor Budd expresses the conviction that 

 a very considerable number of the varieties imported will prove hardy as far 

 north as central Iowa, while a few of them, among which he names Seedless, 

 Gakovsk, and others are considered to be adapted to a wider, though yet in- 

 definite, range northward. Careful and extended experiment, such as he is 

 understood to have already in progress, can only surely determine the correct- 

 ness of these suppositions. Meantime he suggests a resort to the artificial 

 crossing of the best and hardiest of the older and well-known varieties upon 

 the most promising of these foreigners, with the hope of improvement possibly 

 in both quality and hardiness. 



Speaking with reference to southwestern Iowa, he remarks: 



With regard to Chinese pears, those who have condemned them get their trees from 

 New Jersey or about Philadelphia. From such experience we are all inclined to con- 

 demn Chinese pears. On the college grounds they came through all riglit. 1 do not 

 mean the Sand pear, but the Snow pear. Some of them 1 can recommend for this part 

 of the state. 



We have Snow pear tre^s from northwest of Pekin. Eugene Simons sent fifteen 

 varieties of Snow pear from China to Metz, France. I was there when these were beai-- 

 ing and the pears ripe. Some of them are hardy enough for this part of Iowa; and I 

 do not know how much further north they wdl endure the climate. 



The Professor, on another occasion, says: 



"Our pear, coming from southern Europe, is subject to blight here, but not there; 

 which shows that they are not adapted to our country. We can start from seedlings 

 and work up our pears. But even this is not necessary. We have a sadly misused 

 pear tree on the college farm that made during the past year, from 3 to 5 feet of growth, 

 which is entirely hardy and an abundant bearer. This pear has stood everywhere, 

 without any blight, m northern Dakota, near the Rocky mountains and all over the 

 northwest. We also have other pears which are hardy and fruitful. 



In the Prairie Farmer of September 17, 1887, the professor says : 



On general principles, I can say that Bezi de la Motte, St. Ghislain, and Flemish 

 Beauty will be likely to do as well as any of the old sorts. Of the newer pears from 

 Russia, the Seedless and Gakovsk are as promising as any for home use or market. 



It is undt^rstood that the last two varieties have not yet fruited in this 

 country. If so, it must be inferred that the foregoing conclusion, involving 

 their productiveness and the quality of the fruit, as well as the vigor and 

 hardiness of the trees, is based mainly upon his knowledge of their perform- 

 ances in their original locality. Except upon a statement of the reasons for 

 such conclusion, in such case it must be assumed to be rather suppositional 

 than conclusive. 



A society report from southwestern Iowa, made in 1886, says the pear crop 

 there is a failure, most of the trees being nearly dead. 



Mr. Denlinger, of Dubuque county, is reported as having on trial the 

 Arctic pear, a Russian variety, which in 1885 made a growth of 3 feet. He 

 also had the Keifier on trial. 



In 1886 the Dubuque society recommended the Longworth pear (a variety 

 very little known) as worthy of trial, also the Seedless and Gakovsk, two of 

 Professor Budd's importations from Russia. 



Circumstances would indicate that these recommendations were probably 

 made rather on account of the apparent hardiness of the trees than from a 

 •definite knowledge of the quality of the fruit as produced in this country. 



An additional indicition of the uncertainty of the more common varieties 



