Preliminary Evaluation and Description of Domestic and Introduced Fruit Plants S

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6-1-1958 Preliminary Evaluation and Description of Domestic and Introduced Fruit Plants S. A. McCrory

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This Bulletin is brought to you for free and open access by the South Dakota State University Agricultural Experiment Station at Open PRAIRIE: Open Public Research Access Institutional Repository and Information Exchange. It has been accepted for inclusion in Bulletins by an authorized administrator of Open PRAIRIE: Open Public Research Access Institutional Repository and Information Exchange. For more information, please contact [email protected]. BULLETIN 471 JUNE 1958

NORTH CENTRAL REGIONAL PUBLICATION NO. 90

PRELIMINARY EVALUATION AND DESCRIPTIONS OF DOMESTIC AND INTRODUCED fruit plants

Agricultural Experiment Stations of Alaska Missouri Illinois Nebraska Indiana North Dakota Iowa Ohio Kansas Michigan South Dakota Minnesota Wisconsin U.S. Department of Agriculture

HORTICULTURE-FORESTRY DEPARTMENT AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION soun--1 DAKOTA STATE COLLEGE ·:· BROOKINGS Technical Committee for North Central Region Project NC-7 The Introduction, Testing, Multiplication and Preservation of New and Useful Plants of Potential Value for Industrial and Other Uses and for the Preservation of Valuable Germ Plasm of Economic Plants. Administrative Advisor-£. F. Frolik, South Dakota-S. A. McCrory Nebraska Wisconsin-W. H. Gabelman Illinois-£. B. Patterson A1aska-M. F. Babb Indiana-H. H. Kramer Regional Station-W. H. Skrdla, Re Iowa-I. J. Johnson-Chairman gional Coordinator Kansas-C. E. W assom U. S. Department of Agriculture, Agri Michigan-C. M. Harrison cultural Research Service, Crops Minnesota-A. N. Wilcox Research Division, New Crops Re n Missouri-A. D. Hibbard search Bra ch CRi,l Plant Introduction Section Nebraska-L. C. Newell H. L. Hyland North Dakota-T. E. Stoa CRi,2 Crop Development Section Ohio-F. S. Howlett W. E. Whitehouse

2 Acknowledgements

Grateful acknowledgement is made to all who helped make this report possible. The late John Neilson and W. B. Wood were most helpful in assisting with assem bling the plants and propagating them for planting. Many have helped with the maintenance work and in collecting data. The representatives of the Regional Technical Committee were very helpful in suggesting ways for improvements of the manuscript. Dr. W. E. Whitehouse, of the Section of Plant Introduction, also gave helpful suggestions. Grateful acknowl edgement is made to all for their help.

3 Contents

Introd u ction ____ ------______5 How the Material Was Assem b led______6 Syste rns of Naming______7 Blossom Dates ____ ------______8 Disease Observations ------8 Description of Varieties ------______13 Craba pples ------13 Apples ------______24 Russian Apple Collection______------______27 Pea rs ______·------__ 30 Sand cherries ______32 Apricots ______34 Summary ______------______36 Literature Cited ------______3 9

Tables

1. 4-Year Bloom Average______9 2. Disease Ratings of Apples and Crabapples______10 3. Earliness, Size, and Color of the Fruit of Apples and Cra ba pples______11 ° 4. Dates for Occurrence of 32 F. or Lower at Brookings______37 5. Temperature at Brookings from 1931 to 1952 ______37 6. Precipitation by Months at Brookings, 1942-57______38 3700-5-58-5609

4 Preliminary Evaluation and Description of Domestic and Introduced FRUIT PLANTS By S. A. McCRORY1 Introduction The apple, cultivated for more ences, the Great Lakes area, and than 2,000 years in Europe, was other small areas having physical brought to North America by early geographic features affording pro settlers. Before their introduction tection. In this area the extremes of into North America, many vari both winter and summer were se eties had been selected and were vere, while rainfall was frequently under cultivation in Europe. Seed inadequate. Large areas were sub of these European varieties and, in ject to polar air masses in winter some cases, grafted trees, were in with extremes of cold. In summer, troduced into America during the the dry atmosphere of the Plains colonization period. This cultivated was frequently accompanied by apple probably had its remote ori drought of extreme severity. gin in western Asia, in distribution The frequency of these extremes ranges of the wild Malus syfoestris was great enough to be hazardous and M. pumila species. Great for for a plant with a 25 to 30 year life ests consisting primarily of fruit span. trees, to the east of the Caspian Sea, These climatic conditions con probably provided the ancestors of tinue to limit fruit growing in the our early American apples. area, with the exception of rainfall From these early plantings, ap which has been partially overcome ples were disseminated by pioneers, by irrigation. The inability of a Indians, missionaries, and traders, plant to tolerate climatic conditions with the westward development of in this area is not peculiar to the America. The failure of the apple to apple. The same is true for the apri survive winter conditions, when cot, peach, plum, pear, and cherry. they were planted in what is now Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North North-Central United States, be Dakota, South Dakota, Northern Il came noticeable to early settlers. linois, and Northern Nebraska pro The area troubled most includes duce only 2% of the total apple crop roughly the northern half of the of the United States. ( 4) United States with the exception of 1 Horticulturist, South Dakota Agricul the area protected by coastal influ- tural Experiment Station. 5 6 South Dakota Experiment Station Bulletin 471 Pioneer fruit breeders in the ing work ( 2). L. H. Bailey ex Great Plains area recognized the pressed the opinion that new and winter hardiness in the Siberian improved varieties might be ex crabapple, M. baccata, a species na pected to come from a mixing of the tive to eastern Asia. In 1882, J o.seph Siberian crabapple, the native crab L. Budd introduced the Siberian apple, and the eastern apples ( 1) . crabapple for use on the prairies of N. E. Hansen believed that, in order the Northwest. He made collections to develop a hardy variety, it would from the colder climate of Russia be essential to .start with hardy par for use at the Iowa Agriculture Ex ent material ( 3) . periment Station. Peter M. Gideon, Thus, it appears that early fruit Superintendent of the Minnesota breeders recognized the necessity of State Experimental Fruit Farm, in finding fruit plants with hardiness 1887 gave much credit to the Siber not possessed in the early plant in ian crabapple as a parent for breed- troductions.

