72 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



reasoQ is I don't know. He sa3'S he can sell these black apples as 

 well as anN- others. 



Mr. Pope called for statements in regard to 



THE WAGENER APPLE. 



Mr. Atherton. I know but little about it ; I have only three 

 trees ; the}' have been set seven or eight years. The}' com- 

 menced to bear four years after setting. It is an early and free 

 bearer, but slow grower ; the limbs are inclined to run upward. I 

 mean they are inclined to be prolific bearers while young. I was 

 well pleased with my first crop from these trees, and thought highl}- 

 of the apple. With my second crop I was not as well pleased, be- 

 cause the}' mildewed badly in the cellar, and almost entirely ruined 

 the sale of them. Since that time I have had none to speak of; I 

 have had no fiirther experience in that way. I have had this year, 

 some of fair size and good color. With regard to the flavor of the 

 fruit, I should pronounce it superior to the Baldwin, a l>etter eating 

 apple, finer grain, but the skin is tender and requires more delicate 

 handling than the Baldwin. 



Question. How is it as a keeper? 



Mr. Atherton. It will keep as well as the Baldwin ; it can be 

 kept in good condition until March or April. 



Mr. Pope. I have never raised the fruit and am not acquainted 

 with it ; but as the agents are pushing it through our section, and 

 the farmers buy largely, I took pains at our exhibition last autumn, 

 to inquire of all who had raised it, and have referred to several 

 parties who have the fruit, and with one exception, and hardly that, 

 they have all pronounced the apple worthless for a market A'ariety. 

 It comes into bearing early, bears heavily and very good fruit, but 

 it over-bears ; it is crowded so that only a portion of the fruit is 

 large enough for market, and in a very few years the trees are ex- 

 hausted, and never attain a large size. They all agree upon that. 



Mr. SwEETSER. I have two trees of the Wagener, and as INIr. 

 Pope and Mr. Atherton both stated, they bear early and over-bear. 

 I have picked half of them standing on the ground. I think ten 

 feet is far enough apart to set them, if Baldwins are 30 feet, because 

 they never will live to be old trees ; they over-bear so they never 

 will have large tops. I think it is a superior fruit, nice, and fine- 

 grained, but not a profitable variety to plant largely. 



