VOL. XI. 
SEPTEMBER, 1889. 
NO. 9 
Orchard Notings. 
The Russian Mulberry. 
Here is certainly a distinct species or at 
least a very marked variety. By the hasty 
judgment of some, it is denounced as a 
humbug or a fraud; but those who live in 
the “cold north” recognise it as a decided 
acquisition to the number of desirable trees 
suited to the lawn. As nearly all the stock 
hitherto sent out by nurserymen has been 
grown from seed, there has been seen a 
wide difference in individual specimens. 
This difference extends to the habit and 
growth of the tree, the size and quality of 
the fruit, and to some extent the hardiness 
against climate, which is its great recom- 
mendation. But I have as yet seen none 
that has been much harmed by our hardest 
and the best 
are very good 
for dessert; 
while all are 
u seful for 
cooki n g. It 
has th e ap- 
pearance of a 
little peach, 
and is the 
near e s t ap- 
proach to a 
peach that 
will succeed 
far north. Un- 
like the com- 
mon apricot it 
seems to be a 
free bearer, 
unaffected by 
the early frosts 
which make 
that so gener- 
a 1 1 y unsatis- 
factory, even 
where it en- 
dures the win- 
ter well. 
single specimen kills back a little of the 
previous year’s growth in the hardest win- 
ters, but not seriously. At present, after 
five years trial, it looks as though it would 
make at least a medium sized tree, being 
nearly 4 inches in diameler, and growing 
fast. 
— 
The Kusttian Apricot. 
This is not so hardy as the Russian Mul- 
berry; but quite as much so as the Early 
Richmond Cherry, and will succeed where 
that does. Here, again, there is the diffi- 
culty with seedling trees; but already I see 
that select kinds are being offered. The 
specimen I have is so nearly hardy that I 
have hopes to find one entirely so. The 
fruit averages in size with most plums; 
The Keeper Apple. 
Some sixteen years ago, a farmer living 
in Marion Co., Kansas, planted apple seed 
and grew some sixty apple trees to bearing 
age. Am ong these was one that attracted 
attention by its fine, large foliage and strong, 
healthy growth. When it began to bear the 
fruit was found to be large and very hard 
and solid so that it was laid away and it 
kept firm and in excellent condition until 
July; fully retaining its fine texture of flesh 
and flavor. 
The following 
year the fruit 
was kept a 
year in the 
cellar, in this 
warm climate 
and was in fine 
condition. Its 
great keeping 
q ualities, 
h a n dso me 
appe arance 
and good 
quality have 
caused it to be 
held in high 
esteem here 
and it has 
been named 
the Keeper. In 
color it is a 
very dark 
green in win- 
ter, turning to 
a rich golden 
yellow in 
spring; fles h 
firm, juicy, 
mild, subacid 
flavor. In for- 
mer years it 
has been as 
large as Ben 
Davis but this year they are not so large. 
The tree is a heavy annual bearer, an up- 
right grower, very hardy, and the fruit 
hangs persistently to it. We believe that 
this is one of the best-keeping apples yet 
known, as this is a warm climate and 
an apple that will keep a year here will keep 
in any climate where apples will grow. — 
Remer & Hansen. 
We received specimens of this apple the 
past summer in splendid condition, from 
which we had the accompanying engraving 
made. In size it is only medium, color rich 
yellow, flesh crisp, mild, subacid, and good. 
Judging from the samples sent us we would 
consider it valuable for its long keeping 
qualities and fine, fresh appearance. 
The Keeper Apple. Fig. 1609. 
winters in North-eastern Vermont, where 
40 deg. below zero is a frequent winter 
temperature. As Downing's Mulberry is 
destroyed by even our mildest winters, and 
no native or other foreign kind has ever 
succeeded even tolerably well, it is easy to 
see why this Mulberry recommends itself 
to us. But efforts ought to be made to 
select the most hardy specimens, and among 
these the sorts which yield the best fruit. 
The latter, it is true, is a minor matter, as 
all the mulberries ripen fruit slowly and 
irregularly; while the birds are so fond of 
it that they seize upon it when but half- 
ripe; so that there is little use in planting 
this merely as a fruit tree. I find it a rapid 
grower, a handsome and clean tree. My 
Apple-tree 
Blight. 
This disease, 
which troubles 
our North- 
western growers so seriously, and nullifies 
the value of many of the best Russian ap- 
ples in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa, has 
never seriously affected the orchards of Ver- 
ment. Only once in 25 years have 1 seen a 
marked manifestation of it; and this was 
confined mainly to the Siberian crabs, the 
destruction of which was not greatly la- 
mented, since we have found so many good 
iron-clad apples of native and foreign origin. 
It seems to be closely allied to the pear and 
quince blight, and both appear to belong 
to the same class of diseases as the yellows 
of the peach. I think all of them are more 
or less connected with climatic conditions; 
and that the attacks of the fungi which 
seem associated with them, and not unfre- 
