206 ANNTJAL REPORT 



large for a crab; color yellow; some specimens have a red cheek on 

 the sunny side; flesh yellow; flavor vinous, refreshing. Good for 

 cider and wine; season late fall; tree very hardy.* 



The Barkeeper apple is a variety I got from my old friend, that 

 other veteran pomologist, Peter M. Gideon, of Excelsior, several 

 years ago. 1 have it as a top-graft only. Cannot tell what it will 

 be when root grafted. Looks like a fast grower. The fruit is large; 

 color, grass green all over, with white spots; stem short; hangs 

 fast on the tree. Flesh, coarse; flavor vinous; tree very hardy. 



In reply to a question, Mr. Ludluff said his orchards were on 

 deep black soil with clay subsoil. No shelter except gray willow 

 on the north. 



Mr. Plumb was in favor of windbreaks, but not of close shelters 

 for orchards. 



FINANCIAL MATTERS. 



A report was presented by the finance committee embracing 

 the following points, given from memory by the Secretary, as the 

 papers could not be found after the adjournment of the meeting. 



1st. Finding the accounts of the Secretary and Treasurer 

 agreeing and correct as presented. 



2d. , Reciting a by-law in the Annual Report of 1878, limiting 

 the executive committee to $50 per year in the current expenses 

 of the society, and alleging that this by-law had been violated in 

 the expenditures for the collection and exhibition of fruits at the 

 meeting of the American Pomological Society, in September last. 



3d. Intimating a tendency to extravagance, the spending of 

 money because we had it — a tendency that the committee thought 

 needed checking. 



The report was signed by G. W. Fuller, A. W. Sias and M. 

 Pearce. 



* Note by Secretary. This apple was originated by Mr. PefEer from the oblate 

 yellow crab, fertilized by Fall Greening apple. Its merits were first recognized by 

 Cliarles Gibb, of Abbottsford, Canada, who selected it as the most promising at the 

 time of arow of seedlmgs shown him by Mr. Peffer. Hence its name. The tree has 

 never been Icnown to blight so far as records have been obtained, and the apple has, 

 besides the good qualities named by Mr. LudlufE, the faculty of staying firm outside 

 and ill, and holding its bright, yellow color all through the fall and early -winter. It 

 must be a valuable crab for market, and like the Whitney No. 20, a profitable one to 

 raise for selling to the dryers. It was one of the three most attractive crabs in appear- 

 ance on our tables at Philadelphia. 



