STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. • 127 



of mine, over the Canada line, also brought from Russia a good 

 collection. 



The Alexander is a very popular apple, and the Duchess sells as 

 high in market as the Gravenstein. This is surprising to some, hut 

 it must be remembered that onl}' a small portion of our apples are 

 used for dessert purposes. By far the larger part are used for 

 cooking. The Russian apples are not, as a class, inferior. The 

 most of them are early bearers, and the fruit averages large and 

 handsome. A fair proportion of them are of fair dessert quality. 

 Perhaps the proportion is as great as in our American apples. 

 There are a dozen out of the Russian varieties better in quality than 

 the Baldwins. 



The Russians handle their apples with greater care than we do, 

 and in that way they are able to keep them very well. Our apples 

 are so good keepers that we are in the habit of abusing them. 

 Their season is very short and filled with vivid sunshine. The 

 apples must mature quickly and be gathered earl}' in September. 

 In sweet apples, and nice early apples the Russians are well supplied. 



I think that out of the two or three hundred Russian apples 

 imported and now being tested in the Northwest we shall have an 

 abundance of good fruit for supplying Aroostook count}- with all they 

 will need. I think for Aroostook, the Wealthy will take the place 

 of the Baldwin. 



In regard to the other tree fruits of Russia we know but little. 

 The Russian pears are evidently a distinct variety or a distinct 

 species. Some of them have a very thick, glossy leaf. I think they 

 are descended from the stock of Northern Asia. They show a wide 

 difference from our pear trees. In their vigorous growth of foliage 

 and exemption from the injury of insects and fungous growth they 

 are quite wonderful. I have trees ten feet high that were brought 

 over in 1884. 



The Bessemeanka is grown a great deal in Germany. My own 

 trees have blossomed two 3'ears but I have only obtained a single 

 pear. There is quite a discussion with regard to the quality of this 

 pear. It seems to be the principal pear in Russia as the Bartlett is 

 in New England. 



There is a great number of Russian plums and a great choice 

 among them. I have fruited only one kind as yet, called the Early 

 Red. It is of good size and somewhat larger than the Lombard. 

 In ripening, it first becomes yellow, then purple and then red. The 



