GENERAL FRUITS. 175 



are the delight of the small boy's heart, but on the market they are no^ 

 appreciated, and their small size should limit their planting to the family 

 fruit garden, unless some of the winter varieties shall prove hardy enough 

 to fill the demand for a winter crab. 



The Kussian apples have had but a short trial with me, and no trial at 

 all in this vicinity that I can learn of, outside my own orchard. Trees 

 procured from Prof. Budd and A. G. Tuttle, planted from three to five 

 years ago, fruited generally this season, but a severe hailstorm occurring 

 when the fruit had set, and another when it had begun to turn, destroyed 

 my hopes of giving the fruit a fair test. 



I notice that Mr. J. S. Harris, in his description of the Hibernal, in our 

 last report, has put it down as a tardy bearer. It has not so proved with 

 me. Trees set three years ago were well loaded this season, and now have 

 well developed fruit^buds for another crop. The apples have a peculiar crab- 

 like flavor that unfits them for dessert, but for cooking purposes they are 

 excellent. The tree has not shown blight or been injured by cold, and its 

 turdy growth, extra early and heavy bearing, large size and beauty of 

 fruit, its keeping and cooking qualities, feave greatly pleased me. Vere- 

 riesh Reinette (282) of Budd, five years planted, bore a fair crop for first 

 time, and has not been injured by cold or blight; fruit a good sized hand- 

 some apple that may keep better than Wealthy. Yargul and Long Arcad, 

 three years planted, are perfect in tree, and set a little fruit for the hail- 

 storm to destroy. Czar's Thorn and Barloff nearly ripened a few very 

 beautiful apples. Trees not quite perfect. Charlanuff, five years planted, 

 bore well and is a perfect tree; fruit better than Duchess, hangs better to 

 tree, and ripens a little later. I am much pleased with it. The Long- 

 field, Eepka Malenka, White Transparent, Blue Anis, Nos. 284, 252 and 

 984 are not hardy. 



Of pears, Kurskaya (392) five years planted, about twelve feet high, is 

 looking finely, and gives promise of fruit next season. I have also the 

 Chinese sand pear and the Bessemianka, both too young to deserve at- 

 tention. 



No fruit planted at my place has given better satisfaction than the De 

 Soto plum. Their season is later than the wild plum, and their years of 

 heavy bearing do not appear to correspond to the "plum years" of the 

 wild varieties, which serves to make them profitable for market and very 

 acceptable for the home garden. The Forest Garden is not so good a 

 bearer and the fruit is softer, but being earlier than De Soto, is good to 

 plant with it. The Weaver was quite generally planted in our county 

 about eight years ago, but I have yet to find a place where it has given 

 satisfaction. 



Grapes are steadily gaining ground with our planters. Concord has 

 again failed to ripen up sweet and fine, and I still think Warden and 

 Moores Early better varieties for general planting. Cottage, Lindley, 

 Agawam, and Lady are among my favorites. 



The Orthiem cherry, five years planted, has thus far been perfectly 

 healthy, and this year for the first time furnished the birds a few cherries. 



For the past three years I have given red raspberries,black caps and black- 

 berries thorough cultivation instead of mulch, and have had perfect fail- 

 ures, canes make strong growth, set wonderfully with fruit, that dried up 

 when half grown. I have manured the ground liberally, cultivated faith- 



