POMOLOGY 



a comparatively small number of variesies could be 

 grouped about it. But tbis is only one of the several 

 apparently authentic groups which might be erected 

 upon certain characteristics of tree. In aiUlition to 

 Astracban we might cite (1) Hibernal type: trees vigor- 

 ous growers, with open spreading tops, and very large, 

 leathery leaves. (2) Oldenburg type: moderate growers, 

 with compact, round-topped heads; Ivs. of medium size. 

 (3) Longtield type: slow growers; branches horizontal 

 or pendulous; Ivs. whitish and woolly underneath. 

 The Longfleld apple, now one of the most popular of 

 the Russians, is shown in Fig. 1902. (4) Transparent 

 and Tetofsky type: trees pyramidal; bark yellow, with 

 numerous spurs; Ivs. large, light green. (5) Auis type: 

 trees upriglit, spreading or vase-shaped; Ivs. medium, 

 veins reddish. It would seem reasonable to suppose 

 that the Anis family was derived from the Astracban 

 type. The tlesh of the fruit of the various types is very 

 similar. 



These represent the principal types of Russian 

 apples. The fruit they bear iu this climate matures in 

 the summer, autumn or early winter. It does not ap- 

 pear that any of the especially hardy varieties of un-_ 

 doubted north or east Russia origin are winter kinds 

 when grown in the Mississippi valley. Such late-keep- 

 ing kinds as give promise of commercial value appear 

 to have originated in the Baltic provinces or to have 

 been transported at an early date from the countries to 

 the west. These types-the Synaps for instance-have 

 characteristically small leaves, slender twigs, and are 

 less hardy than members of the groups cited above. 



The "bloom," or glaucous covering, of the Russian 

 apple is characteristic. It does not persist to the same 

 extent, however, under all climatic conditions. In east- 

 ern (Quebec it fails to develop to the same extent that it 

 does under the drier atmospheric conditions of the east- 

 ern states. As additional proof that this pruinose bloom 

 is an immediate climatic effect, we have but to com- 

 pare the Colorado Spy with that grown iu New York. 

 The smooth, thin skin and abundant bloom of the Colo- 

 rado apple is characteristic in a greater or less degree 

 of all varieties produced in the dry regions adjacent 

 to the Rockies, as it is of the Russian apples in the 

 more arid portions of that country. 



The names of Russian apples are much confused. 

 There is no pomological society in Russia to assist the 

 fruit-s;rower in eliminating synonyms; on the other 

 hand, the factors conducive to confusion are strongly in 

 evidence. These are illiteracy on the part of the grower 

 and the practice of propagating fruit trees from the 

 seed instead of by grafting. (3ibb says "nomenclature 

 in Russia is hopelessly confused. Different names are 

 given to the same apples in different localities, the 

 same name to different apples growing in adjacent 

 districts." 



Fruit-growers of the West, realizing that Americans 

 should have a uniform system, at least in the nomen- 

 clature of these varieties, called a meeting made up of 

 interested representatives of the fruit-grower's as~" 

 ciations of South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa and \Vi~ 

 consin. These delegates, collectively styled the"l;ns- 

 sian Apple Nomenclature Commission," met at La 

 Crosse, Wis., Aug. 30-3L 1898. They decided that it 

 would be wise to attempt a grouping to be based upon 

 " family resemblance." In accordance with this the fol- 

 lowiML' strifenipiif was adopted: "The varieties beri" 

 f!n.ii|ii-l :,< KM II I, T-i nf the same families, while in a 

 fi"' ' -"Miewhat in characteri.stics of tree, 



arr - ! i -h-mI in fruit that for exhibition and 



coiiiin. I . Ill Mii|,--..i they are practically the same and 

 should be SI) considered." It is to be regretted that a 

 commission on nomenclature should take such a radical 

 stand as this, because the characteristics of a variety 

 cannot be changed Iiy voting to call it by the same name 

 as the otli.r n. i il. i . !" tlie group which it most 



The trend d . , - -ligy is to preserve small 



differences.!., :. i mhcrthan blend. The work 



of the futuru v. ;11 rui,.M.-i in large part in studving 

 small differences with a view of finding closer adapta- 

 tions. The propriety of ignoring Russian nomenclature 

 and the rule of priority is questionable, but in a 

 measure is defensible on the grounds of a confused 



Russian nomenclature and the unpionounceableness of 

 Russian names The findings of the t( mniittee ba\ e on 

 the whole met with the ipproval of those inteiested in 

 Russian apples 



Cherries.— These, next to the apple 

 most clearly defined group of Russian fruits; yet many 

 cherries commonly called Russian are in reality Polish, 

 Silesian or German. The typical cherry of northern Rus- 

 sia is represented by theVladimir type. Fig. 1903. This 

 was first introduced into America as a distinct variety. 

 Later importations and experience demonstrated that 

 Vladimir was a type, not a variety. This type appears 

 to have been grown in Russia for centuries from seed 

 and sprouts. In tbis way a special class has been de- 

 veloped. The Vladimir type is characterized by its 

 dwarf stature— .5-8 feet high — its peculiarly rounded 

 and compact top, its dark red, meaty-fleshed fruit. 

 Koslov-morello is evidently a light-colored juicy variety 

 of Vladimir. The characteristics of the tree are the 

 same as Vladimir, although when grown from seed in 

 this country the seedlings exhibit considerable varia- 



tion. The amarelles and weichsels of Germany hava 

 been grown in Russia for centuries, generally from seed, 

 and have become specialized forms. Cherries of the 

 Vladimir and Koslov-morello types are the hardiest of 