How the Material Was Assembled

In 1895, N. E. Hansen started This aid was helpful in the assem fruit breeding at the South Dakota bling and evaluation work. Agricultural Experiment Station. Plants in the collection are from Much of his work for the next 50 domestic and foreign sources and years was devoted to collecting include apples, crabapples, apri plants of the most hardy sort from cots, pears, plums, and sandcher.:. all over the world. He assembled a ries. In addition to the original large collection of hardy varieties, material, many seedlings which many of Russian origin, including Hansen produced by crossing selec Siberian crabapples, and selected tions and varieties have been re some native material showing great tained for evaluation. winter hardiness. The native crab Since collecting was a continuous apple, M. ioensis, made up a part of operation, it is not possible, in all this collection. Shortly after his re cases, to tell from available records tirement, an effortwas made to con the time or place a collection was solidate as many of these plants as made. This is especially true of the possible for preservation and evalu native material. Sandcherries, Pru ation. The first were propagated in nus besseyi; and native plum, P. 1942 and planted in a permanent americana, were obtained from na location 2 years later. In 1947, the tive sources. Native crabapples, M. South Dakota Experiment Station ioensis, were collected from the was granted financial assistance northern part of Minnesota. Foreign under the Research and Marketing material was collected on trips to Act of 1946, Regional Project NC-7. Russia, Siberia, and North China. EJJaluatian and Description of DomesJic a,;d l11trod11ced Fruit Plants 7 In 1897, a 10-month 2,000 mile here. Also, from this area many trip was made by Hansen. He trav crabapples, apricots, and other eled from St. Petersburg to south fruits were collected. ern Russia, to Omsk in Siberia and In 1934, the last collecting trip Kulja in West China. This trip was was made at the invitation of Soviet sponsored by the United States De Russia. From this trip .some 20 vari partment of Agriculture for the pur eties of the best apples grown in pose of collecting fodder plants. Russia were collected and intro Later, collections of fruit plants duced as scion wood. were made from parts of the area While these foreign collecting covered on this trip. trips were being made, domestic In 1906, a 6-month trip to Eng collections were also in progress. land, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Many were incorporated into a Lapland, Finland, Russia, and Man breeding program and seedlings re churia was made. This trip was also sulting from such crosses were saved a United States Department of Ag for evaluation or further breeding riculture sponsored trip for the pur work. As a result, conditions became pose of collecting alfalfa and clover. crowded. Plants of this type occupy Limited collections could be made a lot of space and require years to of any other plants. A similar trip evaluate. in 1908 was made to continue a Near the end of Dr. Hansen's ac search for forage plants. tive work at South Dakota State In 1913, South Dakota financed a College, the task of assembling this 5-month trip to Eastern Siberia. material in one planting, where it Forage plants were collected, as could be preserved for evaluation, well as a few other plants. How began. This report present informa ever, these trips located many areas tion collected to date. It is hoped where fruit plants were grown and that the information presented may could be obtained later. suggest uses for the material. Those In 1924, the first trip was made for which no use can be found must with the specific purpose of collect be eliminated. ing fruit plants. This was a 3-month trip financed by South Dakota. Systems of Naming Hansen had observed pears grow In most plant improvement work, ing in North China, Manchuria, varietal names are not given to se North Korea, Siberia, and East Si lections until their worth has been beria that were free of fire blight. proven. However, in this work, He found the western limit of pears names were given in most cases to be a little east of Harbin. Great upon introduction which was for winter hardiness would be required trial rather than for commercial or for survival there. From those pro home use. This may have caused ducing the best fruit, he selected confusion as it was not the intent seed which were the parent stock that most of this material would be of the collection of pears maintained used for such purposes. Varietal 8 South Dakota Experiment Station Bulletin 471 names are therefore used in this considered. Chemical control meas report. ures were not applied prior to 1952 The descriptions given are based in order to make better field evalu upon direct observations and infor ations. mation supplied by others who have Apple scab became so severe in made use of the material. It is ap 1951 that a spraying program had preciated that much inf01mation to be adopted to prevent loss of has, no doubt, been overlooked as it trees. This program has been simi is not possible to know all the po lar to that applied as a good orchard tential uses. It is the intent to de practice. While the spraying pro scribe these plants in a way that will gram has reduced the presence of be helpful to those engaged in a scab and prevented defoliation, fruit improvement program. scab is still present. This has been a basis for rating scab susceptibil Blossom Dates ity. Evaluation studies made when Most of the plants under observa control measures were not applied tion have reached a bearing age. may be more valid. In 1951, Dr. J. Blossom date records have been R. Shay made a field evaluation kept for 1953, 1954, 1955, and 1957. study of this material and observed The data are summarized in table the presence of scab in mid-July 1, and give the number of years ( 5) . The lack of control measures from which information was col and favorable conditions for scab lected. The date given is the aver development had resulted in a se age for the number of years ob vere scab epidemic. Varieties found served. Since blossom date is so to be free from scab that year were closely associated with weather Cathay, Elk River, Kola, Red Tip, conditions and has varied as much Jonsib, Tipi, and Zapta ( 5). A few as a few weeks from year to year, it varieties were not available for is more accurate to make compari evaluation at that time. Therefore, sons with known varieties, which it is likely that the evaluation made are included. The comparisons are in 1951 may be more accurate than for the .same years; that is, those ob that expressed in table 2. Scab was served for 4 years are all for the observed on Cathay in 1957. same years. Fire blight has been an annual problem. Some varieties have been Disease Observations so severely infected as to cause loss Fire blight and apple scab have of the trees. This has been especially been troublesome in this orchard. true with some pear varieties. The No attempt has been made to meas absence of blight from others does ure disease resistance under con not prove their resistance. Severe trolled conditions. Location or the injury suggests a high degree of element of chance must thereforebe susceptibility. Table 1. Four-Year Bloom Average

Average Date of Full Bloom, May Variety 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Alexis ------ x Almata ------x Amsib ------x Amur ______------x Anoka------x Antonovka Polterarar ______x Arkad Zimenee ______x Beauty ______------x Caramel ______x Dwarf Tree ______x Florence ______------x Forest King ------x Goldo ______------x Good Crab------ x Hopa Crab------x Izo Crab ____ ------x Joe Trio Crab ______x J onsib Crab ------x Kensib Crab ______x Kitaika Shafran ______x Lina ------Maga Crab ____------x Mcintosh ------x Mercer Crab ______x Missouri Crab ------ x Mortuff------x Nebo ------x Nevis ______x New Duchess ______x Olga ------ x Oxbo Apple ------x Paradiska Mitchuran ______x Red Flesh Crab ______x Red Silver ------ x Red Soviet ------x Red Standard ______x Red Wild Crab ______x Sadko ------x Soulard ------x 5. D. Ben Crab ______x S. D. Bison------ x S. D. Bona ------ x S. D. Eda ------x S. D. Waldo Crab ______x Sprout from Maga ______x Table 2. Disease Rating of Apples and Crabapples Variety Fire Blight* Scab* Variety Fire Blight* Scab*

Alexis ------0 1 Manchu ------0 Alma ta ------0 3 Mecata ------0 Amsib ------0 1 Mercer ------0 Amur ------0 1 Mitchurin -----·------Anoka ------1 4 Missouri Crab ------0 2 Antonovka Shafran ---- 0 2 Mortuff ------0 0 Antonovka Polterarar__ 0 1 Nebo ------0 1 Antonovka Mona sir ---- 0 0 Nevis ------·------Arkad Zimenee ------0 0 0 Beauty ------0 1 New Duchess ------0 2 BelleBeur Kitaika ------0 3 Olga ------0 1 Bellefleur Kranov ------0 1 Oxbo ------1 3 Bellefleur Rekord ------0 0 Paradiska x -Mitchurin Bessemianka ------0 0 No. 1 ------1 3 Bismer ------0 0 Red Bellefleur ------0 1 Bison ------0 1 Red Flesh ------0 2 Cal Trio ------0 0 Red Silver ------1 0 Cappy ------3 4 Red Soviet ------0 1 Caramel ------0 1 Red Standard ------0 1 Cathay ------0 2 Red Tip Crab ------1 0 Chance ------0 2 Red Wild Crab ------0 0 Dolgo ------0 0 Red & Yellow Siberian 0 0 Dwarf ------0 1 Sasha ------0 ] Eda Crab ------0 2 S. D. Ben ------0 1 Elk River ------0 0 S. D. Bison ------0 0 Florence ------0 2 S. D. Bona ------1 1 Forest King ------0 1 S. D. Eda ------1 1 Giant Crab ------0 4 S. D. Golden ------0 ] Goldo ------0 1 S. D. Waldo ------0 0 Good Crab ------0 S. D. Winter ------1 2 Hopa ------0 2 Semla ·------0 1 Ivan Crab ------0 0 Shoko ------1 1 Izo Crab ------0 1 Soulard Crab ------0 0 Joe Trio ------0 1 Sugar Crab ------0 1 Jonsib ------0 0 Tipi ---- ·------0 0 Kitaika Shafran ------0 0 Talmo ------0 2 Kensib Crab ------0 1 Tolstene ------0 1 Keo Crab ------0 1 Volga ------0 1 Ketik Cherenkoe ------1 0 Wakaga Crab ------0 0 Ketyr Shafran ------0 1 Wamdesa ------0 0 Kitai Kut-34 -- ·------0 1 Warnblee ------0 0 Kitaika Zolotoi ------0 0 Waziya Crab ------0 0 Kola Crab ------0 1 Wecota ------0 1 Komosomoletz ------0 1 Wetonka ------0 1 Kulon Kitaika ------0 1 Wisantowoye ------0 3 Lemon Apple ------0 1 Y akhontowoye ------0 3 Lina ------0 1 Yellow Siberian ------0 1 Linda Sweet ------0 1 Yellow Sweet ------0 1 Mcintosh ------0 3 Zapta ------1 1 Maga ------1 2 Zelma ------0 1 *0-N�rne observeJ t-Light 2-Moderate 3-Heavy 4-Severe Table 3. Earliness, Size, and Color of the Fruit of Apples and Crabapples

Date Size in Variety Mature Inches Color Alexis ------9-10 1 V4 Red over all Almata ------9-10 1 Yz Red over all Amsib _____------9-1 5 1 Yz Red over green Amur ______9-10 1 Red over all Antonovka Shafran ______9-17 2 Red over yellow Antonovka Polterarar ______8-30 2 Yellow over all Antonovka Monastirsk ______9- 1 3 Yellow over all Arkad Zimenee ______9-10 2 Yz Dull Red over Green Beauty ______9-15 1 Bright Red Bellefleur Kitaika ______9-10 3 Red Stripes over Yellow Bellefleur Kranov ______8-30 2 V4 Red over Green Bessemian ka ______9-15 1 Yz Green with Red Cheek Bismer ------9-25 2 Yellow with Reddish-Brown Stripes Bison ------9-20 1 Yz Purplish-red Cal Trio ------9-15 % Polished Bright Red Caramel ------9-20 2 Red over Green Cathay Crab ______9-15 1 Yellow with Blush Chance ------9-15 3 Red over Green Dolgo ------9-15 1 V4 Red over all Dwarf Tree ------�------9-15 1 Yz Red with Heavy Bloom Eda Crab ------9-20 2 Solid Red Elk River ------9-30 % Green Florence ------9-15 1 Yz Red Blush over Green Forest King ______9-25 2 Yz Greenish Yellow Giant Crab ______9-20 3 Green Goldo ------9-15 3 Yellow Good Crab ------9-15 1 Y4 Red over Yellow Green Hopa ------9-25 � Rose I van Crab------9-15 1 Yz Red over Yellow lzo Crab ------9-25 2 Blush over Green Joe Trio ------9-25 1 Yz Yellow with Red Stripes Jonsib ____------9-15 2 Red over Yellow Kitaika Shafran ______9-10 1 % Red over Green Kensi b ------9-15 2 Red over Green Keo ------9-30 1 Yz Red over Green Ketik Cherenkoe ______9-20 2 Green with Blush Kitaika Kut ______9-15 2 Greenish Yellow Kola Crab------9-30 2 Green Komsomoletz ______9-30 1 % Dull Red Kulon Kitaika ______9-15 3 Red Stripes over Green Lemon Apple ______9-10 3 Yellow Lina ------9-20 2 Yz Yellow Linda Sweet ______9-30 1 Yz Yellow Mcintosh ------9-15 2 % Red over Green Maga ------9-10 3 Red to Striped Manchu ------9-15 % Red over Green Continued on next page Table 3. (Continued)

