STATE HORTICULTURAL 80CIETY. 335 



root grafts which shared the fate of the old orchard. Although I was 

 a member of the State Horticultural Society in those days, and attend- 

 ed the annual meetings with a view to "acquiring knowledge," I 

 never found out what killed that orchard, and why I am obliged to 

 pay my grocer twenty-five dollars every fall for a winter supply of 

 wormy Michigan or Missouri apples. 



A. few of those trees were heavily mulched that fall — so much so 

 that the ground did not freeze, others were exposed, while still others 

 were banked with snow into the very branches a greater part of the 

 winter. 



A few varieties were superior in texture and flavor to any fruit I ever 

 tasted from other states. Three or four varieties, although not prop- 

 erly winter apples, would keep till April or May. 



If I have not covered the whole ground, shall be pleased to answer 

 any questions desired. Yours truly, 



D. F. Kellet. 



NEW RUSSIANS. 



Faribault, Minn., Jan. 4, 1888. 

 Friend Somerville, 



Will you kindly inform me — 



1. How many trees of New Russian apples have you in profitable 

 bearing? 



2. How many bushels have you ever gathered from a single tree in 

 one year? Name of best bearing sort? 



3. How long have trees been planted? 



4. How old were they when planted ? Names of six best sorts in 

 order of productiveness? 



5. How many bushels have you ever gathered in a year of New 

 Russians? 



6. What is your soil and slope? 



7. Are there any valleys near your orchard ? How near, on which 

 side, and how deep and wide are they ? 



8. Are yo"u protected by timber? How much, and in what shape? 



9. Is there water near the surface? How deep is your well? 



10. Did you ever raise the Talman Sweet there, and about what 

 year did they bear their last crop of apples ? 



In the interest of pomology an early reply, with the return of these 



sheets, will greatly oblige me. 



Yours truly, 



0. F. Brand. 



