138 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETT. 



hardy trees. This course is adding several new varieties, to which I 

 have given little attention. I am often in the way of seeing our 

 apples as the}' circulate in the home market through the village 

 groceries, where the old varieties are not crowded out. The Hub- 

 bardston Nonsuch, Jewett's Red (Nodhead), Blue Peannain, Black 

 Oxford, the Greenings, E^nglish Russet, Red Canada, Yellow Bell- 

 flower, Northern Spy, &c. In late fall and early winter, the Rolfe 

 is seen on the increase. I have lately seen some good Tompkins 

 County King. The Fameuse is on the increase and deservedl}' so, 

 as they continue with me in fine condition to the present writing. 



The every-day inquiry is for a good winter apple for market. We 

 have so many kinds, and consequently produce so few of any one, 

 that it is not easy to gather in a single, uniform carload for a distant 

 market. This state of things does not promise to be soon improved. 



I think it is generally conceded that an apple grown near its 

 northern thermal limit is at its best in quality as well as its keeping 

 habit; but this thermal line or boundary to a fruit is not usualh' 

 found in narrow, well defined limits, and has no respect for lines of 

 latitude. It is a good thing to talk about, but, like the rainbow, 

 distant neighbors don't see one and the same thing. 



For summer apples Red Astrachan and Duchess are most grown. 

 Duchess trees have been set in too great numbers, producing as it 

 does with certainty such enormous crops. The last crop in and near 

 this village could not all be sold and used. If picked before ready 

 to fall and put in the cellar, its season for use can be extended two 

 months or more. The Red Astrachan appears to be a general 

 favorite over a large portion of our country. I sjDent the months of 

 July and August, 1884, between the valley of the upper Mississippi 

 and Massachusetts and passed over much of the intervening country 

 at the season of early apples, and saw verv few beside the Astrachan. 



In answer to your question, ''What other fruits do you raise?" I 

 can say that pears succeed as well as apples, and an increasing in- 

 terest is seen in their production. One variety — the good old 

 Flemish Beauty — does better here than with you. Our last crop was 

 abundant and very fair. We were once well stocked with plums and 

 cherries ; then a change came and the trees went out with the black 

 knot. Some recent attempts, rather timidly made, towards a restora- 

 tion go to prove the presence of the same old scourge. Most of the 

 small fruits succeed as well here as anywhere in the State, with per- 

 haps the single exception of grapes. The success of this desirable 