Date Size in Variety Mature Inches Color Macata 9-15 1 Red over Green Mercer ------9-20 2� Greenish Yellow Mercer Unguarded ______9-20 2 Yz Greenish Yellow Missouri Crab ______9-15 1 % Green Nebo------9-15 3 Red over Green 1\ev is ------9-30 1 Yz Green New Duchess ______8-30 3 Red Stripes over Green Olga ------ 8-30 lYz Red over all O xbo ------9-15 3 Yellow Paradiska Mitchurin # L __ 9-15 1 Yellow RedBesh ------9-15 1 Yz Red over all Red Silver ______9-25 Ys Red over all Red Soviet ______8-22 2 Yz Yellow with faint Blush Red Standard ______9- 5 2 Red over all Red Tip Crab ______9-10 2 Green with Blush Red Wild Crab ______9-30 1 Red and Yellow Red and Yellow Siberian ___ _ 9-15 1 Red over Yellow Sasha ------9- 2 2 Yz Green with Red Stripe S. D. Ben ------9-25 1 % Dull Red S. D. Bison ______9-15 2 Dull Red over Green S. D. Bona------ 9-25 l � Red over Green S. D. Eda ------9-25 2 Solid Red S. D. Golden ______9-10 3 Yellow S. D. Waldo ______9-15 1 Red over Yellow S. D. Winter ______9-30 1 Yz Red over Green Seim a ------9-10 3 Yz Dull Red over Yellow Shoko ------9-30 2 Green Soulard Crab ______9-25 1 % Green Sprout from Maga ______9-30 2 Yz Yellow Sugar Crab------9- 1 1 Yz Greenish Yellow Tipi ------ 9-30 lYz Green 'Talmo------9-10 3 Red Stripes over Yellow T olstene ------ 9-30 2 Yz Red Stripes over Green Volga ------9-25 2 Yz Red over Yellow Wakaga Crab ______9-30 2 Green Wakpala ------9-15 2 Red over Yellow W amdesa ______9-25 2 Red over all W amblee ------9-30 2 Greenish Yellow W aziya Crab ______9-25 2� Green W ecota ------9-30 2 Green Wetonka Crab ______9-30 1 Yz Red over Yellow Y akhontowoye ______9-15 2� Dull Red Yellow Siberian ______9-10 % Yellow with Red Blush Yellow Sweet ______9-25 2 Yellow Za pta ------ 9-25 1 Green Zelma ------9-30 1 )1; Green with Red Cheek Description of Varieties Most of the crabapples in this col drops badly when fully mature. Al lection were collected from Siberia, ternate bearing is common. Color North China, and Russia. Some is an intense red with a yellow flesh. were obtained from the northern The fruit is tart, firm, and juicy and part of the United States and Can is good for jelly making. The ob ada where winter conditions are long fruit is 1 inch in diameter severe. The establishment of the and inclined to cluster. The tree is a planting covered a period of several vigorous grower and of large size. years so that plants differ in age. It has shown extreme winter hardi The older plants have reached a ness. It has been resistant to blight bearing age, but some have not and scab. Alexis has ornamental fruited in their present location. In value when its snow white clusters addition to the material originally of blossoms are open and also in collected, many hybrids are also in the late summer when the red fruit cluded in the planting. In attempt is ripe. It is used as a root stock by ing to evaluate this material, such commercial nurseries. characteristics have been noted as may be of value to the plant breed er or propagator.

Crabapples Alexis crabapple M. baccata cerasif era Seeds were collected near Lenin grad, Russia, in 1897 by N. E. Han sen and introduced in 1919. This lot of seed produced Alexis and Dolgo which are quite similar. The plants maintained were grafted from the Amsib crabapple-M. ioensis x original tree. Alexis ripens in early M. baccata September at Brookings. Fruit This name is condensed from the names America and Siberia. The native species was a crab from Iowa crossed with a Siberian crab intro duced from Moscow, Russia, in 1906. The fruit matures in mid-Sep tember, is rn inches in diameter; skin, green with dull red blush; He.sh, a greenish white. The quality is very poor. This fruit keeps well in storage. It is a heavy bearer, clus ters, and is inclined to drop. The tree is small and has some ornamental 13 14 South Dakota Experiment Station Bulletin 471 value. It shows resistance to both blight and scab. This plant might have value in a breeding program where production, resistance to dis ease, and winter hardiness are wanted. Amur crab-M. baccata cerasifera This crabapple came from the same lot of seedlings that produced has excellent branching habits, and Alexis and Dolgo. Seed were col has shown resistance to blight and lected from Leningrad, Russia, in scab. In addition to being a very 1919. The plant has been main ornamental plant, Beauty is one of tained, but has not shown any out the better crabs for jelly making. standing characteristics. Amur rip The tree form, growth habits, and ens in early September. The fruit is the keeping quality of the fruit bright red and 1 inch in diameter might hold some promise for breed and has flesh that is very tart, firm, ing purposes. and juicy. It is good for jelly mak ing, but lacks the quality necessary to be eaten as fruit. The tree is very winter hardy, has an upright growth habit, has not been bothered with blight or scab to any trouble some extent, and has shown a lot of vigor. The fruit clusters extensively. The mo.st outstanding difference noted in Amur and Alexis or Dolgo is in the upright growth habit of Amur.

Beauty crab-M. baccata cerasifera Beauty has good distribution of Seed from which this crab was branches. produced were obtained from the Imperial Botanical Gardens, Petro S. D. Ben crabapple-M. baccata x grad, Russia, in 1919. Perhaps no (McMahon White x Jonathan) name more appropriate could have This seedling cross was selected been selected for this crab. The in 1938 for possible use in a breed fruit, as well as the plant, is very at ing program. It matures in late Sep tractive and matures in late Sep tember. The fruit is a dull red over tember. The fruit is a brilliant red a yellow ground color. It is H inches color. The flesh is white, firm, and in diameter and oblate. The flesh is juicy. The fruit remains firm and in crisp, firm, and has a pleasant taste. good condition in ordinary storage The fruit is inclined to cluster, but until mid-winter. It is winter hardy, produces a crop every year. It keeps Evaluation and Description of Domestic and Introduced Fruit Plants 15 until mid-winter in common stor and has been maintained as a pos age. The tree has shown good sible parent. It matures in late Sep branching habits and is winter tember. The fruit is rn inches in di hardy. Blight and scab have not ameter; color a greenish yellow been troublesome. This crabapple changing to red when fully mature; may have some value in a breeding flesh, yellow, sub-acid, and of poor program. quality. The fruit is inclined to crack when mature. This weakness has appeared every year the plant has been observed. One feature ob served is that the color change from green to red is very sudden. This characteristic may be of value. Otherwise, the plant seems to have little to recommend it.

Cal Trio-Mercer x Sweet Russet It matures in mid-September, is �4 inch in diameter, firm, juicy and Bismer-Bismark x Mercer acid. The fruit is produced in clus It matures late in September. It ters and ropes. is 2 inches in diameter, the quality is fair to poor, and is yellow with Cathay Crab-M. prunifolia reddish brown striping. The tree is This plant was selected from the hardy and a good producer of small original importation from Russia size fruit, which may be due to by Professor J. L. Budd. The fruit heavy production. ripens in mid-September, is 1 inch in diameter, yellow with an orange S. D. Bison-Jonathan x (M. baccata blush. It is not edible. The tree is a x Yellow Transparent) small flat-topped tree with some This seedling was named in 1933 ornamental value. The branches are and has shown no particular prom willowy-like in growth habit. The ise. It matures in late September. tree has shown much winter hardi- The fruit is 2 inches in diameter, and is a dull red over green ground color. The fruit is of only fair qual ity and lacks attractiveness. It is a heavy bearer and tends to produce its fruit in clusters. Other than hard iness, S. D. Bison has little to recom mend it.

