( 
APPLES. 
T WENTY-TWO years ago we obtained our 
first scions from Russia, and for more than 
fifteen years have had the new Russians in or- 
chard. We planted at the same time j^wchard 
of 300 Duchess. The per cent. in this 
orchard is ten times greater than in an orchard 
of 80 varieties of new Russians growing near it. 
The only trees killed by the winter of 1884-5, 
of the new Russians, are two Crimean apples 
and one that came to us as Green Transparent, 
which proved to be White Astrachan. Some 
eight or ten varieties have proved worthless by 
blight. Of the 300 Duchess 20 were killed out- 
right by that winter, and many (Jthers more or 
less injured. In sending to Russia for scions, 
we hoped to get at least a dozen varieties as 
hardy as the Duchess, and fruit that would suc- 
cessfully compete in the markets with the old 
favorites of the blast. The results of the tests 
we have made, abundantly prove that very many 
of the new Russians are hardier than the 
Duchess and equal in (juality to any of the old 
American sorts, giving us fruit in season from 
t'ery early to very late. The only thing in the way 
of the general planting of the new Russian 
fruits, is the loss of confidence in them occa- 
sioned by the dissemination by some Wisconsin 
and Minnesota nurserjmen, of trees purporting 
to be Russians, which were grown In Alabama. 
Before discarding the Russians we would 
ask the planters of Wisconsin to make a trial of, 
at least, a few of our trees. If you will leave 
