GENERAL FRUITS. 55) 
ing in favor on its own merits and is being so widely disseminated that 
we shall soon be able to form a correct estimate of its adaptation and 
work. 
I examined the original tree of the Avista, owned by A. J. Phillips, 
of West Salem, Wisconsin. It was carrying a good crop of fine fruit the 
last season, and considering the age of the tree, the many years it has 
fruited, its present condition and the appearance of younger trees just 
commencing to fruit, I should consider that it ought at once to be put 
on trial in all of our experiment stations. The Catharine (Kleine’s Houston 
Co. seedling) did not bear very much last year. The tree is looking well, 
and the thirty bushel crop of 1890 does not seem to have impaired its 
vitality, although it is growing in timothy and clover sod. The Okabena 
fruited with me; trees are all doing well. It takes so well grafted or 
budded on Transcendent stocks, that if it proves hardy it will be very valua- 
ble for top working on that variety, where too many of them have been 
planted. A few varieties of seedlings of fine appearance were shown at 
the state fair of 1891. Andrew Peterson showed the Wolff and Anderson’s 
seedling from Carver County. I haveseen the tree of Wolff and should es- 
timate it to stand in hardiness with, or a little better than the Weal- 
thy. The fruit is very fair and will probably keep later. 
Anderson’s seedling is a fruit of medium size, flat-round in form, of a 
paie green color striped with dull red, flesh white and fine grained, flavor 
a pleasant sub-acid. Two varieties of seedlings were placed on the tables 
by J. M. Underwood, of Lake City. They were from John Murdock, of 
Wabasha County. Both varieties were of full medium size and fair 
appearance. No.1 is nearly round in form, color yellow with blush cheek, 
flesh yellow and fine grained, flavor pleasant subacid, stem short, set in 
medium deep, broad cavity. Season, October. No. 2 approaches oblique- 
oval in form, color yellow, striped and blotched with pale and deeper red, 
flavor pleasant acid; the stem is long and slender, set in a rather deep 
cavity. Season, November or later. Besides the above, seedlings or un- 
known varieties were shown in the sweepstakes collection of Mr. Gordon, 
but I was not able to learn where or by whom they were originated,as Mr. 
G. was enjoined not to divulge secrets that might prevent some nursery- 
man from getting them for exclusive propagation—to corner the 
market—a great mistake on the part of the would-be propagators, for the 
day has passed when a boom can be raised on an unknown variety. 
Some beautiful varieties were shown by Mr. Keel from the old Jordan 
orchards, whether seedlings or Russian I was not able to decide. At the 
Houston Co. fair a variety was shown that created a great Sensation. 
One specimen weighed exactly two pounds (I did not see the fruit). On 
my return from the meeting of the A. P. society, I proceeded to hunt up 
the tree, but did not get a sight of the fruit (there were only seven speci- 
mens of it), as it had been used up. The tree looks to be about 10 or 12 
years old and stands in a highly cultivated vegetable garden and shows 
no visible marks of having ever been injured by cold or heat. The crop of 
1890 when gathered was one and one-half bushels. After another fruiting, 
if it proves to be a seedling and any ways promising, I will get it into our 
experiment station for trial. The work of hunting up seedlings and new 
ruits,and getting them into our experiment station for trial is a very 
important one. In my-opinion, the coming apple for the central North- 