S. D. Bona-Jonathan x (M. baccata x Yellow Transparent) This seedling was named in 1938 16 Soutb D.oikota Experiment Station Bulletin 471 ness. This plant has shown resist it is an ornamental plant. It may ance to blight and until the summer have a place as. a parent for a breed of 1957 had never shown scab. Even ing program. though a spraying program was Dwarf Tree-Parents unknown conducted, the leaves of Cathay showed sea b infection in a year Originally selected as a dwarf tree, it has grown to average size. when the disease was not generally The fruit matures mid-September, troublesome. and is very oblong resembling a plum more than an apple. It is black-red in color with a heavy purplish bloom. The quality is poor. The tree has vigor, is attractive, and has shown no blight. The fruit clus ters and hangs well which gives it an ornamental value. This plant is a novelty because of fruit shape. S. D. Eda-Jonathan x (M. baccata x McMahon White ) Dolgo-M. baccata This seedling has been main From the same source as Alexis, tained for possible use in a breed Dolgo was introduced in 1917. It ing program. It matures in late Sep has been one of the most winter tember, and has a solid red fruit 2 hardy in this collection. The fruit is inches in diameter. The quality of long conic, about 1 inch in diame the fruit is fair to good, being some ter. The skin is a brilliant red and what like the Jonathan in color and the fruit-laden tree is attractive in taste. The plant has been hardy the fall. It is one of the best crabs since 1938 and has produced a fair for jelly making. The fruit ripens in crop of fruit every year. The tree early September and drops freely. has shown excellent bearing habits. Alternate bearing is ve1y notice Its fruit is mostly produced singly. able. Trees begin to bear at a very Blight and scab have not been a young age and have shown remark problem. In addition to having mer able resistance to blight and scab. its of its own, this would seem to It is almost impossible to distin offer considerable promise as a par guish Alexis from Dolgo although ent for breeding purposes. Dolgo is listed by more commercia] nurseries than is Alexis. Dolgo Elk River-M. ioensis forms strong, well spaced scaffold This tree was propagated from a branches and is a very vigorous native plant growing near Elk tree. Seedlings make good root River, Minnesota. It was intro stocks, but the wood is very hard duced in 1930. The fruit from thi making grafting a problem. In addi native crab is typical of the species, tion to serving as a source of fruit, and is not edible. The tree is larger EJJaluation and Description of Domestic and Introduced Fruit Plants 17 than most plants of this species, ductive. The dwarfish nature of the growing to a height of 8 or 10 feet. tree may be due to the heavy crops All crabs of this species have been it produces. This crab may have very subject to drought and drop possibilities for breeding work their leaves prematurely. Elk River since it is one of the few crabs show has shown much winter hardiness. ing M. baccata ancestry with qual The pink blossoms are attractive, ity fruit. which may suggest a use for this selection. Hopa crab-M. Niedzwetzkyana x M. baccata Forest King-Wild native crab. M. Introduced in 1920, it has been ioensis m a i n t a i n e d for its ornamental A wild crab was found near Win value. It is one of the more generally nebago, Illinois, in 1904. There is planted flowering crabs. Blossoms evidence of M. ioensis so it may be are a deep red showing some blue a hybrid. It matures in late Septem before the petals fall. The fruit is �� ber. The fruit is large, 2�� inches in inch in diameter and not edible. It diameter, green, and not edible. is inclined to alternate bearing. The tree is hardy and productive. Seedlings show a general appear ance of the mother plant. The fol Giant Wild Crab-Native wild iage and bark show a red coloring era b of unknown ancestry all through the growing season. It This fruit was found near Sher has been free from blight and has rard, Ilinois, in 1911. Grafted trees shown but little scab. have been maintained since that time. This very large crab will fre Ivan crab-M. baccata quently develop fruit 3 inches in Introduced in 1916, it has been diameter. It is a firm acid fruit that maintained because it has the larg has no value for eating. The trees est fruit of any of these plants that have been very vigorous and pro appear to be pure M. baccata. It ductive. The most outstanding char matures in mid-September. The acteristic of this crab is the large fruit is rn: inches in diameter. The fruit it bears. fruit is roundish oblate with notice able stripes of red over orange Good crab-M. baccata color. Water-core is always notice It shows M. baccata characteris able. The trees are small, attractive, tics. Ancestry is unknown. It is and have shown winter hardiness. maintained in the present plantings because of its high quality fruit. It lzo crabs-Fluke # 10 x Yellow matures September 1. The fruit is 1 Transparent inch in diameter and is red over yel Introduced in 1918, this fruit ma low ground color. The quality for tures in late September. The fruit is eating fresh is excellent-mild with 2 inches in diameter with green a pleasant taste. It is hardy and pro- ground color and light red stripes. 18 South Dakota Experiment Station Bulletin 471 It has a mild sub-acid flavor, in Kensib-Kentucky Mammoth crab clined to russet and of poor quality. x Dolgo Fruit is inclined to cluster but hangs This is a dwarf and one of the to the tree well. The tree is hardy most promising for breeding. Fruit and productive with much vigor. matures in late September, is 2 It shows an open habit of growth inches in diameter, red, slightly and has been free of blight and has oblate, and of fair quality. The fruit had but little scab. hangs on until the leaves drop, is borne singly, and the tree appears Jonsib-Jonathan x M. baccata to be an annual bearer. The tree is Introduced in 1938, this Jona hardy and has shown no blight and than-baccata cross is maintained for little scab injury. It is a well shaped further breeding. It matures Sep tree that, to date, has shown noth tember 15. An oblate apple, 2 inches ing but desirable characteristics. in diameter, shows characteristics of its Jonathan parent. The fruit is a bright red over yellow ground color. The quality is fair and it keeps well in storage. The tree has been hardy with no scab, but has shown some blight. Its fruiting habit is good but with some clustering. The fruit hangs well to full maturity. It may have value for further breed ing work.

Keo crab This is an open-pollinated seed ling of Amur that matures in late September. The fruit is rninches in diameter, bright red, and very at tractive. The quality is good. It has been very productive and hardy.

Kola era b-M. ioensis ( Elk River) x Sweet Russet. It is maintained for further pos sible work because of the ancestry. The fruit is 2 inches in diameter, green, oblate, and not edible. The tree is vigorous and winter hardy. Evaluation and Description ofDomestic and Introduced Fruit Plants 19

Kensib is a dwarf tree with good bearing habits.

Linda Sweet crabapple-Malinda well in advance of any other crab or x Sweet Russet apple in the planting. Seedlings Introduced in 1922, this is a late have shown a remarkable uniform crab maturing the last of Septem ity and offer much promise as root ber. The fruit is rninches in diam stocks. The root stocks exercise a eter and is oblong conic. It is yellow semi-dwarfing influence on most with much russeting. The flesh is varieties. The branching habit is mild, sub-acid, and sweet. The fruit also modified. The wood is very hangs exceptionally well. The tree hard which makes grafting a little is hardy, inclined to overbear, and difficult. The root system is a mass produces fruit in clusters. Its use of lateral roots suggesting a charac will probably be limited. teristic desired. Further testing is needed to evaluate this root stock Manchu crabapple - M. baccata but it appears to have some merits. M andshurica It does not appear to be congenial with all varieties. It is grown from seed collected from a forested mountain area near Harbin, Manchuria. The fruit is of Mecata-Mclntosh x M. baccata no value, being no larger than the Mecata matures in mid-Septem garden pea. The plant is strong and ber, is 1 inch in diameter, oblong, vigorous with an open growth with a bright red color. The flesh is habit. Scaffold branches form at white and sub-acid. It drops early wide angles. It has been free of both when mature. The tree is hardy fire blight and scab. It blossoms with an upright growth habit. 20 Soutb Dakota Experiment Station Bulletin 471

Wedge on Manchu root stock, left, and on Yellow Siberian, right.

Mercer crabapple Nevis crabapple-M. ioensis It was found growing wild about Collected in the vicinity of 1900 in Mercer County, Illinois. Nevis, Minnesota, in 1930, Nevis This crabapple has been maintained has been maintained because of the because of the well shaped tree and small size of the native crab. The desirable plant characteristics. The fruit is roundish, oblate, rn inches fruit is of apple size, 2)� inches in in diameter, green, very hard, and diameter, yellow, oblate, and is not edible. The tree is a true dwarf, very productive. It has been a very seldom exceeding 6 feet in height. vigorous grower. The tree has an It has shown evidence of suffering excellent branching habit, suggest from drought most years and is very ing its possible use as a frame for subject to scab. A combination of topworking. It may be a hybrid of disease and drought will generally M. ioensis. defoliate the tree by mid-August. It has ornamental value where a Missouri crab native dwarf crabapple is desired. It was named by J. C. Evans about 1900, having come from Jack Olga crabapple-Duchess x M. son County, Missouri. The fruit rip baccata M andshurica ens in mid-September, is roundish, Olga has been retained because truncated, regular, and greenish of the excellent plant characteris yellow in color. It shows ome of the tics and its ancestral background. native American crab characteris This combination has a pedigree of tics but much less acerbity. It has the Russia apple and the Siberian been hardy over a 30-year period crabapple. The fruit matures in Au in Brookings. Its possible use might gust and is rn inches in diameter. be for topworking. The color is a solid bright red and Evaluation a11d Descriptton of Dornestic and Introduced Fruit Plants 21 Red and Yellow crabapple M. baccata Selected from among a group of M. baccata seedlings that were in troduced from Siberia, its origin is not known. In plant characteristics it appears to be a pure M. baccata. The fruit is 3� inch in diameter with a red blush over yellow ground color. It has made a very good root stock but its full value has not been with a crisp yellowish flesh that is determined. juicy and of good quality. In addi tion to being an excellent jelly crab, it is quite ornamental. The tree is vigorous, with good bearing habits and an excellent leaf covering. Blight and scab have not been trou blesome. This high quality crab might well replace many that are now used for fruit. It has a further potential for breeding work.

