The Canadian Horticulturist. 49 



< THE CRIMEAN APPLE " SYNAP." 



I AM glad to see in the issue of January, the notes by Mr. Niemetz on what he 

 calls the " Synap " apple. It is singular that he does not state that, ip 

 many parts of Russia, the Sary Synap is grown under the name of Persian. 

 When at the Bogdanoff estates, near Koursk, in 1882, I saw hundreds of bushels 

 of, this apple beautifully colored in early October, and as firm as the Gilpin 

 would be with us at that season. But we were assured that " Synap " was a local 

 name for this fruit, and that it had been known for a century in Koursk as the 

 Persian. Hence we imported it from the Bogdanoff grounds under this name, 

 and have widely distributed it for trial. In tree it proves nearly or quite an iron- 

 clad, and quite as free from blight as the Duchess. As yet, we have only had 

 specimens of the fruit from young trees reserved for scion cutting, which were 

 much smaller than those we saw in Russia, but have kept well through winter. 

 A friend in South Iowa who top-worked the Persian on Fall orange, has sent me 

 fruit as large as Ben Davis, but far more oblong and handsomely colored. I 

 believe it will prove a profitable apple of medium size over a wide range of 

 country at the north, but I shall be sorry to see it go out under varied names. 

 I will also add that we saw two other varieties of these oblong, peculiarly colored 

 apples, at Saratov, on the Volga, where they were called " Persian," followed by 

 an adjective to indicate the particular variety meant, as is the custom in Russia. 

 Ames. Iowa. J. L. BUDD. 



CANADIAN RAISINS. 



THE Hamilton Herald reports that the production of raisins is being 

 undertaken as an industry in that city. The following is the item as 

 it appears in that paper. 



" The production of raisins in Canada is indeed a new industry. The 

 Herald was shown to-day a fine sample of raisins from grapes grown in 

 open air in the city of Hamilton, which were taken from the vine on the 

 first of October, 1889, and laid aside in a cool room, where they remained 

 without special attention. It is a matter of surprise to find an article of 

 commerce of so great value originating in Ontario, and in this city. It will 

 not be forgotten that the vintage of 1889 was almost totally destroyed by 

 the extreme frost of the 28th of May last, followed by atmospheric influences 

 favorable to mildew, completing the destruction of plant life. Despite this, 

 however, could this fruit have received the same process of raisin curing as 

 undergone in Spain or California, it would likely bear a favorable com- 

 parison. Notwithstandmg the above drawbacks, the raisins shown us are 

 no mean specimens. 



" The vine originated in this city, under the skilled manipulation of an 

 old Canadian hybridist. It has made its way to California and other 

 distant points in the United States under the name of ' Mills.' " 



