'DESCRIPTION OF APPLES AND PEARS. 243 



some declare that the Hibernal is the same as 

 L,ieby, Ostrakof, Glass, Romna, Pendantear, Silken 

 leaf, and Juicy burr, while others claim that they 

 run in families so closely related that these are or 

 may be many of them separate varieties. 



That they have as a class been sorely disap- 

 pointing is admitted by their friends, in this that 

 (i) they are more subject to blight than our com- 

 mon varieties, and (2). they are not hardier (with 

 exceptions), and (3) they have not proved to be 

 keepers, but mostly summer and fall varieties, and 

 (4) they are of poor quality. 



If this were given as a deliberate opinion of the 

 entire lot it would not be necessary to prolong this 

 chapter, but happily there are exceptions to all, or 

 nearly all, the above. 



Another cause should be noticed that has led to 

 their condemnation. 



That tree man has seized upon this theme as 

 one showing the finest field for extensive cultiva- 

 tion. He has opened his picture book and made 

 his stake on the "Russians." None know better 

 than the nurserymen how few of these sales have 

 delivered genuine Russian varieties. Even if they 

 have been so, if of the great majority of these 

 varieties, they would be better to be almost any- 

 thing else. President Morrison, of the Minnesota 

 Horticultural Society, gives an instance of a con- 

 versation with one of these brush missionaries who, 

 he said, was "making a specialty of the Russians." 

 He was asked what was his best winter variety 



