256 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
ORCHARDS. 
THE HIBERNAL AND LIEBY. 
CLARENCE WEDGE, ALBET LEA, 
The fact that the Hibernal is the only winter apple on our list for gen- 
eral planting, and that the variety is almost unknown to the average 
planter, has led me to think that a paper that would bring together the 
experience of those who have given it and its close relative, the Lieby, the 
longest trial, might be of value to the society. The confusion of names 
which exists, however, detracts greatly from the value of this experience, 
and I have been in doubt whether it would be best to present anything 
on the subject at this meeting or to wait until a comparison of tree and 
fruit would enable me to clear up some of this confusion, and write a 
more accurate and reliable paper. But hoping that the reading and dis- 
cussion of my present material might contribute to this end, I have 
thought best to proceed. 
Mr. Peterson, of Waconia, has two trees of Hibernal and two trees 
of Lieby, which are identical in tree and fruit, set nineteen years. With 
him the variety, whichever it is, has proved much hardier and healthier 
than the Duchess, and as free from blight,a vigorous grower,and a regular 
and heavy bearer of large, beautiful apples, which keep till January or 
February. Prof. Green reports Mr. Peterson as saying, ‘‘It is far hardier 
than Duchess. If we can’t raise the Lieby, we had better quit the 
business.” 
Mr. Latham, of Excelsior, has one tree of the Lieby, planted fifteen 
years. It began bearing at four or five years; does not bear as much as 
Duchess, but fairly well; has blighted more than Duchess, but aside from 
this, isas hardy and healthy. In his opinion, it would not be a valuable 
market apple. 
Mr. Sias, of Rochester, bas had Lieby top-worked on Transcendent and 
Hyslop for about eighteen years. They made a perfect union, and were 
hardy and productive with him. 
Mr. J. B. Mitchell, of Cresco, Iowa, reports as follows: “I know of no’ 
one in Iowa who has had the Russian apples as long as I have (since 
1872). The Lieby is as free from blight, with me, as the Duchess, and 
more hardy; bears as prolific; a better keeper; as good a culinary apple; 
rather astringent for eating from the hand, but, when properly ripened, 
not as bad as it has been said to be. Lieby is the hardiest Russian. Lieby 
and Hibernal are practically thesame.” (See North Iowa Report, 1890, 
p. 47.) 
