Editor Horticulturist: - During an extended observation of several years, we have noticed a peculiar adaptation of varieties of apple trees to site and soil. We have found the English Golden Russett succeeding best on decidely dry soils and sunshiny slopes or high land. Tops liable to winter kill when trees are young, hardy when older. Not an early bearer, but bears regularly and well with age. A poor nursery, but good orchard tree.

Talman Sweet chooses a strong, rich soil, where it can make a good annual growth. Young trees very liable to bark burst, and a bad nursery tree on that account. Here the tree is almost hardy - receives injury many winters, but with strong soil and good culture will recover. When in bearing is very productive, trees from 18 to 25 years old bearing 12 to 30 bushels of apples.

Fameuse thrives best on limestone, clay, loam, or oak bush land, such as is found at Fails on sandy land, and is worthless there. A good nursery tree, and where it succeeds, one of the most profitable orchard trees.

Dutchess of Oldenburg - hardy on most soils but suffers considerably from drouth on sandy soils. Needs a clay or loam, and will do well where it is too cool and moist for the Golden Russett. Very liable to send up water sprouts from the, roots on account of early maturity of growth of top before roots naturally would.

Alexander is very hardy, but liable to fire blight. Thrives best on clay loam soil, and blights most on sandy soils and hot exposures.

Yellow Belleflower has not proven productive or profitable as far as we have seen it, and is not hardy enough to endure well here.

Respectfully,

A. L. Hatch.

Ithaca, Richland Co. Wis.