272 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 



seems to be esteemed in that locality and in some of the Northwestern 

 States for the hardiness of the tree and its brilliantly colored fruit. 

 Although it is a little too tart for dessert purposes, it is liked for cook- 

 ing. It is called one of our native iron-clads. My specimens were 

 from Vermont. 



Size, small, 2^ inches; shape.flat, conical, irregular; surface, smooth, 

 light yellow, almost hidden by bright red blotches and stripes; dots, 

 exceedingly minute, almost undiscernible, light colored; basin, deep, 

 narrow, waved; eye, small, closed; cavity, small, narrow, russeted; 

 stem, medium to short, slender; core, small, nearly closed; seeds, 

 small, plump, rather light colored; flesh, white, with sometimes a 

 tinge of pink, tender, fine grained, juicy; flavor, subacid, quite tart, 

 but pleasant; quality, good; season, December to spring in Vermont. 



Antonovka. 



This is one of the Russian varieties that is quite highly spoken of 

 by Professor Budd and others who have grown it in Iowa and Wis- 

 consin. Others think it is not a late keeper. My drawing is from a 

 specimen given me by Mr. G. P. Peffer, of Wisconsin, which he ob- 

 tained from Mr. A. G. Tuttle, of Baraboo, in that State. 



Size, small to medium, 2^ to 3 inches ; shape, flat, slightly conical, 

 irregular; angular; surface, rough, yellow, slightly blushed or 

 bronzed; dots, numerous, small, light; basin, rather shallow, abrupt, 

 narrow folded; eye, wide open, segments short; cavity, shallow, nar- 

 row, lightly or not at all russeted; stem, very short, fleshy; flesh, 

 greenish white, rather coarse, tender; flavor, subacid, not rich; 

 quality, rather poor; season, October to January in Wisconsin. 



Boardman, 



A box of very handsome apples of medium size and quality was 

 received from Mr. E. H. Purington, of West Farmington, Me. , said 

 by him to be from a seedling of the Dean, and which I named Board- 

 man, in honor of the secretary of the Maine Pomological Society. 

 Below is a description of one of the specimens : 



Size, small to medium, 2^ inches; shape, fiat, conical, but not 

 pointed, regular; surface, smooth, glossy, bright mixed and splashed 

 carmine almost entirely covering a white ground; dots, not very 

 numerous, gray, prominent; basin, medium, abrupt, regular, slightly 

 marked with russet or leather-cracked; eye, small, partially open; 

 cavity, deep, narrow, furrowed, but little russeted; stem, long, slen- 

 der; core, small, closed; seeds, broad, plump, sharply pointed, dark; 

 flesh, very white, tender, fine grained, juicy; flavor, subacid, not 

 rich; quality, good; season, December to spring in Maine. 



THE PLUM. 



Kelsei/s Japan. 



This variety is becoming quite famous as a fruit of high quality, 

 and an abundant and early bearer. It is from 2 to 2i inches m 

 diameter, and heart-shaped. Its color is rich yellow, with a tint of 

 purple. But it is quite tender, and should not be planted north of 

 Tennessee. Mr. Munson, of Denison, Tex., says that the hard freeze 



