POMOLOGY 



POMOLOGY 



1405 



a comparatively small number of varieties could be 

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

 apparently authentic groups which might be erected 

 upon certain characteristics of tree. In addition to 

 Astrachan 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) Longfield type: slow growers; branches horizontal 

 or pendulous; Ivs. whitish and woolly underneath. 

 The Longfield apple, now one of the most popular of 

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

 and Tetof sky type: trees pyramidal; bark yellow, with 

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

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

 veins reddish. It would seem reasonable to suppose 

 that the Anis family was derived from the Astrachan 

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

 similar. 



These represent the principal types of Russian 

 apples. The fruit they bear in 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 tr> 

 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 in 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-grower 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. Gibb 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 asso- 

 ciations of South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa and Wis- 

 consin. These delegates, collectively styled the "Rus- 

 sian Apple Nomenclature Commission," met at La 

 Crosse, Wis., Aug. 30-31, 1898. They decided that it 

 would be wise to attempt a grouping to be based upon 

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

 lowing statement was adopted: "The varieties here 

 grouped as members of the same families, while in a 

 few cases differing somewhat in characteristics of tree, 

 are so nearly identical in fruit that for exhibition and 

 commercial purposes they are practically the same and 

 should be so 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 by voting to call it by the same name 

 as the other member of the group which it most 

 resembles and almost, though not quite, duplicates. 

 The trend of modern pomology is to preserve small 

 differences, to differentiate rather than blend. The work 

 of the future will consist in large part in studying 

 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 unpronounceableness of 

 Russian names. The findings of the committee have on 

 the whole met with the approval of those interested in 

 Russian apples. 



1902. Longfield, one of the popular Russian apples 



Cherries. These, next to the apples, constitute the 

 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 the Vladimir 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 this 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- 



1903. Vladimir, one of the typical Russian cherries (X %). 

 The fruit is somewhat tapering to the stein. 



tion. The amarelles and weichsels of Germany have 

 been grown in Russia for centuries, generally from seed, 

 and have b^ome specialized forms. Cherries of the 

 Vladimir and Koslov-morello types are the hardiest of 



