332 MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Neosho, Mo., Dec. 3d, 1888. 

 L. A. Coodtiian, Esq., West port. Mo.: 



Dear Sir: — I send you to-day, by express to Nevada, two baskets 

 of apples, for exhibition at your meeting. Please allow me to draw your 

 attention to the variety named 'Ferguson." The few trees I have of it 

 were, ( if I remember correctly) propagated from a seedling tree, which 

 originated in Barry county, perhaps 25 miles Southeast of here. They 

 are very vigorous and upright growers, though planted on a very poor 

 prairie land, and standing in a meadow, without ever having been culti- 

 vated or manured. They brought me four crops and have always kept 

 better than Limbertwig with me, while the tree is growing and bearing 

 better than Lawver, and has proven hardier than that variety, to which 

 it probably most resembles. The apple is not yet mellow enough to eat. 

 (It ripens and colors on the tree at least six weeks later than Ben Davis.) 

 In its seasons, say from February to May, it is a fine-grained, sub-acid 

 to acid, juicy and what I would call best quality. Can probably be best 

 compared to a good Janeton, yet finer and higher flavored and decidedly 

 better, as well as better and of most beautiful red color. 



It strikes me this apple is just what we need here near the southern 

 limit of the American apple belt. 



Southwest Missouri and Northwest Arkansas are perhaps as good 

 apple regions as can be found; and orchards are being planted every- 

 where. But the bulk of our large crops has to be sold at from fifteen to 

 fifty cents per bushel, or made inte cider or dried, for no matter how fine 

 and large our Ben Davis our Janetons, Winesaps, Missouri Pippins Rome 

 Beauties or White Winter Pearmains may be we can rarely keep them 

 long enough to bring the high price they always command in the spring. 



An apple like the Ferguson, kept here till there is nothing but Lim- 

 bertwigs left to compete with it, will be sure to bring one to two dollars 

 per bushel, right here in our home market. 



The gentlemen of your society interested in vineyards will do well 

 to get reports on experiments made this season with sulphate of coj^per 

 remedies, against Mildew {Peranospara), and Black Rot. Write to de- 

 partment of Agriculture for it. It will be ready in Januar)^ 



We have Mildew most assuredly under our control; while Black Rot 

 has atleast been diminished considerably, and itis quite possible we may 

 yet succeed to prevent it, as surely as we now can Mildew. 



Very respectfully yours, 



HERMAN JAEGER. 



