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260 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
compares favorably with that of any other state. But as there are over 
one thousand varieties of Russian apples in cultivation, with scions col- 
lected from different parts of that country, we can not expect them all 
to be perfect. The fruit of some of them is worthless, others blight badly, 
while a large per cent. of them are perfectly at home in our soil and cli- 
mate, and bear beautiful crops of fruit that will compare favorably with 
any of the Eastern varieties. I think it was a godsend for us when Dr.Regal, 
in 1868, sent to our experimental ground at Washington, the first importa- 
tions of scions, and in 1876 scions were distributed throughout our north- 
western states for trial. Soon the tree peddlers learned a few of these 
names and sold hundreds of trees marked as Russians, that perhaps 
were biought from some Eastern or Southern nursery. They were not 
Russian trees at all but tagged to suit the name they sold under. Tosome 
extent the same thing is practiced at the present. A few days ago in con- 
versation with an agent or tree peddler, representing a nursery in this 
state, I asked him what varieties of trees he was selling. He answered; 
‘Russians mostly.” I also asked him what he was selling for winter varie- 
ties. Hesaid he was making arun on the Yellow Transparent for the 
best winter apple. In this way many farmers are imposed on and fre- 
quently get a hybrid or Siberian, or worse some Eastern tree that is sure 
to winter kill or not bear the kind of fruit that was represented. | 
Now with the experience of the past and what we have at present, what is 
our future hope? Ibelieve our present can be bettered. Iam glad to see our 
experimental stations taking hold of this in the right direction by plant- 
ing seeds of the most hardy Russians, that have been fertilized by other ~ 
hardy Russians, so as to retain hardiness of tree and size of fruit. I be- 
lieve there can be a great improvement in such crosses, also acclimating 
them more to our soil and season. I believe if farmers take hold of this 
and get trees of the right kind by corresponding with reliable nursery- 
men for such of the new Russians as they can recommend, they will 
be satisfied with their investment, and we shall at least be able to sup- 
ply our home market. Now to have fruit we must plant trees, for we can- 
not gather grapes from thorns, nor figsfrom thistles. The first thing to 
consider is the kind of trees we want, then send to some responsible nur- 
seryman in the state, inquiring if he has such trees; if he has not, then 
the right belongs to me to send to Iowa or Wisconsin and get them. Ido 
not believe that it detracts anything from the hardiness of trees in one 
generation, if they are hardy to start with, especially with such a small 
difference in latitude. My experience has proved that fact with the Duch- 
ess, as they are Duchess, whether they are raised in Wisconsin or Minne- 
sota. I believe we ought as much as possible to patronize our own 
nurserymen. 
Now I will give you the names of a few varieties that I can recom- 
mend, that have fruited on the farm, or of which I have seen both trees 
and fruit on Mr. Keel’s farm. There may be a great many more varieties 
that may be better than those I recommend, with so many varieties to 
select from. For summer: Red Duck, Glass Green, Yellow Transparent, 
Boravinka and Charlamoff. For fall varieties: Red Anis, Kourk’s Anis, 
White Pigeon, Zuzoff, Enormous and Getman. For winter: Antonovka, 
Red Queen, Longfield, Cross Apple, Silken Leaf and Ostrekoff. This list 
might be increased with others of equal merit. Now, how-are we to make 
our trees successful? Not by first exposing the roots to wind and sun for 
two or three hours after all other work is finished in the spring, and dig- 
