80 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



Mr. Gilbert. I have been compelled to investigate tliis fruit 

 somewhat. It has been offered for sale, and pressed very earnestly 

 to the attention of our fruit growers ; and, in order to make it 

 especially attractive, an extra price has been put on tlie trees ; and, 

 being frequently consulted iii regard to the merits of the fruit, I 

 have foit compelled to learn what I cbuld in regard to it, and, that I 

 might be certain in regard to the apple and that it was correctly 

 named, I sent to Dr. Hoskins of Newport, Vermont, for samples of 

 the fruit. He very kindly sent me some, carefully packed, and the 

 apple now set before us for examination is the same variety of fruit. 

 It is, without question, the Mcintosh Red, and the gentleman from 

 Turner saj^s that if he could raise as good fruit as that, he would 

 like to raise it. Now I would ask him, what for? Has he really 

 considered the reason, and whether he does want to raise it, or not? 

 In the first place, what are the characteristics of the apple? Let us 

 be careful that we study it aright, and find out all about it. The 

 tree is hardy, and the indications are that it is a good bearer. It is 

 one of that family- of fruits which is called the Fameuse family, and 

 our fruit growers know what that means. It has the characteristics 

 of the Fameuse ; and those are, soft flesh and thick, tough skin, 

 and every one of these varieties is subject to this mould, which 

 attaches itself to the Fameuse, and especiall}' so on high lands. 

 The Wealth}' and the Bellfiower are also grown better on 1 )w lands. 

 If you have such land, and feel that you must grow fruit on it, you 

 can introduce this variety. The quality is very good indeed. The 

 indications are that it is not a late keeper — it raaj^ carr}' well Lill the 

 middle of winter. You will find that, as it becomes soft, the skin 

 will pull away from the fruit ver\' easily, and the pulp will become 

 soft while the skin is firm. The fruit is soft and does not handle 

 well ; it bruises easily, like the Bellflower, and it has to be handled 

 with extreme care. It may be desiral)le to have it for home use, 

 but for a staple product, and to fill this great demand which we are 

 all aiming to meet, it does not possess those qualities which will 

 enable it to be handled to so good advantage as the old standard 

 Baldwin. I don't believe that we want au}- more of these varieties 

 that are onl}' good for home use. 



Mr. Gardiner. I want to speak of an apple which I think is 

 not generall}- grown in this vicinit}*, which I have always called the 

 Strawberry, but I have discovered that Downing gives the name of 

 it as UicharcVs Graft. We have had it on my place forty or fifty 



