ED. WESTERN Horticulturist: I have delayed a report to learn the extent of damage done by the last winter, and in the meantime see what stood best of the hundreds of varieties on my grounds. The winter was the hardest I have ever seen in the State, having spent twenty winters here, and for nineteen years had trees on trial. Of the first 350 apple trees set, one only remained up to the last winter, but now is dead, also many others that had stood unharmed for ten to fifteen years shared the same fate. The past winter has taken the term (iron clad) from many varieties, nothing entirely unharmed, but, of course, some more injured than others; and cannot advise the rejection of anything from its last winter's fate, as a like winter may not again occur in the next hundred years. But those that stood best, and will bear fruit on trees that are large enough to bear, are, as to hardiness, about as follows: Wealthy, Duchesse, Fameuse, St. Lawrence, Green Newtown Pippin, Tetofski, and Early Pennook, with a few late seedlings, the fruit not having attracted special attention.

The average hardiness ,of crops was a little better, though all making a strong growth were hurt more or less, making them a more easy prey to the ravages of the blight, that has struck in at a fearful rate, and a month earlier than ever before, having begun in May; and the frequent rains and sudden changes favorable for its continuance.

Our seedlings grown from the Duchesse, the Wealthy, and our best crab, of which we have more than a thousand, bid fair to stand any degree of cold; and no doubt but, out of the multitude, will get some extra fruit that can be relied on as far north as trees grow. Certain, many of the seedlings are more hardy than grafted trees from parent stock of the same age - the past winter having made no impression on many of the most thrifty.

A few remarks as to the Wealthy, a seedling of my own growing, would not bo amiss just here, seeing it is first on the list of our most hardy varieties. Some may suppose I have an axe to grind, but I have neither trees nor cions for sale, nor any interest in its sale, other than as I sell fruit from our orchard trees, as I have planted largely of it, and will graft and bud many more now in orchard row of less value. Tree rather a strong grower, forming a handsome head, early into bearing, and bears profusely every year; fruit large, unsurpassed in beauty or flavor, so far as we have seen or tasted; season, early winter, with care will keep all winter; propagated by the most of nurserymen in the northwest. No one need apply to me.

Pears all killed near to the ground, that are not entirely dead. Grapes that were covered, all right; others all dead to the ground, but putting out new shoots, not injured in root. Raspberry vines partially injured, only a moderate crop. Cherries a failure this season, but trees not killed. Native plums promise a fair crop.

Excelsior, Minnesota, June 9, 1873. Peter M. Gideon.