STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 121 



varieties. The three varieties of Mr. Hart that carried off the 

 first prize impressed me so favorably that I secured the company 

 of A. W. Sias to pay them a special visit and give the trees a 

 personal examination. We judged the trees to be about fourteen 

 years old and they were apparently sound and thrifty. Tree 

 No. 1 is a strong symmetrical grower with round, perfect top. 

 The fruit, of which there was several bushels, was large, showy 

 and good. I judged it to be an autumn variety. Tree No. 2 

 branches more upright. Fruit large, medium quality, in my 

 estimation better than No. 1; was carrying a good crop. No 3, 

 fruit mostly gone and will not hazard an opinion on its merits. 

 The ground color of all was deep green, striped or splashed with 

 red and they doubtless are from the seed of one variety. I also 

 visited some trees at Minnesota City. Jas. Wright's seedling, 

 Belle Flower, was carrying a large crop and I believe the tree to 

 be as healthy as any crab of its age (thirty-two years) in the 

 State. The most extensive collection of seedlings I have found 

 anywhere was on the farm of Mr. Burley, one and one-half miles 

 above Minnesota City. I did not have an opportunity to test any 

 of them or learn their history as Mr. Builey was away at the 

 time of my call. There can hardly help but be something good 

 among so many and I call your attention to them that they may 

 be looked after in the future. I have called to examine the tree 

 of Philip Eberhard, of Mound Prairie. It is reported to be 

 twenty-eight years old, a regular annual bearer of a medium sized 

 winter fruit that is a favorite with the family for cooking. Tree 

 sound and thrifty. Also paid a visit to the trees upon the Geo. 

 Hartman farm of Hokah. Found one tree, which I have men- 

 tioned in former reports, carrying a heavy crop of fruit and look- 

 ing well. I have procured and planted the seeds from one-half 

 bushel of the apples for use in my experimental station. I have 

 examined several other trees in various localities and have re- 

 ceived information of others that are spoken well of in their re- 

 spective neighborhoods and shall arrange to see them at an early 

 day. I consider the Seedling Fruit Committee to be a most im- 

 portant one and would recommend that this meeting set apart a 

 certain sum of money to be expended in defraying its expenses 

 or that it fix a limit to the annual expense that each member 

 may incur in the discharge of duty. All of which is respectfully 

 submitted. 



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