108 ANNUAL REPORT. wae 
presumptuous for any pomologist, however eminent, to attempt to settle 
positively the relationship of every variety by the fruit alone. After a 
careful examination of both tree and fruit it may not be possible to deter- 
mine in every instance whether or not a variety is of Siberian origin. Any 
tree grown from Siberian seed is known to be either a crab or a hybrid. 
But it is a mooted question whether the choicest Siberian sorts are 
proved crabs or a cross between the crab and common apple. “If a cross 
exists itis not the result of careful experiment, but of accident. The 
circumstantial evidence, however, is strongly in favor of their being 
hybrids. It is not probable that from the seed of the red and yellow Sibe- 
rian should spring at once an apple as large as the Small Romanite and 
much superior to it in flavor, unless the seed from which it was derived 
united in itself the initial forces of both the Pyrus baccata and Pyrus 
malus, for gradual, rather than abrupt improvement is the order of nature. 
The greatly modified character of both tree and fruit, and the strong re- 
semblance they sustain to the common apple and the crab, justifies the 
inference that they are of mixed parentage, and should be regarded as 
hybrids rather than crabs. But as it is not certainly known that any of the 
Siberians are hybrids, I shall not attempt to draw a line between Siberians 
proper and hybrids, or indicate to which of these supposed classes any paf- 
ticular variety belongs, but shall treat them all under the common head of 
improved Siberian sorts. It is not my purpose to describe in detail each 
variety that may be worthy of cultivation, for several of them were thus 
described two years since, but to compare them with the old Siberian sorts 
and the common apples, with the view of determining their respective 
value for planting in our State. 
The great objection to the common apple is its lack of hardiness. Since 
the winter of 1872 and ’73 our Society has recommended but three yvarie- 
ties for general cultivation, Tetofsky, Duchess, and Wealthy. Even these 
approved varieties are looked upon by those most familiar with the result 
of the experiments at orchard making in different portions of the State, as 
unreliable in many situations. This admission may touch our State pride 
unpleasantly, but it is always best to look the situation squarely in the face 
while we hope and labor for better things. By planting the seeds of the 
most hardy sorts, we may and probably shall have at some future day 
kinds that can be set with safety and profit on every quarter section. 
We are not dealing with the more or less remote future, but with the 
present. To-day every farm needs an orchard. How can it be made? The 
most thoroughly iron-clad of our apples are not to be relied on in all situ- 
ations. The Siberian, Transcendent and Hyslop crabs afford fruit fit only 
for culinary uses, and the trees are often sadly injured by blight: For an 
immediate and satisfactory solution of this important question we must 
look to the improved Siberian varieties. In the worst situations they are 
the sole reliance, and in more favorable situations they are still worthy of 
a prominent place, for the reason that they combine to a large extent the 
excellencies of both the crab and the common apple. They are perfectly 
hardy and free from fire-blight; early and abundant bearers, and the fruit 
equal in quality to the common apple. It is not every variety included in 
the list recommended by this Society that possesses such a fortunate com- 
bination of qualities. For the excellence and defects of the different kinds, 
