ANNUAL MEETING AT LEXINGTON. 231 



Tliough by no means a new apple, there is nothing better of its 

 season than Benoni, either for market or table use. Of higher quality 

 than other sorts of equal earliness. Tree hardy and productive, but a 

 moderate grower. There are other apples equally well known, such as 

 Chenango Strawberry, Lowell, Grimes Golden and Vandevere that 

 are so good, it is hard to refrain from saying a word in their praise at 

 every oj)portanity, fitting or otherwise. 



Alexander has produced some showy specimens of quite fair qual- 

 ity. Wolf River, of the same class, not yet fruited. Tree is hardy and 

 ;a strong grower in the nursery when budded; not nearly so strong 

 when grafted. Mann has borne a few t-pecimens, showing it to be a 

 fine acid apple of much larger size than we had expected, judging from 

 the plates sent out — an agreeable surprise, that, in the case of most 

 new fruits, has not yet become common. 



Stark is one of the best annual bearers, fully equal to Grimes Gol- 

 den in this respect. 



Clayton bore a heavy crop on top-worked trees and promises well. 

 'The tree is not noticeable in nursery, because of producing compara- 

 tively few roots. In this connection, will say that we have been led to 

 believe that many orchards, particularly Ben. Davis, are injured in dry 

 seasons because of rooting too shallow. 



In ordinary root graft, the scion generally throws out roots above 

 the splice, but scarcely ever any strong, healthy ones ; when the graft 

 ■iappens to be made on the top cut, or collar, no top roots at all re- 

 sult, and the trees will inevitably suffer from drouth, heat and cold, 

 lacking the support which deeply penetrating roots alone afford, and, 

 as a consequence, will be short lived. 



Budded trees on strong stocks seem to offer a remedy. In their 

 absence we should choose trees grafted on whole roots, which are 

 •very expensive to make, plant and dig, or, lastly, grafts made on the 

 second and third cuts rather than on the first. 



Black Twig is a new apple not yet fruited. Specimens received 

 from the South resemble Wine Sap, but in flavor are much preferable. 

 However, it is only fair to say the Wine Sap is not a favorite, the fla- 

 vor, pleasing at first, soon becoming distasteful. 



Ill nursery. Black Twig is a vigorous grower, and so far, perfectly 

 hardy. 



P^dwards Transparent is a local apple, resembling Maiden Blush in 

 •color and Lowell in form ; of larger size than either, fair quality, ripens 

 just before Maiden Blush, about with Lowell; a vigorous grower, pro- 

 ductive, and promises to be hardier in nursery than Maiden Blush. 