Ten-year old Whitney crab on Yellow Siberian root stock, left, and IO-year-old Whit ney crab on Manchu root stock, right. Notice difference in branch growth. I 22 Soutb Dakota Experiment Station Bulletin 471 Redffesh crabapple-M. Niedzwez Red Wild crab kyana x M. ioensis var. Elk River This is an open pollinated era b Redflesh was introduced in 1928 that matures in late September. and is maintained as a novelty. The The fruit is 1 inch in diameter, red fruit ripens early in September. It over yellow, and of poor quality. is a very dark solid red color with The tree is hardy. red flesh of poor quality. The fruit is rn inches in diameter, oblong, Soulard crabapple-M. ioensis and conic in shape. The tree has been a vigorous grower but has Introduced in 1911, its fruit is of shown some winter injury. The little value, �� inch in diameter, and wood is very hard and shows the red green in color. The plant is a dwarf color that is characteristic of fruit with a spreading growth habit. It and foliage. The blossoms are an at has a much heavier foliage than tractive red which suggests orna Nevis and retains the foliage better mental value. throughout the summer. The light pink blossoms suggest some orna mental value. Shoko-M. ioensis var. Elk River x Alexander Introduced in 1922, it is main tained because of ancestry. The fruit is 2 inches in diameter, green, acid, and of poor quality. The tree Red Silver crab is very productive. This is an open pollinated seed ling maintained for its ornamental Sugar crab-Antonovka seedling value. Blossoms are red, suggesting Introduced in 1919, its fruit is rn M. Niedzwetzkyana. In addition to inches in diameter and ripens in the red foliage coloring, it has a sil early September. This sweet apple verlike color on the leaves from has a very pleasant taste but does which it gets the name. not retain its quality more than a few days. The tree is a strong up Red Tip crab-M. ioensis x M. right grower. The fruit is borne in N iedzwetzkyana clusters. Alternate bearing is com Introduced in 1919, it is main mon. It has little promise. tained for ornamental use. The fruit is a small cherry size with red flesh. Tipi crab-M. ioensis x Duchess The foliage of the young growth has It matures in late September and a reddish color. The plant shows is maintained because of its hardi some characteristics of both par ness and ancestry. The fruit is 2 ents. New growth has shown some inches in diameter, green oblate, tip killing but winter damage has waxy, but not edible. The tree is never been severe. very productive with an excellent Evaluation and Description of Domestic and Introduced Fruit Plants 23 branching habit. Blight or scab in tained for possible use in breeding fection have not been observed but work. The fruit is red, round, and 2 it is very subject to cedar apple rust. inches in diameter. The flesh is Blossoms have shown a tolerance firm, acid, and juicy. The quality is to frost. This may suggest a possible poor. The tree is small or semi use where greater frost tolerance is dwarf and inclined to over produce needed. and alternate bearing. Good keep ing quality is its most outstanding Wakaga-M. ioensis (Nevis) x characteristic. Wolf River Wakaga fruit matures in late Sep Waziya crab-M. ioensis var. Nevis tember, is 2 inches in diameter, x Northwestern Greening green, firm, and not edible. The The fruit is 2}i inches in diameter, fruit keeps well all winter. The tree greenish yellow, and an excellent is hardy and vigorous. keeper in common storage. This is South Dakota Waldo-Fluke No. one of the better Nevis hybrids. 10 x Duchess Introduced in 1938 it is main Wecota-M. ioensis var. Nevis x tained since it is one of the few with Northwestern Greening M. ioensis parentage that is edible. Introduced in 1929, its fruit is a The fruit ripens in mid-September greenish yellow, very acid with firm and is rn inches in diameter. The flesh, and is not edible. The tree has color is red over a yellow ground shown great hardiness and frost tol color with yellow flesh. The shape erance. It has shown some scab in is roundish oblate. The fruit hangs fection. to the tree exceptionally well. The tree is vigorous, very productive, Wetonka crabapple-M. ioensis and the branches assume a long var. Nevis x Wolf River willowy growth habit. The tree has Wetonka was introduced in 1929. shown no evidence of blight or scab The fruit is 2 inches in diameter and infection. green ground color with bright red W amblee- ( Elk River x Bismark ) stripes. The flesh is acid, very firm, x Wolf River and not edible. This tree is produc Wamblee fruit matures late in tive and very hardy. September, is 2 inches in diameter, S. D. Winter crab-Red Vein x M. oblate, and greenish-yellow with ioensis var. Elk River red stripes covering most of the fruit. The tree is hardy and upright Greenish yellow fruit ripens in in growth habit. It may have value late September, is rn inches in di for the plant breeder. ameter, and oblate with a long stem. The flesh is white, firm, juicy, Wamdesa crab-M. ioensis var. and slightly acid. The tree is vigor Elk River x Jonathan ous and hardy with attractive fo Introduced in 1938, it is main- liage. 24 Soutb Dakota Experi,nent Station Bulletin 471 Wotanda-M. ioensis var. Nevis x would be difficult to obtain else Northwestern Greening where. With few exceptions, they W otanda is very similar to We do not have the quality necessary cota. to make them valuable in a fruit planting, but they may have value Yellow Siberian-M. baccata for breeding purposes, root stocks, A seedling selection whose ances and ornamental use. try is not known, it appears to have the characteristic of a pure M. bac Almata apple-( Beautiful Arcade cata. The fruit is �� inch in diameter, x Fluke # 38) x Redflesh yellow, and not edible. Trees graft This has been classed as an apple ed on this stock are large and vigor because of its size. It matures in ous. Most varieties assume an up early Septem her and is 2 inches in right growth habit on this stock. It diameter. The Calyx is inclined to is promising as a root stock. show green color with skin and Zepta crabapple-M. ioensis x flesh both red. The quality is poor Bismark and fruit drops badly. Almata may Introduced in 1922, its fruit is 2 have some value where a red inches in diameter, green, firm, and fleshed apple is desired. The red not edible. It has shown great hard blossoms are attractive, giving it iness and vigor. some ornamental value. Zelma crab-M. ioensis x M. bac Caramel-Parents unknown cata Caramel matures in mid-Septem The fruit is 1 inch in diameter ber, is 2 inches in diameter, and is a with red flesh, firm, juicy, and of solid red color. It is crisp and juicy little value. Its blossoms are pink, with fair quality. The bearing habit giving it some ornamental value. is good. The fruit hangs well after maturity, and always shows good coloring. Its productiveness and great hardiness may give it some value as a parent to be crossed with higher quality.

