144 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
in case we were to find the variety we seek. In other words, we care more 
about getting a good, hardy, long-keeping apple than we do about any 
quibbling over fine distinctions. As chairman of this committee, I have 
begun the practice of making a photograph of every variety received that 
seems to be of special value. In this photograph I show one specimen cut 
in halves, and the other, the exterior. These photographs are then filed 
away with the application and correspondence in regard to them. In case 
scions are received, the scions receive a number and are stored for grafting. 
One specimen is wrapped in paper, put in a box, and stored in a good cellar 
to test its keeping qualities. Those who enter for this prize should be very 
careful to pack their fruit in good condition; otherwise no fair test can be 
made of its keeping qualities. It is hardly safe to put fruit in a pasteboard 
box wrapped in paper and sent through the mails, as it is almost sure to be 
bruised to some extent. Apples for entry for this premium should be 
shipped by express, or, if sent by mail, should be packed in strong boxes, 
very much larger than the fruit, in which the fruit should be put, after hav- 
ing been carefully wrapped in tissue paper, with plenty of wrinkled paper or 
excelsior as packing. 
SIBERIAN STOCK FOR THE APPLE. 
Cc. G. PATTEN, CHARLES CITY, IOWA: 
(Written for “The Fruitman.’’) 
Since the root-killing experience of last winter, that extended over so 
large an area of our country, much interest has been created in reference 
to hardy stocks for our fruit trees, and especially for the apple, and as 
several have applied to me for information in regard to the adaptability of 
the Siberian seedlings, particularly of the old yellow and red Siberians and 
Cherry crab, I thought best to give my experience through The Fruitman, 
as it would reach many who are interested in this subject and to whom 
I have not time to write personally. 
Our older horticulturists will remember other years when root-killing 
of apple trees has been severe here in the west, the last severe one prior to 
last winter being in the winter of 1882-3. The loss of nursery trees was so 
serious in that winter, that in the fall of ’83, I saved seeds of the varieties 
of Siberians named above, so that in the following year I grew more than 
seventy thousand seedlings, and in the two following years I root-grafted a 
large part of them. I cannot now recall all of the varieties of the apple that 
were experimented with, but distinctly remember the following: Tetofsky, 
Duchess, Fameuse, Haas, Plumb’s Cider, Utter, Fall Orange, Green Spitzen- 
burg, Wealthy, Walbridge, Saxton and Perry Russett, Hyslop, Briar’s 
Sweet, and, I believe, Transcendent, also. Certainly a sufficient number to 
make a fair test. I had heard it reported at that time that the experiment 
had been tried in Vermont, and that it was not regarded a success; but seeing 
the apple roots killed under the Transcendent and other crabs, while the 
crab roots that were thrown out from the scion were perfectly bright and 
sound, it appeared to me that at least some of our western sorts might be a 
success on these crab roots. 
They united well, and nearly all kinds grew very finely the first and 
second years. At three years they were generally fine trees, but I no- 
ticd some varieties were lighter bodied than they ought to be. At the end 
