STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 379 



he proved a veritable missionary, and the ojospel he brought was good 

 sound horticultural gospel. Do you know the addresses of parties 

 who have planted Russian apples? I would be under obligations to 

 you if you would send me a list. 



Hoping you may have an especially profitable and pleasant session, 

 I remain. 



Yours very truly, 



Chas. a. Keffer. 



from russia. 



Molie-lev-upon-thr-Dnieper, Russia, Feb. 19, 1887. 



S. D. Hilbnan, Secretary, etc. 



I duly received your favor of Dec. 27, 1886, and must apologize for 

 not replying to it sooner. 



I have not had opportunity to write the promised paper, having 

 been engaged all the time in this northern region. 



I have received to-day a letter from Mr. Ragan informing me that 

 he has received the scions, and will send you the package destined for 

 your Society. Hope that the scions will arrive in good state and be 

 of use to the Society. 



I intend to send you, next fall, scions from trees grown here in 

 Petrosavosk under the 62® north latitude. 



I wrote you that I have not seen nor eaten of the fruits of the vari- 

 eties that were praised to me; one that I had the disadvantage to 

 taste was bitterly sour. It is also not fair to claim of a tree grown 

 in such latitude to give first-rate fruit. 



But taking in consideration that they endure here often 29° ream 

 of frost, and all the winters are blowing blizzards, such tree must be 

 a truly hardy one, and can be undoubtedly of use as material to 

 your intelligent orchardists to train for your State for an ironclad va- 

 riety of apple. 



Leaving this country, I have asked friends to send me, next fall, 

 seeds and scions from apples of this place, and shall send you some 

 for trial. 



Your amiable offer to send me the last report of Iowa will be duly 

 appreciated, if you shall have the kindness to mail me a copy. 



I take also the liberty to ask you to have the kindness to send me 

 seeds of Western Catalpa {Gatalpa speciosa) and box elder {Acer Ne- 

 gunda) as samples, and to give me prices for one kilogram. In the 



