HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 40& 



RUSSIAN FRUITS. 



Among the lines of work which should have special mention 

 are our Eussian apples and other Eussian fruits. 



The Eussian apples have made an excellent growth and ripened 

 their wood perfectly. The report in bulletin No. 3 gives their 

 hardiness during the winter of 1887-1888, and the results therein 

 stated have been justified by the season's growth. There has been 

 no dying back of the branches after they had partially leaved out 

 as has happened some past seasons, but there has been a strong, 

 firm and healthy growth the season through. The number of 

 trees planted out permanently has been greatly increased by 

 planting trees between the rows in the orchard. It is my inten- 

 tion to use these extra trees between the rows for filling up any 

 vacancies which may occur in the original plantation. Thus the 

 number of Eussian apj)le trees on trial on the station Iknds is 

 about 1,300, which number includes two hundred and sixty 

 varieties. 



The original Eussian orchard was planted out in a very ex- 

 posed position on rich soil four years ago last spring. They have 

 therefore as yet produced no fruit at all, and our observations 

 have necessarily been confined to noting their hardiness and free- 

 dom from disease. 



I wish it was within my power to give a more decided and con- 

 clusive report on the Eussian apple tree question, but it is not 

 and I do not believe that the subject would be imj)roved by my 

 drawing inferences from conclusive results obtained in other 

 quarters. There is in fact no short cut through the task of learn- 

 ing all the merits of an apple tree. We must give it a careful 

 trial and abide the results. The trial of an apple tree from one 

 section requires almost as much time in another as the trial of 

 a seedling. Those who like to boom a variety of apple or any- 

 thing else upon a short trial seldom fully consider or care about 

 the disappointment they may occasion or the real set back they 

 may cause the subject of fruit culture. I believe there is much 

 to hope for from our Eussian apples and that many of them will 

 •.be found adapted to the wants of Minnesota. But until we can 

 have them fruit and grow freely on the station lands I shall not 

 draw final conclusions but shall confine myself to issuing oc- 

 casinal bulletins upon their hardiness and their freedom from 

 disease. In fact I shall confine myself to "results" from the 

 station work in this as in all other matters. 

 Vol. IV— 52. 



