52 



BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



Williams Early. 



Good points : — 



1. Fine color. 



2. Fine quality. 



3. Annual bearer. 



4. Favorite in Boston markets. 



Bad points : — 



1. Ripens unevenly. 



2. Tender flesh. 



3. Poor ei'ower. 



(7) Oldenburg. — This is one of the Russian varieties 

 which has " made good " in America. It is especially val- 

 uable where extreme hardiness is required, but I believe it is 

 worthy of a place in our list of commercial varieties for 

 Massachusetts. As suggested, the tree is very hardy, but is 

 of only moderate size. It grows vigorously while young. Its 

 most valuable character, however, is its early bearing. Fruit 

 is frequently borne on trees at three and four years, and 

 fairly good crops are often borne at four and five years. It is 

 also a reliable cropper, often yielding annual crops, and the 

 fruit hangs well to the tree. The foliage is fine and healthy, 

 and altogether it is a fine tree for a filler, where this system 

 of planting is used. The fruit is of good size and very attrac- 

 tive, being a fine light yellow, with stripes and splashes of 

 handsome red. It runs very uniform on the tree, with few 

 culls, and is altogether a very good commercial sort. The 

 flesh is firm but juicy, with a sprightly, sub-acid flavor, and, 

 though not high in quality, is still passable. 



Oldenburg. 



Good points : — 



1. Hardy tree. 



2. Very early bearer. 



3. Reliable cropper. 



4. Hangs well to tree. 



5. Handsome color of fruit. 



Bad points : — 



1. Fruit perishable. 



2. Ripens unevenly. 



3. Only moderate quality. 



(8) Boxhury llusset. — This is still another of the fine 

 old varieties which have originated in IMassachusetts, and 

 goes l)ack to the seventeenth century. From a commercial 

 standpoint it is undoubtedly ihe best of the russets, and is 

 espeoially valuable as an export variety, the English market 

 being particularly strong on russets, and esi^ecially the Rox- 



