38 ANNUAL REPORT. 
There are a number of new seedlings on trial here, which are likely to be 
heard from hereafter. 
One of the most puzzling things about apples in this district is the good con- 
dition of isolated trees of some of the old sorts I have named, standing as sur- 
vivors in rows where so many others, twenty to one probably, of same sorts have 
failed—gone down ‘‘to lie in cold obstruction and to rot,’’ early victims of our 
savags climate. What made one hardy and the other tender? Did it happen 
to be graf ed on a hardier stock than its associates and congeners, or what is the 
reason? ‘The instances are numerous, and seem to be worthy of study. I shall 
have great respect for any pomologist who will give a scientific explanation of 
this, and show us how to make other trees of the same sorts do as well as these 
surviving veterans. 
It is a painful duty to report upon the common crabs, the Transcendents, Hys 
lops and Siberians in this district. They all seem to be going to destruction 
with the summer blight. Some of them may be saved by top grafting into 
Wealthy and other sorts, but there are many beyond recovery. Is it not about 
time they were removed from our list? What one of us would plant them ex- 
cept for stocks for top-grafting. The Hybrids, or improved crabs, are coming 
into bearing in various orchards and doing themselves great credit—at least 
some varieties of them—those that appear to be non-blighters. Those giving 
the best results are the Early Strawberry, Whitney No. 20, Conical, Hesper 
Blush, Beecher Sweet, Angular, Maiden Blush and Minnesota. Of these I have 
seen many handsome orchard trees bearing heavily, and they are all good eat- 
ing apples. The Whitney No. 20 is beginning to bear with us. It is twice the 
size of Transcendent, beautiful color and finish, handsome shape and first-rate 
desert frait—a delightful apple to raise or use. No wonder it 1s growing fam- 
ous, and the trees in demand for shipment even to Europe. The Minnesota, 
for the first time with us, is bearing heavily. We have now no fears but that 
this will add the virtue of good cropping to its acknowledged excellence as an 
orchard tree. Its quality and keeping habits are good. The gale of September 
16, laid all our apples on the ground except Wallbridge, which will stay on the 
tree till grown useful, wind or no wind; yet the Minnesotas have kept from that 
time till now in good condition, as you will see by the samples placed on exhi- 
bition here. In favorable seasons it must be a fair keeping early winter apple. 
Grapes hays fruited well. The Janesville sustains its reputation for earliness, 
and its quality improves upon acquaintance. 
Strawberries—an off year, no results sufficient for a fair test of new varieties, 
and nothing worth reporting except that the vines are full of chintz bugs. 
Whether they will depart in the spring, or stay for mischief, nobody seems to 
have any means of prophecying. I have dusted mine all over heavily with wood 
hoping the bugs will dislike it and either succumb or leave. 
Raspberries were nearly all killed to the ground. Senecas stood the best of 
any. No rust except on Doolittles. There is no sort safe for open field culture 
without covering. 
Blackberries—nothing doing except trials of Snyders. Those who have these 
are covering them at present for winter protection. 
Currants—short crop. Much complaint of the worm that measureth. 
Plums—good showing from Forest Garden, Weaver and DeSoto—excellent 
quality and abundant crops. The Weaver being the perfect free-stone, is very 
popular. They grow well grafted on cur common wild plums. 
