This standard Eastern Pennsylvania variety is universally popular, and through the Western States it marks the progress of emigration from the Keystone State, though its admirers are not confined to that class of our population. It is a fall and early winter fruit, and some pomologists on the southern borders of its culture object to it that it will not keep long, and that it soon becomes dry and mealy when put away. When grown further north it is smaller, but more solid, and remains juicy until spring. It should be gathered early, even before it is well colored, and kept cool to make it retain its flavor and juiciness. Tree upright, very thrifty, very productive; shoots dark, foliage large, light green, and thus the variety may easily be distinguished in the orchard. Not very hardy; whole nurseries and orchards were destroyed, in 1856, throughout the Northwest. Fruit medium to small, when crowded upon the limbs as they generally are upon old trees, regular, oblate, or roundish-oblate, but sometimes unequal when overgrown; large specimens are flattened at the ends so as to appear truncate; Surface striped and splashed scarlet on greenish-yellow, in some the stripes coalesce so as to make the skin red, the ground color being covered; Dots numerous, small, prominent, rich bloom. Basin wide, abrupt, regular or plaited, sometimes quite shallow; Eye small, closed. Cavity wide, regular, always green; Stem medium. Core regular, closed, meeting and clasping the eye; seeds numerous, large, angular; Flesh greenish-white, tender, breaking, granular, juicy; Flavor sub-acid, aromatic, vinous; Quality almost first rate for table, excellent for the kitchen; Season October to December, and if gathered early in the North, until spring. =Red Astrachan.= [Illustration: Fig. 109.--RED ASTRACHAN.] This Russian fruit has been perfectly adopted by our countrymen, and has proved itself a great favorite, particularly in the North, by its hardiness and productiveness, beauty and good qualities. Tree vigorous, upright, productive, hardy; Shoots reddish brown, foliage large, rich green. Fruit medium to large, regular, oblate; Surface smooth, mottled, marbled and striped crimson on greenish-yellow; Dots minute, heavy bloom. Basin medium, regular; Eye small, closed. Cavity shallow, regular; Stem long, yellow. Core regular, closed; Seeds angular, small, dark; Flesh yellow, breaking, juicy; Flavor quite acid, not rich; Quality first rate for market and cooking, poor for table; Season July. =Richard's Graft.= RED SPITZENBERG--STRAWBERRY--WINE. [Illustration: Fig. 110.--RICHARD'S GRAFT.] Supposed to have originated in Ulster County, New York. Tree vigorous, upright, very productive. Fruit medium to large, regular, oblate; Surface smooth, greenish-yellow, mixed and splashed red; Dots numerous, white. Basin medium, abrupt, folded; Eye small, closed. Cavity wide, regular; Stem long, red.