RUSSIAN AND OTHER FRUITS. 319 



the choice varieties will count into the hundreds, and the great northweat will be the 

 fruit paradise of America. 



To get the desired cross we plant the selected varieties in close proximity, so that the 

 natural How of pollen will the more surely do the desired fertilizing, and the seed thus 

 produced is planted, the most promising of the seedlings selected and set in orcliards 

 for fruiting, and after fruiting the best in tree and fruit is selected from which to grow 

 seeds to try again, aad so on; at each i-epetition I find there is a gain. The young trees 

 thnt fruited this year for the first gave a larger percentage of first-class than any lot 

 ever fruited before. 



By crossing and judicious selection we retain the hardiness of the crab in the tree 

 without the crab thorns, and on top grow large apples without the astringency of the 

 parent crab. And yet by the commingling of the two natures we get an exquisite 

 flavor not found in any other class of apples, especially so when made into sauce. But 

 our triumph is not yet completed. We must — we can, fill up the balance of the year 

 with a continued succession of luscious apples. There is no question as to the certainty 

 of such a result. Tlie past is a guaranty that it can be done. 



But the proper cross can not be got in Minnesota — a fact clearly demonstrated in the 

 extensive and expensive trials that have been made in the last nine years m the state 

 orchard. And here let me state tliat the seedling is inclined to rip(?n its fruit at or 

 near the time the parent apple did from which the seed was taken; hence the need of 

 seed from long keepers to grow the same. There are no long keepers of the best quality 

 yet found that are hardy enough to fruit in Minnesota; but we can take our best hardy 

 seedling farther south, where the long keepers can be grown and there gf-t the cross, 

 and then bring our seed here to grow, and test the hardiness of the tree and the quality 

 of fruit. We want first-class apples, and to get them we must use first-class parentage, 

 and even then scullions will be numerous, from the fact that all varieties of apples are 

 mongrels of many degrees of crossing, and the various relations will crop out in a 

 multitude of forms. But past succossis a guaranty for the future, that out of the many 

 some will be good. Our seedlings will average in quality with Hyslop and rans- 

 cendent; but those of first-class, such as we propagate, stand about one to five hundred, 

 as hardy as Duchess and Wealthy, and of the extreme hardiest about one to fifteen 

 hundred. 



Two years ago this winter was the first time the Duchess and Wealthy were seriously 

 hurt, and a like fate befell all the Russians on our grounds, so that not a Russian set 

 an apple on our grounds the next year, whilst alongside of them our seedlings carried 

 a fair crop, some of them proiuse. and this year all bore heavy crops; showing beyond a 

 question that the crab infusion is to be the foundation of successful fruit culture in the 

 northwest. Ti e state orchard yielded about 100 bushels of apples this year, all of 

 w^hich being off our own seedlings; all else of value failed two years ago this winter. 

 This fall we planted the seed of over 100 bushels of choice apples, to grow for experi- 

 mental purposes. 



Among the numerous varieties thus originated by Mr. Gideon he names 

 Lou, August, Florence, Cherry Red, Excelsior, September, Martha, Octob-r, 

 Wealthy, Gideon, Peter, and January as especially desirable, and as supplying 

 a succession from the Ist of August to March. 



Feeling the importance of being able at the earliest passible moment to 

 supply an ample assortment of varieties adaiDted to the climate, not only are 

 prominent fruit growers watching carefully such local seedlings as come to 

 their knowledge, but horticultural societies also are aiding the work by the 

 appointing of committees and in various other ways. 



At the annual meeting of the Minnesota State Horticultural Society, in 

 January, 1887, a black-list, consisting of semi-hardy varieties ''that it may be 

 considered especially dangerous to recommend for planting in large quanti- 

 ties," was adopted, as follows: Mann, Bathel, Walbridge, Fall Queen (Haas), 

 Pewaukee, Alexander, Borsdorf, Northern Spy, Salome, Utter's Ked, Fameuse, 

 Wolf Eiver. 



At present many are probably looking earnestly to the newly-imported Kus- 

 siau apples to supply the deficiency; hut luha'ever shall hi the measure of 

 their success, actual trial alone can demonstrate their ability to meet and sup- 

 ply so extreme a tvant. 



