182 ANNUAL REPORT 



J. S. Harris, of La Crescent, Minn., the well known horticultural 

 lecturer. The largest apples upon exhibition were the specimens 

 of McMahon's White, raised by Mr. Sidney Corp, of Hammond's 

 Ford, Minn. These apples were very large and beautiful, and at- 

 tracted much attention. The color is very light yellow, or straw 

 color, almost white. The shape slightly oblong. They excelled 

 in appearance most of the apples offered for sale by our city deal- 

 ers during the past season. From five trees Mr. Corp raised this 

 season 10 bushels. The trees were bought of Mr. Sias, of this city 

 a few years ago. 



The N. W. Greenings exhibited by E. W. Daniels of Aurora, 

 Wis., were very fine. 



The Orange Winter, a seedling from A. C. Tuttle, Baraboo, Wis., 

 is a medium sized, showy apple of fine quality. Mr. Tuttle also 

 exhibited two hardy Russian varieties, the Zusoff and the Getman. 



The apple that attracted the most attention, however, was a cross 

 between the wild crab growing near St. Louis, Mo., and common 

 apple. This cross originated with Mr. C. G. Patten, of Charles 

 City, Iowa, and is the first occurrence of the kind ever known. In 

 his annual address Pres. Sias referred to this, and said that in his 

 opinion the coming apple for this country would be developed from 

 our native crab apple. For if a cross had been obtained once it 

 could be had again. The crab apple trees are among the most 

 hardy that grow. They never sun scald. Their hardiness, with 

 size and quality of fruit, would give us just what we need. His 

 address brought out considerable discussion. 



Mr. Harris offered the following resolution: 



Resolved, That the State Horticultural Society be requested to offer six 

 dollars as premiums for the best exhibits of crab apples. 



The resolution was passed. Mr. Harris said the premiums would 

 direct the public attention to the crab apples, and would show in 

 what part of the state the best ones could be found. He believed 

 Pres. Sias was on the right track. He remembered that the peach 

 was once a bitter almond, the pear a small hard fruit unfit to eat, 

 the tame plum a smaller and poorer fruit than our wild Minnesota 

 plums, and that the Concord grape was but three generations from 

 the wild sour grape. He believed that garden cultivation alone 

 would improve the crab apple. 



Mr. Lord said that here was work for the experimental stations. 

 He believed himself too old to undertake such a task, but saw no 

 reason why a large apple of good quality could not be obtained 

 from our wild crab in time. 



Mr. I. D. Swain said that with the apple before him, which had 

 already been obtained, and which we had all tasted and found good, 

 the future looked promising. 



Mr. Geo. E. Campbell said that if in one cross such a good apple 

 was obtained, it would not take so very many years to get our apple. 



Mr. Hoag thought that an apple as hardy as our wild crabs, and 

 of good size and quality, would certainly be better than any va- 

 riety that we now had. Mr. Sias' way seemed to be the practical way 

 to get a good apple. 



