STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 85 
quality of the Tallman. I have not had an opportunity to examine the tree, 
but it has the reputation of being hardy. From appearance I should judge 
the fruit possessed good keeping qualities. In August last I spent a day in 
the town of Hokah, looking up seedlings, and found in the orchard of Geo. 
Hartman twenty or more varieties in bearing. I should judge the trees to 
be from 16 to 18 years old, and about half of them do not show any marks of 
ever having been injured by severe winters. Two or three varieties pro- 
duce good and showy apples that will keep well into the winter, and are cer- 
tainly worthy of being put on trial. Mr. Hartman has since deceased, but 
doubtless cions of them could be secured. 
On my own place several new seedlings have fruited. One apple, which 
is designated as No. 44, has the appearance of being a hardy tree; fruit, 
medium size; season, late fall; use, desert. Another, No. 40, isa seedling of 
the Transcendent tree; vigorous and hardy; fruit about the size of Fameuse; 
mild, sub-acid; keeps until New Year; and I think the tree is as hardy as the 
Siberian. Other varieties may prove more encouraging at the next fruiting. 
I also received from Richland Co., Wis., four varieties said to be seedlings 
of Siberians. They were all somewhat larger than Transcendents, and for 
most purposes three of them are better. They are named Wisconsin, 
Monmoth, Sweet, Richland, Winter Sweet, Lookers Winter and President 
Hayes. I hardly think any of them can be relied upon for keeping all 
winter, but perhaps ought not to form an opinion from last season’s fruit. 
Doubtless they will be valuable to make up variety for family use in those 
regions where the apple can not be grown, but are of no great value where 
it can. 
Hart’s seedling strawberry still continues to promise well, and is not 
only a good fruit but very hardy and vigorous in the section where it 
originated. 
I have seen the new seedling grape, Beauty of Minnesota, in fruit the 
past season, and am very favorably impressed with it. The vines were 
thrifty and doubtless hardy, as Mr. Kramer says they were not covered the 
previous winter. The quality of the fruit is better than the Concord, 
growing by the side of it. The bunches are large and compact, often 
shouldered, and the berries adhere well to the stem, and it keeps a long 
time after gathering, which, together with its being a white grape, will 
make it a favorite for market. 
I have six varieties of Picket’s seedling apples on trial. The trees show 
soze good points but have not yet fruited. I have heard of several other 
seedlings in this vicinity and am satisfied that some of them are worthy of 
being looked after. I would recommend that the committee on seedlings 
be a standing committee, comprised of men who have the facilities for 
giving new varieties and seedlings a fair trial, and that all new varieties 
should be introduced to the State Horticultural Society through this com- 
mittee. There ought to be three or more experimental stations in the State 
where all new candidates for favor could be placed on trial and their merits 
ascertained before they are endorsed by this society, and the committee on 
seedlings could very properly superintend such experiments. We would 
also recommend the adoption of a rule of ten points to govern the above 
committee in the estimate of seedlings. 
Respectfuily submitted by 
La CRESCENT, MINN., Jan. 1, 1880. JOHN S. HARRIS. 
