Minnesova STATE Hor TICULTURAL SOCIETY. 35 
fruited last year 200 varieties, and 80 of them, we believe, will be 
valuable. Many of these were ripe before August 1st, ahead of the 
Duchess and Tetofsky. Among the winter varieties are some fine 
ones that will keep till April. (In answer to a question.) We find 
several catalogue numbers bearing the same fruit and the same 
number attached to several different varieties, so that we cannot 
depend on names given in the catalogue. We have begun a new 
catalogue, and shall propagate under these numbers only. Have 
selected 80 varieties for propagation for trial. 
Mr. Jordon. Think we should go slow on extremes. We have 
800 Russian varieties in Rochester, and Mr. Sias’ statement regard- 
ing them gives a fair idea of their success to this time. I hope we 
shall get something nice from them, but have not seen it yet. Be- 
lieve we shall grow our fruit from seedlings produced in this State.. 
Besides the Wealthy we now have at least one that is valuable, and 
many more coming forward. 
Mr. Gould. We must bear in mind that the Russians are not 
yet fairly tested. All have been top-worked and that is not a fair 
test even in a hard winter. Think Mr. Moulton is doing a great 
work in testing so many varieties. 
Mr. Spaulding. I came not with much of an ax to grind but 
principally to show that there are some undoubted winter varieties 
among them. 
The Secretary read here the following letters from Prof. Budd, of 
Iowa Agricultural College on the subject of Russian apples : 
CROSSING OF APPLES, 
OFFICE OF PROFESSOR OF HoRTICULTURE AND FORESTRY. 
Iowa State AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE, 
Ames, Iowa, Dec. 23, 1878. 
Prof. C. Y. Lacy. 
My Dear Srr:—Yours at hand. I do not know any one who has given so 
much attention to the crossing of the types or families of the apple as I have done 
for the past ten years. 
Knight demonstrated that all the families of the apple of Europe and Asia 
mingle freely, especially when planted in near proximity. Our native crab seems 
far removed, and natural crosses may be very unfrequent, yet I believe they are 
possible. The Soulard crab we have given critical study in tree, leaf, and fruit, 
the past season, and many of us believe it to be a cross, or, at least, as the French 
say, a ‘‘deflection.” I have some seedlings of the Soulard, which in leaf exhibit 
a still more positive variation from the parental form. 
