NOMENCLATURE AND CATALOGUE. 519 



corrugated; flesh, white, fine-g"rained, tender, juicj^ mild acid; core, 

 small, closed; seeds, plump; season, November and December; tree, 

 upwright grower and heav}^ bearer on alternate years. 



The Oxford Orange is of medium size; smooth, rounded form, 

 tapering towards the eye; color, light yellow, generally with a dull 

 blush in the sun; stem, medium in a narrow, medium cavity; calyx, 

 closed in a shallow basin; flesh, light yellow, fine-grained; sub-acid 

 flavor; season from latter part of November to January; tree regular 

 bearer. 



As we have stated in former reports, the nomenclature of the 

 fruits grown in this state is in a chaotic condition. The Russian 

 varieties were generally first introduced under numbers to corre- 

 spond with some often unpronounceable name, and many of thetn 

 have since acquired names for exhibition purposes to take pre- 

 miums that chanced to be offered at fairs. Many of the American 

 varieties are not kept under their correct names by the average 

 planters, who secure names for them from travelling tree venders, 

 no better informed than themselves. We cannot make such advances 

 as we ought in establishing a reliable poiuology for the state, until 

 the names of our fruits are straightened out. There are a variety of 

 the newer Russians on trial in the state, under numbers, without 

 names or with incorrect names, that no doubt will prove very valu- 

 able; but when shall we know which and what they are? Who will 

 know what he is planting if the variety is know by a different name 

 in every localit}^, or different varieties are known by the same name? 

 Had advantage been taken of it, the late World's Fair afforded the 

 best opportunity that has ever been known for studj'ing and com- 

 paring the fruits of North America — for tracing out and finding out 

 the legitimate names and noting the variations of varieties in w^idelj' 

 different localities. So far as we have learned, most of the states let 

 this grand opportunity pass by without improving it, and we are 

 very certain that our own state horticultural society has neglected 

 to profit by it. We visited the fair in June, August and October. In 

 October, the exhibition of such fruits as we do or hope to produce in 

 Minnesota, was at its best, and we saw and learned many things that 

 would be of great advantage to our state had they been seen and 

 learned b}' soine of our enterprising young members, and we regret 

 that at least one such could not have been kept there during the 

 entire season. We have no additions to the catalogue published in 

 the last report, but recommend that it be revised, corrected and 

 published in the forthcoming volume of transactions. 



