FL teeing sc Annual REPORT. eee 
become a, fruit-growing State, and as fine fruit might be produced 
where. . Bisa: 
Mr. M. W. Cook said the kind of tree that page he beet tho ve wan 
The Duchess has done more for fruit growing in this State than any other vari 
He remembered when they used to talk as discouragingly of f ) 
Michigan as some now do of Minnesota. They found out what 
kinds by testing them. He favored Russian varieties. 
Mr. Somerville said we needed more winter apples. It was we as 
the fruit season of apples changed in different climates. ate ; 
Mr. Sias said there was no doubt of that fact, as he had observed i Hag ap 
rience in the South. He then proceeded to read an interesting paper on the sub- 
ject under discussion. He asserted that native varieties had always taken pre- 
cedence over foreign varieties in the older States of the Union, and have in all 
respects been successful and remunerative. He cited as authority a letter 1 
received from Hon. M. P. Wilder, of Boston, and Dr. Haskins, of Newport, V 
Native fruits stand higher in the estimation of those qualified to judge than for- 
eign varieties; and as a rule, a variety attains its highest degree of perfection 
where it originates. ‘The same was true of plums, grapes, gooseberries, etc. 
Those who advocated such ideas were accused of having an *‘ axe to grind,” 
which was magnified into a monstrous bugbear. 
In conclusion he said it was hardly necessary in confirmation of these facts to 
cite what had been accomplished by Messrs. Cottrell, Rollins, Gideon, and others, 
in the good work of devoloping our native varieties, but suffice to say, “what 
man has done man may do.”’ 
Mr. M. J. Hoag said he understood the Duchess was a winter Tae in 
Russia. He thought hardy varieties could be produced from native seedlings. 
We should pick out the best and hold fast to that. He inquired as to the opinion 
of others in regard to the plan of planting evergreens with apples, to protect them 
from the sun. 
Mr. Cook said he would plant apple as that were able to stand without ever- 
greens, and put the evergreens where they belonged. 
Mr. Sias exhibited specimens of canned fruit, and said he had one seedling 
which produced more apples than his fifty Russian varieties. The latter blossomed 
too early, and were injured by the frost. 
Mr. Bamber inquired as to the St. Lawrence as a hardy tree. 
Mr. Sias said he thought highly of it, but it had been mostly displaced by other 
varieties. 
On motion of Mr. Hillman, it was decided unanimously, as the sense of the 
meeting, that, as a rule, native varieties of fruits should be given the preference 
over foreign varieties. 
For general cultivation for five best varieties, the society recommended the 
Duchess, Wealthy, Elgin Beauty, Haas and Rollin’s Prolific; for trial, Rollin’s 
Pippin, St. Lawrence and Rollin’s Russet; for general cultivation of the hybrid 
varieties, the following: Early Strawberry, Orange, Meader’s Winter, Beach's 
Sweet, Beach’s Red, Hutchinson’s Sweet, Maiden’s Blush, and Power's Crab. 
On invitation of Mr. Cook it was decided to hold the next meeting at his resi- 
dence, in the month of June next, at which time the subject of strawberries will 
be discussed. : 
The meeting then adjourned. 
