512 
STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
more probably will be; but we find already something to re¬ 
cord which shows progress. At the last state exhibition, held 
Sept. 25th, 1869, five varieties of the Marengo Winter Sibe¬ 
rian apples were exhibited by Dr. C. Andrews of Marengo, 
Illinois. The largest of these, christened “Marengo,” shown 
here, is much larger.than previous years, having improved, 
we are told, since the tree has received cultivation. Gathered 
at this date, however,—Sept. 28th— they were not fully col¬ 
ored, nor fairly done growing. 
Marengo Siberian Winter Apples, is the name given to a 
group of improved Siberian crab-apples which were discov¬ 
ered in Nov., 1867, at Marengo, Illinois, and first brought to 
notice by Chas. Andrews of that place, who describes the tree 
as “ standing in a neglected, unpruned orchard of scrubby, 
diseased, seedling apple trees, such as are seen all over the 
west. It formed a striking contrast, by its entirely healthy con¬ 
dition, sound, clean trunk and limbs, and perfectly fair fruit. 
The wonderful prolusion of its highly colored, showy, crimson 
clusters, gracefully bending its long branches downwards, ren¬ 
dered it at once a rare and attractive object. It is believed to 
be about 18 years old. Up to the spring of 1868, it stood in 
a tough sward of June grass, unpruned and totally neglected. 
The foliage is dark green and abundant; leaves large, broad ; 
shoots curved, vigorous, reddish brown, with the grey specks, 
bloom and scaly cuticle peculiar to the Siberian. The inflor- 
essence is also similar.” 
Its good qualities had beengrecognized during fourteen years 
of constant bearing, under the impression that it was “ a small 
but rich seedling apple,” of the common specie, the tree having 
never been visited by a practical,horticulturist until November, 
1867. The extremely firm texture of the fruit at that season, 
gave the impression that it would prove a good keeper, and the 
tree possessing every characteristic of the Siberian crab apple, 
showed at once that such an apple must be a great acquisition, 
especially for all northern sections where none but the hardiest 
Russian varieties of the common apple would survive, and 
where not a single winter apple was found. Facts since gath- 
