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LETTERS FROM RUSSIA— XV. 



(Original in French.) 



^j^j^ R MITSCHURIN, one of the most celebrated of Russian 

 horticulturists, has given much attention to the resolving 

 of this question : "What kinds of fruit trees can be 

 grown and propagated successfully in the Russian Pro- 

 vince of Tambow (53 north latitude and 40 east longi- 

 tude) ? " He is about to publish the results of his 

 f'fX^g^^^sgmr*^ experiments followed out during many years. These 

 /'V>C*"^*=«-c^=*>^^N make a very interesting descriptive catalogue, which 

 shows us all the varieties of fruit trees grown in the gardens of Mr. Mitschurin, 

 and makes known to us how well each of them is able to endure the cold, and 

 which are worthy of cultivation in the orchards of commercial growers and in 

 the gardens of amateurs. This catalogue gives us the descriptions of many new 

 and well-known kinds, and also some seedlings grown from seeds by Mr. Mits- 

 churin himself. The object of this letter is to make these known to the worthy 

 readers of the Horticulturist. 



Of apples, the said catalogue contains a list of one hundred varieties, of 

 which number one to ten belong to a class known as Antonowka. 



1. Antonowka Simple. — Fruit, moderate size ; color, greenish with yellow 

 side ; form, conical ; flavor, bitterish with a special aroma. This apple keeps 

 at Tambow until March. The tree endures a great amount of cold, is very 

 productive, and is likely to give very fine results in large commercial orchards. 



2. Stone Antonowka. — (See Canadian Horticulturist, August No., 

 1889.) Fruit, moderate size; color, yellow, reddish on the south side; form, 

 round ; flesh, firm and agreeable ; keeps until May without suffering in flavor. 

 The tree is less hardy and less productive than No. i, and consequently the 

 raising of it is to be less commended for commercial orchards. 



3. Pound Antonowka (Fig. 683*). — This sort is preferable to all the 

 varieties of Antonowka. It originated from the White Antonowka. The fruit 

 is very large, and under favorable circumstances it reaches two pounds, Russian 

 weight — usually only one pound. Color, whitish green ; form, oblong, with 

 some sides projecting. In a word, the apple is very fine. Its flavor is mild 

 acid, it has a fine aroma, and the flesh is firm. The tree is hardy and very 

 productive, and the fruit keeps until May without losing quality. Mr. Mitschurin 

 highly commends this variety for general trial, both for commercial growers and 

 amateurs. 



4. Antonoivka de Mohileu differs from the preceding variety, being about 

 one half the size. 



*The illustrations lack elegance, but show the natural size of tiie fruits. 



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