422 ANNUAL REPORT. 



It occurs to me that in sending delegates to adjoining states 

 where climates are less rigorous than ours, our greatest benefits 

 must accrue from adopting such of their methods as are superior to 

 our own and avoiding such as retard. In my last report I men- 

 tioned Iowa's plan of districting the state and electing a director 

 for each district. My observation at this meeting confirms me 

 in the opinion that with the combining of the reports of two or 

 three of their twelve directors in one to save repetition as re- 

 commended by their President in his address. We may adopt this 

 plan with great advantage to our state. The programme seemed 

 remarkably full, requiring the constant effort of their able and 

 energetic President to put things through on time. 



E. H. S. DARTT. 



[Other portions of this report are reserved for the action of the society. — 

 Secret A.RY.1 



RUSSIAN APPLES. 



As pioneer fruits for the cold northwest, I prefer the Russians to 

 the crabs or hybrids. 1st. They average larger. 2d. They are less 

 subject to blight. 3rd. They are generally better in quality. 4th. 

 Are better stocks to graft the common apple on. 5th. Will sell 

 much higher on the market. I propose to hold fast to the Rus- 

 sians till we originate something more profitable from seed. We 

 fruited forty varieties the past season, among them four or five ot 

 the Anis family, as hardy as our native oaks. 



Revel Pear apple, Red Transparent, Russian Green, White 

 Pigeon, Leipzig, Borsdorf and many others are very fine in quality 

 and extremely hardy. 



Wm. Forster, of our county, showed us four White Astrachan trees 

 that look promising; they said the crop the past season was about 

 sixteen bushels, which was a good showing for trees of their size. 

 This variety is said to be of Russian origin and imported into 

 England from Sweden in 1816, with the Red Astrachan. I am 

 unable to say why it has not been cultivated more; it appears to be 

 more hardy and a better bearer than the Red Astrachan. Mr. 

 Cottrell, of Dover, speaks well of the Round White, and White 

 Pigeon. For top working with winter varieties of the common 

 apple, I would suppose the Red and Yellow Anis would be supe- 

 rior to most anything else, owing to their extreme hardiness. 



