292 ANNUAL REPORT 



compare favorably with the very early pears further south. One 

 of the best autumn pears grown here for dessert use is known as 

 Bessemiaiika. The tree seems hardy as a willow, and perfect 

 specimens are seen in the gardens trained into forms which only 

 iron-clad sorts will endure. Our observations indicate that very 

 good sorts of the pear grow further north than first-class apples. 



It is too early yet to decide on the quality of fall and summer 

 apples. The streets are full of summer varieties of fine appearance 

 and good quality, considering it is only harvest time here. Our 

 German friends tell us that many of the autumn and winter varie- 

 ties compare favorably in size, appearance and quality with the 

 best German sorts. Of this we will judge later. Moscow has too 

 rough a climate for profitable orcharding, except in certain lines 

 and on certain soils. 



As we have supposed, Iowa climate is found considerable south of 

 Moscow, from whence, came some of the sorts now started on the 

 grounds of the Iowa Agricultural College Farm ; yet a few varie- 

 ties seem like our Oldenburg, to grow and bear well over a wide 

 range of climate and soil. As an instance, the Antonooka, we hesLt 

 of in every part of the Russian empire. Yesterday I was talking 

 with men attending the Forestry convention from the extreme 

 south of Russia, north of the Black Sea. They report this omni- 

 present variety one of the most profitable there, and it is so re- 

 ported 600 miles east of Moscow. On the other hand, good winter 

 varieties are reported doing well on the limestone formations of 

 the Province of Kazan, but utterly fail on the tenacious clays 

 south of Moscow. Still again, some varieties of the Russian form 

 of the apple do best on the deep black soils, and are worthless on 

 the limestone, or the stiff clays. Of all this we will try to take 

 careful notes before we leave interior Russia. 



We spent two hours this morning in the botanical garden to 

 which we had given a prior visit. When we consider that the cli- 

 mate is too difficult for any form of our locust except the caragandy 

 and too difiicult for our soft or hard maple, butternat, and even 

 box elder, we might expect a slim showing of trees in a large 

 botanical garden. But the doubting ones should come and see 

 to get an idea of the rich flora of the almost unknown world in 

 the northern portions of the eastern continent. By means of seeds 

 and plants we hope to get many trees, shrubs and perennial plants, 

 which will swell the iron-clad lists of the prairie States. 



