Executive Committee - W. A. Springer, chairman; A. V. Balch, E. W. Wrightman.

Delegate State Society - W. A. Springer, Fremont.

J. WAKEFIELD, Secretary.

COMMUNICATIONS AND MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS.

SIBERIAN APPLES.

The progress made and the present condition of fruit growing in our state is truly a triumph of intelligence and perseverance over great natural obstacles. On the first settlement of the state the pioneer fruit grower soon found that in local conditions and climatic tendencies he had entered a new world. Old varieties soon proved worthless and old principles of culture failed; new methods had to be sought out, new varieties tried. The light of science and experience was employed to overcome the mountains of difficulty, and to stem the tide of failure and losses. Much was accomplished, but the progress was slow. A generation of earnest, zealous workers have given their lives, their energies, to the work. Some of them have fallen by the way, overcome by the burdens and losses incurred; others have reached mature years, and are enjoying the harvest, the result of their faithful labors. What has been the result? Forty years of most persevering effort has given us less than one-half our state for successful apple growing, and that with less than a score of varieties accepted for general culture, and a far smaller number for commercial orcharding.

The question is, what shall we do for the vast area of more than twenty-five thousand square miles unprovided for. Eighteen of our northern and central counties are practically not within the range of our recommended lists; for not one in a hundred of planters therein can safely follow our recommendations. For the southern half of the state the data for safe planting is assured in our most hardy natives and Russians, and the immense crop of 1880 showed the possibility of our growing, for our own use, at least in the southern counties. The northern half of our state in the permanent elements of civilization, is in the infancy of

development. Its agriculture, dairy and mineral industries are soon to surpass its now great lumber interests, and the demand for home grown fruit will be imperative. Importation will not satisfy the mass of domestic consumers, and the same persevering efforts will give all this region the family supply from the home garden and orchard, the same as now enjoyed in the southern part of the state. Just what this supply will ultimately be, no one can tell, but present indications point strongly to the Russians and Siberians and their hybrids as destined to fill the blank and give varieties well adapted to the most extreme and rugged portions of our state. The origin of these now recognized distinct species is quite obscure. The "Russians" are said to have come from northern China, and in their westward march to have come to be distinguished as Pyrus Astrachanica, from the great commercial sea port town of southern Russia.

The "Siberians," Pyrus bocata or P. prunifolia, are natives of Siberia, and as there found, according to Pallas, grew only three or four feet high, with fruit the size of peas. Specimens of this original type are growing in the grounds of the agricultural department at Washington, which are not so diminutive in tree, but the fruit yet of the size of currants and borne in clusters.

The process of improvement from this original type has been. carried on for many years, but our present choice varieties of this family are of recent origin. The Hislop is a native of Wisconsin, named after Thomas Hislop, who was a seedsman in Milwaukee in 1850-6. Mr. Chas. Gifford, nurseryman there, first introduced it to the public about that time. The Transcendent is of eastern origin — the oldest known in this state being brought from Montreal, Canada, about 1851. Hundreds of new varieties have been lauded as "best," but many of these are of little value, and it is safe to say that nearly all the really valuable varieties, after the Transcendent, are of northern origin. The following are some of those most prominent for real worth:

1. Whitney's No. 20-Large size, often two and one-half inches in diameter, handsome striped and crimson on yellow; flesh tender, juicy, sub-acid to sweet; good dessert fruit. August and September. Tree vigorous, upright, stocky grower, and good bearer. Hybrid of the Russian type.

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2. Sylvan Sweet Tree slender, upright; light colored wood; fruit large, pale yellow, with rich blush; flesh white, tender, very sweet; good and very beautiful. August.

3. Brier's Sweet-Tree strong, irregular grower; dark wood ; fruit large, round, pale yellow with stripes; showy; very good; sweet. September.

4. Sweet Russet; Siberian-Large, round and conical, green, russet and faint blush, very rich, sweet. August and September. One of the best for eating or cooking.

5. Peffer - Tree spreading, very productive; fruit very large, round, flattened, smooth, greenish yellow, with blush; tender, juicy, sub-acid, pleasant flavor. September.

6. Homestead; Siberian - A hybrid from Fall Stripe apple; tree very stout and straight; large foliage; bears very young and abundant; fruit very large, oval, striped and crimson blush; flesh firm; rich yellowish, sub-acid; good eating from September to December.

7. Telfer Sweet Tree stocky, thrifty and a good grower; fruit seven and one-half inches in circumference, quality very melting and rich. October and December.

8. Lake Winter-Full medium to large size; round, very smooth; mostly covered with bright red or stripes; stem slender, cavity small; calyx closed in shallow basin; core and seeds small; flesh fine grained, firm, juicy, sub-acid, becoming nearly sweet in spring; entirely free from astringency or "crab-taste:" excellent cooking or eating from October to March, keeping well through

winter. Tree beautiful, free grower, resembling the Fall Stripe or Saxton, of which it is a seedling, fertilized from the old, red crab. The seed was planted about 1855, in Jefferson county, Wisconsin, from fruit grown by J. C. Plumb.

9. Red Lake; Siberian - Large, round, dark red; flesh yellowish, firm, rich, sub-acid, good; January to May. Tree vigorous, handsome grower, and very productive.

10. Winter Golden Sweet; Siberian - Fruit large size, flattened, yellow; flesh firm, fine grained, juicy, brittle, rich sweet; a peculiar, condensed sweet seldom found in any apple; entirely free from astringency, "crabiness." Vigorous grower; great and early bearer; keeps well until spring.

After the Transcendent for sugared preserves, we want varieties to suit the ordinary purposes of eating out of hand, baking, and cooking without sugar, and for the season through. The above list fills that want, and is selected from over one hundred varieties tested. But the improvement of this species by hybridization is so rapid that we may, judging from present experience, say that in this species alone we will have adopted varieties for every purpose, and for all the great regions of our states to the north. Another important fact is, that most of the improved va

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