STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 67 



own," I bespeak for this paper, dry as some of its details may 

 seem, a patieut hearing. 



The paper was then read as follows by the author : 



FURTHER STUDIES IN APPLE BLOSSOMS. 



By George P. Pefper, Pewaukee, Wis. 



Mr. President and Gentlemen: 



It is a pleasing incident for a busy man to be called away once 

 in a while from his usual avocations to meet his co-laborers who 

 have the same objects before them, and also those who are to take 

 up the work where we must soon leave it, and carry on the grand 

 material progress of raising our own fruit and trees that will be 

 adapted to our changeable climate. It is more esoecially pleasant 

 for me to have been asked to address you, or to read a paper on this 

 subject, as I expected to have been here a year ago and to have had 

 a talk with you, but was prevented. Although you had my paper 

 it was not satisfactory, because the extraordinary season of 1881 

 was unfavorable to the observations of apple blossoms; but now I 

 can give you more reliable notes on last year's bloom on different 

 varieties, and I hope there will be, at least, some here who will take 

 up these investigations and study the points hinted at, so as to 

 assist nature; and I have no doubt in my mind that before many 

 years elapse we will enjoy as good and long-keeping varieties of 

 fruits as our neighbors do in the natural fruit belts, aod grow them 

 with as much success. 



In order to breed new and improved varieties of fruits systemati- 

 cally, and with any hope of certain results, we must search out and 

 make familiar to our minds the laws of nature that govern the 

 process. Blossoms are at the foundation of apple breeding. Were 

 it not for this we should have not attempted at this time their 

 further study. 



Your division of the subject, as given me two years ago, embraces 

 five points in apple blossoms: 



1st. Their date of opening. 



2d. What varieties mature their blossoms simultaneously? 



3d. What varieties are perfect and what imperfect for self pol- 

 lenizing? 



