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262 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
under to full medium size. Taken as a whole, it was the best result 
thus far obtained from seedlings sent out by Mr. Gideon. They are 
supposed to have been produced largely from hybrid Siberian seeds 
crossed with Wealthy, Duchess and other apples, and are a wonder- 
ful revelation of what may be expected from planting seeds of the 
best of these hybrids, etc., crossed with some of the hardiest and 
best long keeping apples grown far north. Several of these will keep 
well into the winter. 
Of crabs and hybrids produced on trees from the same source, J. 
C. Kramer had the largest and best collection, followed closely by © 
Messrs. Cummins and Decker. Like Mr, Lightly’s their trees bear 
heavily, while trees of older varieties were nearly barren. 
The first premium for winter seedlings was awarded to J. A. How- 
ard,onasweetapple. Size 4; weight 4% oz.; roundish conical; light. 
greenish yellow; flesh, yellowish white, fine grained, firm; quality, 
good; season, winter. 
A fine seedling was shown by Mr. Lyman, that escaped the notice 
of the committee. Size5; weight 5 oz.; smooth, roundish; yellowish 
green, with brown blush cheeks; flesh, yellowish, nearly fine, firm; 
subacid flavor, good, season, winter. Kite’s seedling, by Mr. Cum- 
mings, was a good and beautiful little apple, suitable for desert. 
Many fine seedlings were shown by the Jewell Nursery Company. 
THE PLUM POCKET. 
THOS. FRANKLAND, STONEWALL, MANITOBA. 
During the season of 1897 observations were made here on the 
plum pocket, as follows: 
Well developed seed germs were found enclosed in three-fourths 
of those examined and a skinlike substance around each seed germ» 
the first formation of the stone in aperfect plum pit. Theskin of the 
ovary on the outside receiving its nutriment, as I suppose, from the 
air, at first showed natural greenand quickly developed into the size 
and color of the perfect plum; on the inside, in place of pulp, was a 
ragged, pithlike substance and apparently torn and tattered sap 
vessels (?), dry and dusty at maturity, in place of juicy pulp. 
Now,as the seed surrounded by orenclosed inthe embryo stone was 
entirely loose and disconnected from the rest,and as invariably 
plum pockets are formed after two or three nights of frost when 
most of the flowers have been fertilized, can it be possible that plum 
pockets are caused by contraction and expansion, causing the burst- 
ing or separation of the sap cells? If fungous growth then takes place, 
is it not similarto mortification in animal and rot invegetable sub- 
stances? 
Has any one used any fungicide that has had any effectin prevent- 
ing plum pocket? Can plum pocket be developed from spores (if 
there be any)? Several specimens I found where half of the plum 
was hollow like the pocket and the other half developed sound, 
solid pulp; but these did not ripen. 
‘Please have this thoroughly discussed. 