Apples The apple varieties maintained in this collection were obtained from various sources and over a long period of time. Some are a result of breeding work and may have some value. Most of them are not avail able from commercial sources and Evaluation and D:!scription of Domestic a11d Introduced Fruit Plants 2S Lemon-Imported from Russia age. The plant is hardy, vigorous, Lemon was introduced in 1922 and productive. It may have value from Russia where it was called as a parent to combine with quality Linonoe. It matures in early Sep where size and hardiness are de tember and is 3 inches in diameter. sired. The color is greenish yellow with a bronze blush. The flesh is white, mild, sub-acid, and of fair quality. Some seasons water core is com mon. The tree is vigorous and hardy. The fruit holds to the tree after maturity and is well distribu ted. It may have some value for breeding purposes where a hardy yellow apple is desired. Oxbo-Roxbury Russet x Duchess Lina-A seedling of Malinda Oxbo matures September 15. The Lina matures mid - September fruit is an attractive yellow, 3 inches and is 2�� inches in diameter with a in diameter. An apple of coarse tex yellow tough skin. The quality is ture, this variety has enough qual fair. It keeps well in common storJ ity to give it some value of its own. age. The fruit is inclined to cluster It has not been a heavy producer, and alternate bearing. The tree is but the fruit is generally borne hardy with an upright growth singly with fruit well distributed. habit. The plant has been hardy with good growth habits. It may have value as Maga-Mcintosh x Virginia crab a hardy parent. Introduced in 1933, this was ori ginally introduced as a crabapple. It matures in early September, is 3 inches in diameter, and is greenish yellow with dull red stripes. The quality is poor. The tree is hardy and productive, which seems to be about its only virtue. Nebo-Alexander x Mercer crab apple Nebo is a large apple 3 inches in diameter and is a dull red color Russian White apple with some striping. In shape, size, Introduced in 1924, it matures in . and attractiveness, it resembles late August. It is a yellow apple with Stayman. The quality is fair but it red stripes. The flesh is clear does not keep well in common stor- white, tart, and juicy. Its chief value 26 Sotttb Dakota Experiment Station Bulletin 471 is for sauce. The true name of this with a pleasant taste. The fleshma y Russian variety was never ob show some red coloring near the tained. The tree is hardy and very core line. The quality is fair. It is a productive. heavy producer but inclined to Sasha-Hibernal x Gravenstein cluster. The tree is vigorous with Introduced in 1919, it matures heavy foliage. It has shown little in early Septem her, is 2}� inches in scab or blight injury and may have diameter, yellow, oblate, and of fair value in breeding work where hard quality. The tree is hardy and vigor iness, productiveness, and a fair de ous. Blight has been present most 'gree of quality are desired. years and frequently is severe. · ,. l Tolmo-Tolman Sweet x Duchess l Tolmo matures mid-September. The fruit is 3 inches in diameter with red stripe over yellow. It is an excellent dessert apple for this sea son. The fruit is not attractive but it deceives its looks in quality. The tree has an open habit of growth and is a fair producer. It has shown great hardiness but is subject to scab. Blight has not been trouble some. This fruit should be tested in Wakapala-Mercer x Tolman other areas where an apple of this Sweet season is desired. It is a good des Wakapala was introduced in sert apple for late summer use. 1928. The fruit is yellow with red stripe, is 2 inches in diameter, and ripens in mid-September. The fruit quality is fair but inclined to devel op water core. The tree has good bearing characteristics and has shown great hardiness.

Yellow Sweet An old Russian variety intro duced in 1924, its fruit is very simi lar to Yellow Transparent in season of maturity, taste, and general ap Volga-Anisim x Virginia crab pearance. The tree is inclined to al Introduced in 1933, Volga has a ternate bearing and shows much 2}� inch red apple with a round conic variation in fruit size. It also has shape. The flesh is firm and juicy shown signs of being winter tender. Evaluation and Description of Domestic and Introduced Fruit Plants 27 Russian Apple Collection ground color with dull red stripes, similar to the color of Duchess. The Antonovka Shafran flavoris mild sub-acid and with fair This was obtained in 1934 from to poor quality. The tree is vigorous Russia by N. E. Hansen. Scion wood and hardy with an excellent branch was collected and grafted at Brook ing habit. Scab and blight have ings. The fruit matures in late Sep been noticed some years. It may tember, is 2 inches in diameter, yel have some promise for topworking low ground color overlaid with red, because of its branching habit. and is of poor quality. The fruit is inclined to cluster. It is a vigorous Bellefleur Kitaika grower with wide angle branching. Scion wood was introduced from In general, it is a good looking tree Russia in 1934. The fruit matures and appears hardy. Some scab in in early September, is 3 inches fection is generally present but no in diameter, with dull red stripes fire blight has been observed. over yellow ground color and with Antonovka Polterarar fair quality. The tree is hardy but small and is well shaped. Scab in Obtained in 1934, it matures in fection is frequently severe. Because late August, is 2 inches in diameter, of the small size tree, it may have greenish yellow with a red blush, some value. sweet, and of fair quality. It is very productive but drops when mature. Bellefleur Kranov The tree is vigorous and hardy. Scab and blight have not been trou Introduced in 1934, it matures in blesome. It may have some value in late August, and is 2}� inches in di a home fruit planting. ameter with rose red color over green. It has a mild sweet flavor Antonovka Monastirsk quite pleasant to taste, but it has This was introduced in 1934. The produced little fruit to date. The fruit matures in early September tree is an open type with wide angle and is large, up to 3 inches in diam branches. It is winter hardy but not eter. The color is greenish-yellow vigorous. Neither scab nor blight and the fruit of fair to good quality. have been troublesome. The tree is hardy and vigorous with Bellefleur x Rekord a fair growth habit. Little scab and blight infection have been ob Obtained in 1934, this variety is served. Perhaps it is the most prom very similar to Bellefleur Kranov ising in the Russian collection be and may have been confused. It has cause of fruit quality. not fruited to date. Arkad Ziminee Bessemianka Scion wood was introduced from Obtained in 1934, it matures in Russia in 1934. It matures Septem mid-September, is rn inches in di ber 10. The fruit is greenish-yellow ameter, green with dull red over 28 South Dakota Experiment Station Bulletin 471 part of fruit, and fair to poor qual heavy producer but the fruit clus ity. The tree is hardy and a rank ters. Some scab is present most grower. It has large, thick leaves; a years. It may have some value be good branching habit; and has been cause of its small size. free from scab and blight. It may have some value as a parent where Kitaika Zolotaia hardiness and vigor are desired. Introduced in 1934, this tree has not produced fruit to date. The tree Kitaika Cherenkoe is hardy and vigorous with an ex Scion wood was introduced from cellent branching habit. Neither Russia in 1934. It matures in late scab or blight have been observed September, with fruit 2 inches in di on this variety. It may have value ameter, and is green with red blush. for topworking. The quality is fair to poor. This tree has shown some winter damage to Komosomoletz new growth but the branching Obtained in 1934, it matures in habit of the tree is good. Both scab late September, is H inches in di and blight have been observed. ameter, is a dull solid red color, This variety does not look promis bears oblong conic fruit, and has ing. greenish white flesh. It drops badly and the quality is poor. It is a tall Kitaika Shafran leggy tree with willowy growth Obtained in 1934, its fruit ma habit. The small leaves give the tree tures in early September, is H the appearance of an open growth inches in diameter, red color, and habit. The bark and wood are red. of poor quality. The fruit is inclined Scab is generally present. to drop freely. The bearing habit and branch distribution on the tree Kulon Kitaika are excellent. This tree has a spread Obtained in 1934, it matures in ing growth habit with wide angle mid-September. Fruit is 3 inches in scaffold branches which gives the diameter, round, and green with tree a low growing appearance. dull red stripes. The quality is fair. Scab and blight have not been The fruit is mostly produced singly. noticed. It may have value for top Both fruit and tree have the appear working. ance of coarseness. Leaves are large with heavy pubescence on lower Kita�ka surface. Scion wood was obtained from Russia in 1934. It matures after mid Mitchurin # 3 September, is 2 inches in diameter, Obtained in 1934, it has not greenish color, and of fair quality fruited to date. The tree is hardy but drops badly. The tree is a and makes a vigorous growth. dwarfishgrower but hardy and with Growth habit is open with few an open habit of growth. It is a branches. It is a large tree with poor Evaluation and Descriptt'.on of Domestic and Introduced Fruit P/aaJs 29 branching habit. Scab infection has September, is a dull red color, rn been severe but no blight has been inches in diameter, and of poor observed. quality. The tree is well shaped and hardy. It appears to be a small type P aradiska x Mitchurin # I tree. Both bark and wood have a Obtained in 1934, its fruit resem red coloring. bles Florence crab and matures at about the same date. In size it is Tolstene larger than Florence, rn inches in Obtained in 1934, it matures in diameter, but of poor quality. The late September, is a pleasant sweet tree is hardy with excessive branch tasting apple, is 2}� inches in diame ing. Scab has been common on the ter, very firm, and holds to the tree leaves but no blight has been ob well. It is yellow with red stripes. served. The fruit stores during the fall sea son. The tree has excellent branch Red Bellefleur ing habit, and is hardy and vigor Obtained in 1934, this tree has ous. Tolstene is subject to scab but not produced fruit to date. It re no blight has been observed. It is a sembles others of the Bellefleur fairly good fall apple. group. The wide angle branches form an open growth habit. Some Wisantowoye scab has been observed on this va Obtained in 1934, it has not pro riety. duced fruit to date. The trees have been difficult to maintain because Red Soviet of fire blight. It was so severely Scion wood was introduced from damaged in 1957 that the variety Russia in 1934. The fruit matures in may be lost. Scab has also been a late August. It is yellow with a light problem. It may have value for dis- red blush. Russeting is common at . ease study. the basal end. The fruit is 2�� inches in diameter, roundish, slightly acid, Yakhontowoye but pleasant to taste and of good Introduced in 1934, its fruit ma flavor. The tree is hardy and vigor tures in mid-September. It is a solid ous with good branching habits. dull red color, 2 inches in diameter, The leaves are large and leathery. oblong conic, and poor in quality. Neither scab or blight have been The tree is hardy with very open observed. It is a promising Russian growth habit. The branches have a apple. willowy, droopy habit of growth. The fruit is borne in clusters and Red Standard ropes on the branches. Scab infec Obtained in 1934, the name Red tion was very bad in 1957 but no Standard was given this variety by blight was present. It may have Hansen as the original name is not value as a parent when red color is known. The fruit matures in early desired. 30 South Dakota Experiment Station Bulletin 4 71 Pears Fruit matures at the same time as Finsib and is similar to Finsib but Few of the pears have produced smaller. The tree is more vigorous fruit in their present location. Much than Finsib. No blight has been ob of the information collected about served on this variety. pears is from earlier reports pub lished or from notes collected by the Hansen Seedless Pear-P. sinensis late N. E. Hansen. Many are the re ( from Russia) x Margueritte sult of crosses made by him and It matures in late August, is given a varietal name.2 small, 1 inch in diameter, and of good quality. The fruit is frequent Finsib-Finland Early Yellow from ly seedless. The tree may lack win Finland x Saponsky from Siberia ter hardiness as black heart is (Pyrus ussuriensis) common. It is very subject to blight Fruit matures early in Septem and is difficult to maintain in the ber, is 2 inches in diameter, yellow, planting because of disease. globular, and acute pyriform. The Harbin pear-Pyrus ussuriensis quality is fair to good. The tree is a Imported as seed in 1908 from small :,emi-dwarfwhich may be due Eastern Siberia, its fruit is not edi to heavy annual bearing. It is hardy ble. It has grown under crowded and has shown no fire blight. It may conditions and has not produced have value as a variety for home use well. The tree is very hardy and has where winter hardiness is required. never shown blight. It has been Finsib Sister-Same parents as used extensively as root stock for Finsib pears in experimental work. Be cause of the dense growth and shade Pyrus ussuriensis, 15 years old, in a tolerance, it has been planted in shelterbelt near Watertown, S. Dak. protective shelterbelt plantings. The tree is well shaped and is very ornamental. This suggests a three fold use-root stocks, forest plant ings, and ornamental purposes. Krylov-Soponsky ( from Eastern Siberia) x Lincoln This variety matures in early September. The fruit is 2 inches in diameter and of fair quality. The tree is hardy and blight free. It is a well shaped tree with ornamental value. 2Additional information is given in S. D. Agricultural Experiment Station Bulle tins 224, 309, and 339. Evaluation and Description of Domestic and Introduced Fruit Plants 31 Ming-P. ovoidea x Louise Bonne cess. No fire blight has been ob de Jersey served on this variety. Ming matures in mid-September Sodak-P. sinensis ( from Russia) x with pyriform, yellow fruit, 2 inches Margueritte in diameter. Stone cells are abun It matures early in September, is dant and the quality is poor. The 2 inches in diameter, yellow, oblong tree is very hardy and vigorous. pyriform with long stem, and of fair The original tree is 25 feet tall and quality. The tree has a tall upright ornamental. The leaves generally growth habit, is hardy, and has not show fall coloring. Because of its shown blight infection. hardiness and vigor this may have Sungari-Vinnaja Selenaja x P. value for breeding purposes. ovoidea Sungari matures early in Septem Nikto-Marillot x P. ovoidea ( from ber, is 2 inches in diameter, and is North China) oblong pyriform with yellow flesh. The fruit matures in early Sep The quality is fair to good. The tree tember, is rn inches in diameter, has a strong upright growth habit yellow, and obtuse pyriform. The and is hardy and free from blight. quality is poor. The tree is hardy Tanya-Ideal x P. ussuriensis ( from and well shaped but blight is pres east Siberia) ent almost every year. Tanya matures in late September, Okolo-Open pollinated seedling is B� inches in diameter, and has a of P. ovoidea dark red color over green and white flesh. It produces heavy crops that Okolo matures late in September store well. The tree i.s hardy and and is 2 inche�in diameter, and ob vigorous with no blight present. tuse pyriform with long stem. The flesh is clear white, firm, and juicy R. K. Ussuri-P. sinensis with fair to poor quality. The tree is Imported from Russia as seed very hardy and productive. No about 1920, it matures in early Sep blight has been observed on this tember. The fruit' is small and of variety. poor quality. The tree is hardy and may have some value as root stocks Russian Sand Pear-P. sinensis or forest planting. This was obtained from Arnold Uma-Pedigree unknown Arboretum of Boston. Fruit ma No fruit has been observed to tures late in August, is rn inches in date. The tree is hardy and blight diameter, yellow, nearly round, and free with an upright growth habit. has many stone cells. It is a heavy Yermark-Seckel x P. ussuriensis producer of poor quality fruit. The ( from east Siberia) tree is very winter hardy with an It matures late in September, is 1 open growth habit. Seedling from inch in diameter, and has fair to this are vigorous and have been good quality. No fire blight has used here as root stocks with sue- been observed. 32 South Dakota Experitnent Station Bulletin 471 sandcherry as one parent. Perhaps Sandcherries the best known are the Sapa and Opata. Prunus besseyi, or sandcherry, is Another possible use is as a root native to the Great Plains area, es stock for other stone fruits. Tests pecialy the western part. Native show it has a dwarfing influence on apricot and plum and is congenial plants seldom exceed 3 feet in with both. The only peach tested on height and have a spread about the sandcherry roots was an orna equal to height. They survive under mental peach and this was congen extremes of cold, high summer ial. As a "laboratory plant," its temperature, and drought. Under small size makes it well suited for more humid conditions foliage dis greenhouse studies. eases are troublesome. The original Stone fruit virus diseases have not stock used in the improvement reduced its vigor or productiveness. work was collected from North and To what extent it may be resistant South Dakota, Northwestern Min is not known. However, it has sur nesota, Manitoba, and Saskatche vived and grown well in a planting wan, about 1900. The plan of work where plums were killed by virus was to plant open pollinated seed diseases. from plants selected for quality Selections fruit. Records are not clear as to the Amber exact number of generations from Amber is the earliest to ripen which selections have been made (July 26). This variety was named but the best estimate is from 18 to because of the color of the fruit. 20. Since yields generally do not exceed 5 or 6 pounds of fruit per Sandcherry plant-small but plant, vegetative propagation is not productive. practical. Sexual propagation was planned as a way to avoid this cost. Seed from all the 12 selections that are maintained will produce plants similar to the parent plant in fruit and plant characteristics.

