Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-12-14

AoAC. III blt Ccto VIC llDO Tie UEar a
common tree and as healthy and hardy
as the indigenous oak. The isolated
trees on the border have a cultivated
look, and many of them bear fruit
which IS especially. priced by the peas
ants. The apples also have look OF
cultivated varieties with the thick pub.
escent leaf peculiar to the Russian
sorts. The fruit is not astringent but
small in size. AS it keeps well, the
peasants use it after it has been frozen.
In isolated positions where the soil is
good, the wild apples and pears attain
large size. Whether they are truly in.
digenous no one can tell, as this por-
ton ef the steppes has plantations of
forest trees with known records that
are over two hundred years old.
We had letter at this point from
nobleman at S1naria, Introducing us
to one of the ancient titled families of
the Province of Kursk, noted as lovers
of trees snd fruits. We started this
morning for a twenty mile ride in
tarantas for the old Baronial home of
the BogdancG family well known to
Russian history. During the twenty
mile ride we passed many pleasant VII
lagos in VIII CHI every house was "shin-
gled NIT straw" surrounded with great
expanses of poorly cultivated, but very
fertile land, but we failed to see a
single house belonging to q land pre-
prietor or dignified by a single slate or
tile roof. Hence, after our long, dusty
and somewhat monotonous drive, our
approach to the fine old estate seemed
like finding the welcome oasis in the
desert.
We were fortunate in finding the
owner of the broad and beautiful acres
at home, and other members of the no.
bic family at the estate on visit. We
were received with cordiality we
would nor expect from titled persons
outside of Russia. Personally they all
went with us to every part of the inter
esting grounds, excepting, of course,
the distant portions Of the forests
and drives. As three of the party spoke
good English VIC were able to answer
many questions relating to America
and the unique work in which we are
engaged, and to receive in turn much
valuable Information. A love for trees
seems inherent in this family, as indi-
Gated by the grand old planted forests
and the parks, lawns and or chards on
their several estates.
The proprietor could not speak
word of English, but he requ ested his
brother to say to me that trees are
mans best companions, and that no
true lover OF trees was ever onesome
when in their presence" No gardener
was called but personally he took us
through the great orchard OF 5000
trees, repeating names and family
history of the varieties. We then went
through the large and well-ke
nursery, where without labels he was
able to give the names of each variety
as it was passed We found so me win
ter varieties we'll known in many parts
of central Russia, but we also found
choice varieties which have long been
grown by this family and not distribu-
ted in other provinces. For instance
we found 800 trees OF variety bear
ing the name of the estate "Bogda-
notfa, OF IN English "G0d given" Ii
has been in the family for 200 years.
and is much priced on accent of its ex.
treme hardness of tree, and the size.
beauty, quality and keeping capacity of
the fruit. 1t closely resem bles our
Dominic but has q richer colo ring and
is much larger. at once called it
"glorified Dominic" 1t is now very
firm and will keep till May. The tree
is as upright in growth as our Gross
Pointer, and it has proven as hardy in
this trying climate as the Antonooia.
which in turn is harder than the type
of apples grown here, reese milling in
tree and fruit our Duchess.
Another local apple grown here large
~, IS known as the kursk Sick lanka.
1t is shaped like medium sized Alex.
ander. 1t is also late keeaer and of
good quality. Still another q erV late
keeper of larger size but only fsecond
quality Is known rs "Chugo nka" or
English "cast IRON" A hasty exaplin-
alton would convince the most ,skeptic-
al that central Russia can pro uce ap.
piles of large size and fine app earance
that will keep until the next harvest
time with the most common ca re. We
are promised scions of these and other
fine apples and pears.
To illustrate the relative va lue of
the true Russian apples, | will say that
q iAA 50 VI AhA VI ShdAd " dS pan leu lew
years ago on the estate we ha We to-day
visited, mainly with varieties from the
most trying portions of Germany.
This was done at the sugges on of a
German gardener who urged that it
was too conservative to stick the an.
Gent varieties of their forefa Tiers. In
tive years 4 lcas a total creek and the
places filed with the tried and true
sorts. The trials with the hardest of
pears Of south Europe have been equal
~ failures, yet pears are grown of
good quality on large trees that have
often stood unscathed emper allure
OF 90 deg FAN But the trees have
the special advantage of be ING worked
on the sturdy wild pears ofthe steppes.
the roots Of which are as h andy as
those of the northern poplars.
| hope to be able to get few pounds
Of seed ofthese primitive pears Ia stsll