224 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTUHAL SOCIETY. 



Mr. C. G. Patten: I think there is one other distinguishing 

 feature in reference to the crabs and hybrid apples, of which 

 Prof. Green has spoken, which he did not mention, and that is 

 the horny husks that cover the seed of a very large propor- 

 tion of hybrids of Siberian crab apples. It is perhaps as dis- 

 tinguishing a feature as we can find about those apples. 



Prof. Green : I forgot to mention it. 



SEEDLINGS AND NEW FRUITS FOR 1896. 



J. S. HARRIS, SEEDLING COMMITTEE. 



In the discharge of the duties devolving- upon the above committee, 

 I have, during- the past season (1896), visited the orchards and grounds 

 of A. J. Philips, West Salem, Wis.; O. M, Lord, Minnesota City; Wm. 

 Oxford, Freeburg; E. H. S. Dartt and others, at Owatonna; H. Knud- 

 son, Springfield; F. W. Kimball, Austin; T. J. Lightlj^ Oakland; 

 Janaes Layland, Reno, and several others. Besides the visits made, 

 I have, as far as possible, improved the opportunities afforded by 

 the autumn fairs for examining and testing new fruits and gaining 

 information regarding them. I have also, through correspondence, 

 secured many samples by mail and express. 



We visited the place of Mr. Philips on July 28th. There we found 

 his New Duchess, supposed to be a sport from the Duchess of Old- 

 enburg, the Rose, or Duchess No. 2. from Waupaca Co., Wis., Domin- 

 ion Winter, Peerless, Avista, Eureka and some others in bearing. 

 The New Duchess is a fine tree; fruit, form and size of the Duchess 

 of Oldenburg; average weight of fruit specimens this year, six 

 ounces; color, a deeper, darker red than the Duchess and less 

 striped. The flesh seeais to be finer, the flavor less acid and the 

 season to be from two to four weeks later, thus lengthening the 

 season of this valuable fruit. The Rose, or Duchess No. 2, is a fine 

 and vigorous tree with beautiful fruit, but apparently of the same 

 season as the last named. 



The Avista trees were blighting more than usual this season but 

 fruiting fairly well. Aside from blight, the trees appeared to be 

 sufficiently hardy for growing in the southern part pf the state. 

 The fruit is of good size and fair quality and a long keeper, and the 

 original tree has made so good a record for productiveness that we 

 do not advise giving up its further trial. The Eureka originated 

 here and is apparently as hardy a tree as the Avista and less sub- 

 ject to blight. The fruit is of good size and fine quality, and I 

 think will keep well into the winter. It is a sweet apple. The tree 

 bears a striking resemblance to the Talman but seems to be more 

 hardy. The Peerless here is looking well and is free frotu blight. 



At Mr. Lord's place on Aug. 7th, we examined his trees of Holt's 

 Peach and three Wealthy seedlings, viz: Sweet Wealthy, Lord's L 

 and Lord's B. All are fruiting and apparently worthy of trial, at 

 least in favorable locations. The Holt is a free bearer, fruit of fair 

 and attractive appearance and fine quality for dessert, a good com- 

 panion for Duchess. 