Uses of the Sandcherry The fruit from these selected sandcherries has considerable merit for areas where other fruit cannot be grown well. Perhaps its greatest value is as a parent for hybridizing with other stone fruits. More than 25 hybrids have been released from the South Dakota Station with the Evaluation and Description of Domestic and Introduced Fruit Plants 33 When well mature, the fruit is tive plants. The seeds are of me greenish-yellow and �4 inch in diam dium size and separate easily from eter. The flavor is very mild and the flesh. The plant has an upright pleasant to taste. The skin is very growth habit with medium vigor. tender and harvested fruit does not Seedlings from this variety give a keep well enough to permit han high percentage with red flesh. dling. The quality of cooked fruit Wampum is good but lacks the color of other varieties. The seeds are large but This is an early maturing variety separate easily from the flesh. This ( August 1) . It has produced heavy variety is a vigorous growing plant crops almost every year. The fruit with a spreading growth habit. color is reddish-green changing to Foliage and fruit are frequently .se a dull reddish-purple when fully verely damaged by disease unless mature. Its fruit is 14 inch in diame protected with a fungicide. Seed ter, with flesh green. The plant is lings from this variety have been an upright grower and larger than quite similar to the parent plant in most varieties. fruit characteristics. 38-291 Similar to Wampum, it is 4 to 5 Teepee days later in maturing. The plant is This variety was a seedling from smaller with a spreading growth Sioux, introduced in 1937. Since habit. Pits are of average size. that date it has been maintained as a vegetatively propagated plant and CP-64 has not had as many generations of This selection matures its fruit at mass selection as have some other a medium early season. The fruit is selections. The fruit matures two large, ;� inch in diameter, quality is days later than Amber, is nearly good, flesh is green, and skin is a black when mature, and is �� inch in purplish black color. Plants are of diameter. The quality is fair and it average size and vigor. is a high yielding plant with good Oahe vigor. The pits are of medium size. Oahe is a mid-season maturing The fruit is inclined to drop if left variety ( August 6). The fruit is to mature. small u� inch in diameter) ' quality Ruby good, flesh green, skin black. The very small pits of this variety are This variety ripens two days after perhaps the most outstanding char Amber or about August 1 at Brook acteristic it has. The plant is small ings. It differs from other selections with a low, almost prostrate growth in that the flesh is red. The skin habit. color is a dark purple to black when fully mature. The fruit is �4 inch in CP-128 diameter with a minimum of the This mid-season selection is typi astringency associated with the na- cal of most sandcherries with green 34 South Dakota Experiment Station Bulletin 471 flesh and black skin and with plant som time have been the most com growth habits typical of most sand mon cause of crop failure. In addi cherries. The fruit is semi-freestone tion to great winter hardiness, these which was the basis for its selection. apricots have shown a great toler ance to drought and high tempera Checkpa ture. This is the latest variety to ma ture its fruit. The fruit is medium The apricots of this collection small, green flesh with black skin. were obtained in 1924 from North Its lateness in maturing was the rea Manchuria, East Siberia, and North son for its selection. China. There is a very distinct dif Selections 42-225, 42-226, and ference between the Manchurian CP-158 are carried in the collection and Siberian apricot as represented because of quality of fruit. No out in this collection. From printed re standing plant characteristics have ports and personal conversation, the been observed. following information was collected All of these selections are a great concerning these introductions. improvement o v e r the native The Manchurian apricot is native plants. Since the sandcherry was to the region between Harbin and one of the parents used extensively the Amur river. This is the north ernmost part of China where mini in the hybridization work at this ° station many years ago, it would mum winter temperatures of 50 seem that these improved selections below zero are common. Seeds · might be better parental material from the largest fruit available than those used earlier. were collected by Hansen and many of the trees from these seeds are still maintained. Tvvelve of these seedlings were named in 1936 and Apricots are described in South Dakota Commercially grown apricots, Agricultural Experiment Station like peaches, do not survive the Bulletin No. 309. Of these, perhaps winters at Brookings. However, the Manchu and Ninguta are the larg apricots maintained in this collec e:,t and best. tion have never shown winter injury Attempts to cross these Man to the vegetative part of the plant. churian apricots with pollen of Like all apricots, they blossom in standard varieties have given dis early season, before the leaves open. appointing results. To what extent A continuous search for a late flow the reciprocal cross would take has ering selection has not been success not been determined. Open polli ful to date. Apparent injury to nated seed from these have resulted dormant fruit buds has frequenlty in vigorous seedlings that are pro occurred when a period of warm ductive, but with no improvement weather in mid or late winter has i.n fruit over the parent plant. They been experienced. This condition grow to a height of 20 feet with and unfavorable weather at blos- spreading habit and have orna- Evaluation and Description of Domestic ,md Introduced Fruit Plants 35 mental value, especially when in The Siberian apricot has shown blossom. The foliage frequently winter hardiness equal to that of shows fall coloring but drops early. the Manchurian apricot. It could Seedlings have been used as root be classed as a large shrub or small stocks but make a weak union with tree as it grows to a height of 10 to plum. No propagating has been 12 feet. The small fruit is not edible done with the peach. It would and is almond-like in some respects. therefore appear that the Man churian apricot offers limited pos Seedlings show considerable uni sibilities as a fruit plant or for formity, being small plants and with breeding purposes. fruit much the same as the parent The Siberian apricot was intro tree. Because of the low spreading duced the same year a.s the Man growth habit, and early pink flow churian. Plants were brought from ers, this plant has considerable pos the Great Kingan Mountains of sibility as an ornamental lawn tree. Northwest Manchuria. A selection The Siberian apricots cross with from this introduction was named standard apricot varieties and may Mendo Siberian apricot. From Shil be the source of hardy, high quality ka, East Siberia, another collection apricots. The one plant maintained was made and a selection was in the collection is a seedling from named Shilka. It is not possible to the original introductions. This tell from which of these two intro should perhaps suggest a root stock ductions the present plant came. for peaches and apricots. Summary

