GENERAL FRUITS. 137 



early September. The tree is reported as hard}- and a regular and 

 abundant bearer; originated by D. F. Akin, Farming-ton, Xinn. It 

 is one of the best of this class. 



Through correspondence we learn that most of the seedlings 

 heretofore reported that have come to our notice since the disas- 

 trous winter of lS8i-5 did not receive any injury by the severity of 

 last winter, or at least such of them as are being propagated at the 

 experiment station. We are. as far as possible, securing a few sci- 

 ons of every new seedling that shows any promise of value, and 

 making of them from six to twenty root grafts, with the design of 

 planting two trees of each in our experimental orchard; and expect 

 to place the remainder for testing in some of our societ3-'s trial sta- 

 tions or with reliable orchardists, except where the originators or 

 owners place them under restrictions. This method will give new 

 varieties a more thorough test, in widel}- different localities; their 

 merits will be more generally" known before they are propagated for 

 sale, and the facility for the rapid propagation and distribution of 

 such as have real merit will be greatly increased. 



We secured scions last spring for this purpose of some thirtj- 

 varieties, in addition to about twenty received one j-ear earlier. We 

 can hardlj- expect that any considerable nuinber of them vrill prove 

 entirely hardy and otherwise desirable, but the finding out of such 

 as are tender and undesirable before they are propagated and of- 

 fered for sale will prove of great advantage to our orchardists and 

 farmers. 



Native Plums.— At the Southern Minnesota Fair, held at Rochester 

 the last week in August, there was a very creditable exhibit of this 

 fruit. A variet}- shown by F. J. Stoppel was the finest in appearance 

 of all the new varieties that came to our notice during the season. 

 The fruit is large and oval in form; color orange, mostl}- covered with 

 inottled red; suture on one side distinct and deeper red; stem one- 

 half inch long, set in a small, regular cavity; color of flesh orange; 

 of good consistency; flavor good; skin rather thick; stone medium 

 large — a cling. We visited the trees and found them strong, upright 

 growers and well laden with fruit, and were informed by Mr. Stoppel 

 that they are regular, annual bearers, never failing to give a good 

 crop, even when other varieties fail. We were told that the fruit is 

 very popular in the Rochester market, and this year brought Sl.O) 

 per peck. 



We also received samples bj- mail, of varieties from R. C Keel. 

 Rochester; Dewain Cook, Windom; J. G. Johnson, Gossan; P. Klesan 

 Starbuck; Mrs. Alfred S. Grant, Walcott; Wm. Oxford, Freeburg; H. 

 Knudson, Springfield; and some others that had no mark to tell 

 where they came from. Unfortunately, at the time most of them 

 were sent we were at the World's Fair or out looking after fruit to 

 send there, so that when we got around to examine the fruit most of 

 it was past the condition for judging its merits. We acknowledge 

 oixr obligations to the parties who sent thein, and regret that we are 

 not able to describe and report upon each varietj- separately-. 



The variet}' from Mr. Oxford was ver}- large and the earliest large 

 plums we have seen. One of the varieties from Mrs. Grant was of a 



