MINNESOTA SEEDLING APPLES. 305 



the cultivation of these varieties, I discovered we were not likely to 

 get long- keeping apples from the Russian apples, because I found 

 that those varieties of the Russian apples were not hardy enough 

 to endure the climate of north Iowa, and if thej^ did they would not 

 bear, and I made up my mind in the study of pomology that the 

 Russet variety of American apples represented the most hardy 

 variety of apples we had. I commenced planting the seeds from 

 this Perry Russet, and I have tested it, and I am just as confident — 

 Mr. Dartt, I will address myself to you — I am just as confident that 

 this tree will stand the latitude of St. Paul as I am that I stand 

 here. 



Mr. Dartt: Is that what you let me have as Patten's Russet? 



Mr, Patten: No, sir. 



Mr. Dartt: What is it? 



Mr. Patten: It is what I send out as No. 102. 



Mr. Dartt: Have I got it? 



Mr. Patten: No, sir. I want to say further in reference to this 

 tree that it grows under ordinary nursery culture, those three years 

 old now standing from five to fully eight feet high, strongly 

 branched and does not blight. Now, in this tree the wood was 

 fully as bright and sound after a hard winter as the Duchess, and I 

 fully believe that both these apples will stand as well as the 

 Duchess. 



Mr. Kellog-g, (Wisconsin): What is the age of that Russet seed- 

 ling? 



Mr. Patten: The seed was planted in the spring of 1884. 



Pres. Underwood: Does the wood of that Russet resemble the 

 Russet wood? 



Mr. Patten: No, sir; it does not, and neither does it resemble that 

 tree. The tree looks more like an ironwood than like a common 

 apple tree. 



Mr. Brackett: How does it bear, and how does it keep? 



Mr. Patten: Both of these apples I have shown were kept in a 

 common cellar. 



Mr. Brackett: Are they a mellow apple? 



Mr. Patten: They are not a long keeping apple. Here is one I 

 call the Duchess No. 8, and the tree I regard as extremely hardy. 

 Here is an apple which is a seedling of the Fameuse. I am aware 

 that you do not take much stock in the Fameuse in this country, 

 but I believe the tree that bears this apple is from ten to fifteen per 

 cent more hardy than the Fameuse; it is a vigorous tree and stood 

 drouth to perfection, and it is the first apple introduced which, I 

 believe, in our climate will produce the highest quality of fruit. 



Mr. Kellogg: Is it the Fameuse No. 1? 



Mr. Patten: No, I call it the Brilliant. I was about to remark that 

 I am happy to say that I have fully demonstrated this year by these 

 three seedlings I have produced that we can produce in this 

 country the highest quality of apples. I have two sweet apples than 

 which I am sure I never tasted better in my life, from any source 

 whatever, and as compared with the Russian sweet apple, there 

 is no comparison whatever. Russian sweet apples, as a whole, are 