The first fruit plantings made in different characteristics. In as far the Great Plains Area proved the as possible, the exact place of origin need for varieties adapted to cli is given. matic conditions. Experiment sta This preliminary report attempts tion workers observed the need for to evaluate in as much detail as pos greater winter hardiness and start ed looking for such material to use sible what value this fruit collection in a breeding program. At the South may have. Attempts to determine Dakota Agriculture Experiment the value of plant material for Station, N. E. Hansen assembled breeding stock are based on opin much plant material which he ions. This report describes the found growing in Siberia, Russia, characteristics of the plants to the and North China. This he intro extent they have been observed. duced over a period of nearly 50 Plant and fruit characteristics are years and used much of it in breed reported, d is e a s e susceptibility ing work. At his retirement, as much noted as well as any special feature of this material as possible was re observed. Any special uses and propagated and planted as an or characteristics, such as root stock, chard at one location. Also, some dwarfing habit, date of flowering, native material which had proven and other special features noted hardy was included. It consists of have been recorded. This evalua apples, crabapples, pears, apricots, tion was designed to aid in a more and sandchenies. thorough evaluation by those who Most of these fruit plants came may have a specific need for such from areas not presently available plants in an improvement program. to plant collectors. The countries In order that a better understand from which they came have great ing may be had of these fruit plants, variations in climatic conditions. weather data are presented for the Therefore, plants collected from period when these plants v.rere different locations may possess quite growing ( tables 4, 5, and 6).

36 Evaluation and Description of Domestic and Introduced Fruit Plants 37 ° Table 4. Dates for Occurrence of 32 F. or Lower at Brookings Year Last Spring First Fall Days Between 1942 ------May 15 September 24 132 1943 ------May 27 September 20 116 1944 ------May 6 October 8 155 1945 ------May 17 September 29 135 1946 ------May 16 September 29 136 1947 ------______May 29 September 22 116 1948 ------May 6 October 9 156 1949 ------______May 24 September 1 100 1950 ------May 10 October 3 146 1951 ------May 11 September 22 134 1952 ------May 29 September 19 113 1953 ------______May 13 September 21 131 1954 ------May 19 September 22 126 1955 ------May 10 September 11 124 1956 ______May 4 September 6 125 1957 ------May 11 September 13 125 Average May 17-September 21 ______127 days

Table 5. Temperature at Brookings from 1931 to 1952 Month 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Maxi- mum 61 58 85 88 106 105 109 106 102 90 76 68 Mini- mum -32 -38 -23 4 18 33 42 34 19 6 -16 -25 Mean Maxi- 1num 24.4 28.7 39.9 57.2 70.3 79.7 87.0 84.4 75.4 63.0 42.1 28.7 Mean Minimum 3.9 7.3 19.9 33.5 45.3 55.4 60.5 58.4 48.3 36.4 21.3 10.4 Mean 14.1 18.0 29.9 45.4 57.9 67.6 73.8 71.4 61.9 49.7 31.7 19.6 38 South Dakota Experiment Station Bulletin 471 Table 6. Precipitation by Months at Brookings 1942-57 Year Total 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1942 24.32 .02 .010 2.36 1.69 7.78 4.88 3.02 .78 2.96 .42 .14 .17 1943 26.29 .76 .61 1.07 .57 1.99 6.02 3.70 6. 10 1.43 3.15 .89 T 1944 28.65 I.OS .72 .66 2.04 6.46 4.34 3.32 6.81 1.36 .40 1.47 .02 1945 21.62 .34 .89 .81 1.48 3. 19 5.64 2.49 2.06 2.21 .45 .75 1.31 1946 28.84 .08 .62 2.32 .81 2.22 7.09 2. 13 .52 7.30 4.53 .97 .25 1947 20.39 .40 .15 .86 3.39 1.22 4.80 .73 1.12 3.27 1.72 2.40 .33 1948 18.57 .01 1.16 .21 1.79 2.06 4.72 3.43 2.43 .63 1.55 .56 .02 1949 16.88 .51 T 1.43 .41 2.28 2.82 2.04 1.07 2.90 1.69 1.02 .71 1950 17.70 .28 .12 1.47 1.63 4.99 1.42 3.13 .98 2.71 .46 .3 1 1951 27.60 .25 .59 1.79 1.46 3.35 4.96 2.27 8.29 1.68 1.31 .28 1.37 1952 17.05 1.44 .62 .62 1.37 1.91 4.46 2.21 3.25 .94 .07 .16 1953 26.74 .46 1.40 1.14 3.51 3.58 6.40 3.24 3.85 .28 .79 1.16 .93 1954 17.20 .06 .60 1.63 1.21 2.66 3.28 .57 2.08 3.35 1.51 .10 .15 1955 15.38 .16 .53 .14 2.88 .95 3.02 1.33 4.47 .79 .14 .18 .79 1956 21.48 .27 .17 .70 1.22 2.74 4.06 6.03 3.77 .40 1.21 .72 .19 1957 17.19 .06 .38 .35 1.11 4.52 4.00 .97 1.90 1.35 1.21 1.07 .27 Long Time Mean20.23 .42 .45 .73 2.08 2.97 3.88 2.58 2.58 2.07 1.37 .63 .47 Literature Cited

1. BAILEY, L. H., Plant Breeding, p. 4. MAGNESS, J. R., Apple Varieties 133. Macmillan Co. 1895. and Important Production Sec tions of U. S., U.S.D.A. Farmers 2. GIDEON, PETER M., Minnesota Bulletin No. 1883, p. 13. 1941. Horticulture Society Report. Jan 5. SHAY, J. R., Plant Disease Report uary 1887. er, Vol. 35:433-34. Oct. 15, 1951. 3. HANSEN, N. E., Plant Introduc 6. VAN DEMAN, H. E., Report on the tion. South Dakota Agricultural Adaptation of Russian and Other Experiment Station Bulletin No. Fruits. U.S.D.A. Division of Po 224. 1927. mology. Bulletin No. 2 1888.