232 ANNUAL REPORT 



I 



in ray grounds, many of the trees being sixteen and eighteen years 

 planted, while some, of the later importations, are small. One 

 thing is fully demonstrated, viz., .that these apples are, as a class, 

 very much hardier against adverse climatic influences and es- 

 . pecially against winter's cold, than those previously grown on 

 this continent. This alone gives them enormous value for the 

 ^cold north,' where, without them, tree-fruit culturewould be im- 

 possible. In productiveness, size and beauty of fruit, the Rus- 

 sian apples are, on the average, more than a match for those of 

 Western Europe, and for our native seedlings thence derived. 

 Those who have an extensive acqaintance with Russian apples 

 know that there is among them quite as large a proportion 

 which deserve to rank as of dessert quality as there is among 

 the common sorts. Among these fine dessert apples the Yellow 

 Transparent, Grand Sultan, Switzer, Charlottentlialer, Berkofif, 

 St. Peter, Longfield, Golden White, Streaked Red, Summer Cal- 

 ville, Noble Redstreak, Russian Gravenstein, Red ^nis, Titov- 

 ka, White Russet, ^and several others have now been sufficiently 

 tested to establish the fact of their excellent eating quality, 

 joined, in most of them, with great beauty of form and color." 



HYBRID VARIETIES. 



Much has been said in favor of the propagation of crabs and 

 hybrid stock: they are admired by some for hardiness, produc- 

 tiveness and thrift in growth of tree. But there are certain 

 reasons why their cultivation largely in our soil and climate 

 should not be strongly urged. Transcendent, Early Strawberry, 

 Orange, and a few other kinds, do fairly well as orchard trees in 

 some locations. In this connection we may cite the experience 

 of Prof. Budd who states that he gathered on the Collage Farm 

 some sixty varieties of crabs and crab hybrids, six years ago, 

 and the most promising of these were sent out for trial; that only 

 six or seven of this number now are left, similarity of size and 

 quality, and their pecular tendency to blight having consigned 

 them one after another to the brush pile. Of the number left he 

 mentions Sarnia, Gibb and Boone, and states that Whitney's E"o. 

 20, Wealthy, Wealthy Seedling and Telfer Sweet, called hybrids, 

 are excellent fruit, but show no trace or crab in leaf, bud or 

 fruit. 



THE PRESERVATION OF OUR FORESTS 



would seem to be a question worthy of consideration, in view of 

 cyclones, storms and floods which have to some extent prevailed 



