STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 2 TS 
the earliest, ripening with the Tetofsky, rather flat in shape, yellowish 
ground-work, with reddish tinge, splashed with carmine and blotched all 
over, occasionally streaked with red; flavor a mild, pleasant sub-acid. We 
have had equally poor success with our root-grafts of the ‘‘ Russians:” only 
those set since the ‘* severe winter” have done well. The claim of others. 
for their success and superiority has induced us to give them another trial,. 
and we now have 130 or more varieties nicely started in orchard, from 
which we shall hope to meet with better results. With a view to making 
this report as complete as possible, last spring I wrote to an old friend in 
Washington, of Dr. Jewell’s, Mr. J. M. P. King (who is deeply interested 
in Horticulture, and in a position to learn all about the Russian apples. 
under Mr. Saunders’ care), asking him to send me, in their season, at my 
expense, all the samples he could of the ‘‘ Russian” apples. He wrote me 
that if I would jog his memory in the right season he would gladly do it.. 
Accordingly the 4th of August I reminded him of his promise. His answer 
was as follows: 
*‘Dear Friend: Yours of the 4th inst. received on the day of my return 
to the city, and went over at once to secure your wish. Every tree, except. 
perhaps half a dozen, had dropped their fruit. These few Mr. Saunders. 
thought would hardly justify sending.” 
Mr. C. Perry, of the ‘‘ Beaver Dam Nursery,” Wis., wrote me, under date- 
of Oct. 18th: I have tested 38 sorts of Russians, but so far as they have: 
fruited they are all summer apples.” 
I have looked in several other places for samples of Russians that would 
keep, and remembering that we had at our meeting last winter a large 
number that had kept well, it has surprised me that I should have been so 
unsuccessful. Hoping the other members of the committee have met with 
better success, I remain, 
Respectfully yours, 
J. M. UNDERWOOD. 
MR. SIAS’ REPORT. 
Mr. Sias read his report, as follows: 
ROCHESTER, Jan. 16th, 1880- 
Gentlemen of the State Horticultural Society : 
In response to a call from our worthy secretary I will give a brief repo t. 
en the Russian apple as found in the southern part of the State. From the 
most reliable data at my command, I conclude that we now have on trial in 
this part of the State abut three hundred varieties of Russian crigin,—al} 
obtained throuzh the Department of Agriculture at Washington. Of these 
bu a comparatively small number have yet fruited. The greatest number 
reported at any one place was at Rochester Nursery, M. W. Cook proprie-- 
tor. He reports having fruited thirty-six varieties the past season, some 
of whic. are earlier and superior in quality to the Duchess of Oldenburg, 
but all summer fruit, and nearly all hardy trees. Fruited on my own 
grounds thirty varieties. Have about one hundred and thirty altogether. 
Classed them all August fruit, except one: that is called Roursks Anisette ; 
