HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 213 



and Bubacb. The largest herrj measured six inches in circum- 

 ference. The actual measurement from three pickings from a 

 square rod of ground was five bushels and two quarts in addition 

 to a few sijecimens that had been selected at different times for 

 exhibition. I did not see the variety until it was out of bloom, 

 but think it is a pistilate. It is growing upon a dry, loam soil. 

 The roots of the j)lants are strong, and Mr. Kramer says that it with- 

 stood the drought of 1887 better than any other variety upon his 

 place. If it should do as well in future years and in other hands 

 as it has with Mr. Kramer it will revolutionize strawberry cul- 

 ture for home use if not for market. The berry is not as firm as 

 the Jessie, but this wet season held up better than the Crescent. 



I visited Klein's Seedling apple tree in Houston county some 

 time in August. 



The history of the tree is found on page 138 of transactions for 

 1887. It is now 32 years old and api^arently as sound as Duchess 

 upon Mr. Klein's place. It was carrying a liberal crop of fruit of 

 good size and appearance, specimens of which were exhibited at 

 the state fair of 1888; some specimens I carried home kept very 

 well until January 1st. Ordinarily it is considered a fall apple. 

 Owing to its pedigree it may prove valuable as a variety for 

 crossing with the Eussians for growing seedlings. I have not 

 seen the Okabena, or t)aisy trees this season; but Mr. Ludlow 

 reports they endured last winter without injury. 



LAYERING. 



On Dec. 24, 1888, I visited the apple orchard of a Mr. Disbrow 

 at Alden, 111. He has a variety of apples that originated from 

 the seed of a large variety of ai^ples procured in Ohio, some forty 

 years since (probably Bailey sweet). Only one tree from the seed 

 proved hardy and good enough to warrant saving; that one he 

 has propagated by suckers or rootlets, and now has nearly twenty 

 trees in his orchard, ranging from fifteen to twenty-five years 

 old, all upon their own roots. He claims that he has never lost 

 a tree from any cause whatever. The trees are all looking thrifty 

 and sound while every other variety in the orchard shows disease, 

 or decay. It is a regular and good bearer; fruit medium in size, 

 handsome in appearance; delicious, sweet in flavor, keeps well 

 all winter. Has the tree been kept hardy by method of propa- 

 gating or is it more hardy than what are usualy termed "iron- 

 clads?" 



