108 ANNUAL REPORT 



was the favorite dumping ground for the rubbish that ought to 

 have ended its existence in the brush piles. Happily, good and 

 honest nurserymen sent trustworthy agents to us with well grown 

 and skillfully handled trees; but unfortunately the country was 

 new and the climate different from other parts of America and no 

 man could tell which if any would thrive here Hundreds of vari- 

 eties have been planted here and dozens of them have fruited, and 

 at one time or another been thought to be sufficiently hardy or to 

 have merit enough to give tham a place in our pomology, and we 

 have held on to them with more than a commendable tenacity. 

 Theories without number have been advanced and recommended 

 but succeeding climatic causes have demolished them all, and 

 we have finally come to the conclusion that "Nature's" economic 

 distribution of trees and plants has been a thing of chance, and 

 that our fruit growers must look for the fruits of the future to 

 come to them only while working along the lines, 1st of, "Introduc- 

 tion of like fruits from like climates," which was first advocated by 

 Col. D. A. Robertson, and has been started in practice by J. L. 

 Budd, of Iowa, G. Gibb, of Canada, A. C. Tuttle, of Wisconsin, and 

 others. 2nd, "By systematic plant breeding," as started by Gideon, 

 Leudloff and many others. The introduction of the New Russian, 

 and seedlings that are being originated has in a great measure 

 stopped the replanting of our orchards with those varieties that 

 were termed iron clad twenty years ago, and before another twenty 

 years have passed it is doubtful if even the Duchess, Tetofsky and 

 Wealthy, will occupy a prominent place in the estimation of our 

 planters. To aid the future historian and simplify the work of 

 cataloging by your committee, I present the following imperfect 

 list of descriptions and brief comments on some of the varieties 

 that have fruited in this state. 



ALEXANDER, EMPEROR ALEXANDER. 



Fruit large, conical, somewhat flattened at the base; red streaked 

 on greenish yellow ground; stem small, cavity deep; calyx large, 

 basin deep; flesh coarse, crisp, yellowish white, tender and juicy; 

 flavor a pleasant acid; use kitchen and market; season in Minnesota, 

 September to November; origin, Russia. For beauty on the tree 

 this variety will probably bear away the palm. Nearly hardy in 

 southeast Minnesota until the winter of 1884-5, when most of the 

 trees were considerably injured. Tree a strong grower; somewhat 

 subject to blight. Specimens were grown last season by a Mr. 

 Anderson, of Houston county, measuring 15 inches in circumfer- 

 ence. It is one of the first varieties planted west of the Mississippi 

 river. Is rather a shy bearer. Is usually on exhibition at our 

 State Fairs. 



AMERICAN GOLDEN RUSSET. 



Size, medium; form round, or roundish, ovate; color, rich golden 

 yellow, overspread with soft russet, and in the sun a marbling of 

 red; stem slender, cavity narrow; calyx small and closed, basin 

 shallow; flesh yellow, tender, juicy, with a rich sprightly sub-acid 

 flavor. Season, December to March. The tree is a medium, com- 



