ys FY ig tS f 
\ 
Very good keeping apples were sent me from Tennessee and Mis- 
- sissippi, and summer apples of very fair quality were received from 
_ Louisiana. 
In the region embraced by Minnesota, Wisconsin, lowa, Dakota, 
and northern Nebraska the successful culture of the apple has been 
almost despaired of by some, owing to the ruinous effects of the re- 
markably severe winters of the past few years. Others are as hope- 
ful as ever, and are replanting their orchards in firm belief that they 
wili gather abundant crops from them. 
Some depend on Russian varieties imported by this Department in 
1870 and those brought over at later dates by other parties; notably 
among these Prof. J. L. Budd, of Iowa Agricultural College. - 
Others place but little dependence on these Russian varieties because 
of the poor quality, the early ripening of their fruit, and their 
peculiar susceptibility to the attacks of blight. Many of those 
most sanguine of success are looking to a race of new seedlings, 
which shall be the result of crosses between the best apples known 
and either the hardiest Russian varieties or crabs. It is thought 
the good qualities of the fruit of the former and the hardy con- 
stitution of tree in the latter may be blended in the coming genera- — 
‘tion. Tedious and painstaking efforts are being made in this direc- 
tion, especially in lowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. 
Feeling the importance of the subject, and with a view of learning 
just what is the real condition of the fruits of this territory, Mr. T. 
“T. Lyon, of South Haven, Mich., who is a pomologist of eminence 
and entirely disinterested motives, was commissioned, under the su- 
pervision of this division, to carefully examine and report thereon. 
On the Pacific slope the apple crop was fairly good. Oregon and 
Washington Territory produce apples of remarkably large size and 
of better keeping qualities than those grown in California. The 
latter State, however, grows a greater supply of apples than most 
persons suppose. Nevada, Idaho, Utah, and New Mexico also grow 
apples to some extent. Colorado has many orchards beginning to 
bear. 
DISEASES. 
A great many inquiries come to me for remedies for Bitter Rot and 
Scab, but as these are matters which pertain to the special work of 
the Mycologist of this Department I have referred them to him for 
answer. It might, however, be proper to say, that so far, no reme- 
dies have been found for either of the above maladies, 
INSECT DEPREDATIONS, 
I have had frequent questions and reports sent to me on this sub- 
ject, but they properly belong to the Entomological Division, and 
have been there referred. It is with extreme satisfaction that I am 
informed of the increasing success of spraying the trees with ar- 
senical poisons to combat the Codling Moth. 
VARIETIES. 
I desire to mention a few new varieties which have come under 
my notice, and some old ones of special value but little known. It 
is really unaccountable how varieties of fruits of most excellent 
character are overlooked or neglected by the general public. Nota- 
bly among these is the apple known as 
fo alee Ol PP TRAN eds RAY Mie ok, a Sey Sel ef 
Ren aa kD Yes 4 eR lt ratte By ge 
REPORT OF THE POMOLOGIST. | 629 
4 
