APPLES. 281 



Freeborn County Fairs; also the State Experiment Station at St. Anthony 

 Park and the substation at Owatonna, and besides to visit and inspect 

 orchards in twelve counties of this state. 



Russian Apples.— I am becoming strongly of the opinion that some 

 of the varieties of apples recently introduced into this country from 

 Russia are destined to become important factors in the future pomology 

 of Minnesota and the Northwest generally, for the reason that they are in 

 certain respects extremely hardy, have large and thiclc foliage that is able 

 to resist heat, drouth, rust and fungus diseases, and are not sensitive to 

 sudden changes of the weather. The trees ripen up their season's growth 

 naturally, and when they have gone into rest for the winter are not excited 

 into a new flow of sap by changes of weather from dry to wet, and cold 

 to heat, as are some of our American varieties. At the blooming period 

 last spring, the prospect seemed favorable for the largest crop of fruit ever 

 known in this region, and especially so of apples. Never before had all 

 varieties been known to bloom so profusely. About that period consider- 

 able rain fell, and for a considerable time afterward we had but little 

 sunshine, and the atmosphere was what we generally term close and over- 

 charged with moisture, and some pretty warm days occured. 



Between the first and tenth of June we discovered that something was 

 wrong with the apple trees. First, a grayish mildew appeared on the 

 stalks and undersides of the leaves, and on the stems of the newly form- 

 ing fruit, soon turning them yellow and brown; and soon after a consid- 

 erable portion of the foliage and frr.it had dropped to the ground, leav- 

 ing the trees with a sorry appearance. On looking about we found that 

 all varieties did not suffer alike, and that a considerable number of the 

 Russian varieties were not perceptibly affected, and, generally, where old 

 enough to bear, matured a good crop of very fine fruit; and in localities 

 where some of the older American varieties were a total failure, or the 

 little fruit produced was more or less scabby, and inferior in size or 

 quality. 



The trouble extended over the entire state of Wisconsin, southeastern 

 Minnesota, northeastern Iowa, and, I presume, over other sections of the 

 country. It appeared to be the worst in eastern and southern Wisconsin 

 and on the valley lands along the Mississppi river and its tributaries, and 

 growing gradually less as we advanced westward upon the high prairie 

 and table lands. The fruit shown at the Wisconsin State Fair was very 

 largely produced upon the high lands about Baraboo and in Vernon 

 county; fully one-half of the varieties shown were Russians, and without 

 them the exhibition would have been very ordinary in appearance.. In 

 our own state the difference was not so marked, but a great number of 

 the finest apples were Russians and their seedlings. 



The American varieties were affected in about the following order, viz: 

 Haas, Walbridge, Talman Sweet, Fameuse, Golden Russett, Plumb Cider, 

 Ben Davis, Willow Twig, St. Lawrence, Bailey Sweet, Utter, Malinda, 

 Price's Sweet. The McMahon White, Wealthy and Wolf River were 

 nearly exempt, except in very low and protected places. The Russian va- 

 rieties and some that have originated from seed of them, as the Peerless, 

 Patten's Greening, five varieties of Rugby seedlings and several others, 

 were nearly or entirely exempt from the malady, and matured satisfactory 

 crops of fine, perfect fruit. 



