THE PETER APPLE. 233 



tinguish a little difference between the flavor of the apples. I 

 know in some years there is a difference in the texture of the 

 apple, that is, the flesh of the apple, and Mr. Gideon frequently 

 said to- me that the Peter was a better keeper than the Wealthy. 

 Of course, I cannot call up Uncle Peter to decide this matter — 

 he may be pfesent with us today; but we have got it on the 

 records, and before we put this question to a vote I would like 

 to have the privilege of cutting these apples. 



Mr. Sherman (la.) : In regard to this question as to the dif- 

 ference between the Peter and the Wealthy, we have the Peter 

 and also the Wealthy. We got the original stock from Fort 

 Dodge, from Mr. Haviland, with whom Mr. Gideon contracted 

 to grow the Peter for him. We got our stock from him, and 

 while I cannot pass upon the fruit, I know there is a difference. 

 I do not think a careful nurseryman would pass judgment on the 

 dispute. The Peter is a better grower, makes a better stand and 

 is better in every way than the Wealthy. While the 'dift'erence 

 is, perhaps, not very marked, still it is quite as well marked as 

 the variations in some other varieties. 



Mr. Emil Sahler: Which is the longest keeper? 



Mr. Sherman : I would not say as to that, of my own knowl- 

 edge, but I think the reputation A^r. Gideon gave the Peter is 

 true. 



Mr. Lord : Mr. Gideon told me that the Peter was a seedling 

 of the Wealthy, that it was a little different tree, that he could 

 tell the difference between the trees, and he thought the Peter 

 would keep a little longer than the Wealthy. 



The President: I was at Mr. Sherman's place this summer 

 and, remembering his former statements to me, I was interested 

 in looking at the rows of Wealthy and Peter with reference to 

 this very matter regarding the difference in appearance, and it 

 did appear to me that there was a decided difference in the ap- 

 pearance of the tree, and I think it would be obvious to any one 

 who went along the rows. It appeared to me as though there 

 was a distinct difference, a difference that appealed to the eye, 

 and I believe that distinction could be noticed by any one. 



Mr. Sherman : We found what we thought to be another 

 marked difference, and that is a decided difference with regard 

 to their susceptibility to root-killing. The Peter is markedly 

 better than the Wealthy in that particular. I do not think a 

 fruit test is always a fair test of a variety. It is a common thing 

 for the Wealthy to nearly reproduce itself. I think at least a 

 half dozen persons told me they had seedlings from Mr. Gideon 

 himself from Wealthy trees that they could not distinguish from 

 the Wealthy. 



Mr. C. W. Merritt: T think the soil in which the Wealthy 

 is grown makes a vast difference. I had the Peter and the 

 Wealthy both. 



Mr. A. B. Lyman: I was talking with Mr. Gideon's son, and 

 he thought his father was mistaken in regard to there being any 

 difference. 



