may, by-and-by, prove fatal to the hopes of consideration. In the September issue of the many a new beginner in tree planting. When we look over the Reports of various Horticultural and Pomological Societies, also individual and catalogue lists of those recommended for general culture, we find very few of the old favorites "left out in the cold," and the conclusion would be, that after all our terrible experience of 1856, we still can trust the favorite lists of New York and Ohio in the changeable climate of the Northwest. But we reason differently; what has been may be. During the twelve years previous to 1856, we saw the favorite Greening, Swaar, Baldwin, &c., as well as apricots and quinces, peaches by the hundreds of bushels, and many beautiful shrubs now discarded, all apparently at home in Wisconsin; but what followed we need not repeat. Tree planters were seized with excessive fear, followed by excessive caution, which has now been replaced with a just confidence, which we hope never to see relapse into a reckless run after every fancy picture and worthless assurance of the "farfetched" tree agent. FARMER, one nurseryman, through a second person, recommends, among others, the C. Red June, K. Codlin, Fall Wine, and White Winter Pearmain,-names we we would not place in the hardy list, and which should be recommended with a caution or proviso attached; and the same of Maiden's Blush. The Corresponding Editor, in same number, "fully endorses" the list of pears of a Massachusetts Horticultural Society, containing the Bartlett, Louise Bonne de Jersey, Duchesse and others of doubtful utility-varieties which do not possess that hardy constitution which adapts them to general culture in the Northwest Especially the last two named varieties we pronounce comparatively worthless in Wisconsin. True, isolated cases occur in which many of these discarded varieties fill the highest hopes with a crop of luscious fruit, but the tens of thousands invested in them yield only the seven hundred per cent. discount, from a blight equalled only by that of rebeldom. Professional fruit growers, do not lower the The object of the tree planter is, first, food; standard! But while we propagate in our then money;-to which may be added occasion-nurseries every good variety of fruit practially the amateur's desire for show. cal, yet we should remember the public at large want but few of them for general planting, and that few of the "every time sure" LAKE SIDE NURSERIES, MADISON, WIS. But for home use or market, what is wanted is, almost universally, those varieties that are first sure, then good; and as these two quali-class. ties certainly can be conbined in a list of 20 or more varieties, new and old, of apples, and half as many of pears, we would repeat the word of caution to every nurseryman and tree planter in the Northwest. J. C. PLUMB. [From an address before the Fruit-Growers' Soc. of Wost. ern N. Y., by H. T. BROOKS Esq., President. Geology, an acknowledged chronological authority, informs us that the order Rosace, to which the apple belongs, is a little older than man. As if conscious of the coming of her lord, the earth blossomed with unwonted flowers, and strewed his future home with golden fruit. Confusion of names has led many an honest fruit grower to recommend tender varieties as "good and hardy." And a prolific source of this wrong nomenclature is the wholesale importation of good looking hardy trees of passable fruit, mislabelled with all the dear old Whether apples early became prominent as fruit of Egypt (New England). But wide-food we do not know, but there seems reason awake tree planters will look out for this old place they prove so fit to fill. to suppose they should at once assume the "hand" every time. The tendency to enlarge the list of "hardy" varieties, or those recommended for general culture is, we fear, indulged in without due Solomon among inspired, and Homer among profane writers, 1000 B. C., mention the apple. Joel speaks of the apple tree 200 years later. Some Biblical critics assume that since the apples of Sodom are known as indifferent wood, lay down under the shade of a wild apple tree." In 1175, Pope Alexander III confirmed to the Monastery of Winchombe "lands, orchards, meadows," &c. The fruiterer's bill of Edward I, in 1292, mentions the Poma Costard," which was grown so extensively that the retailers of it were called Costard mongers. The Costard is now rarely found in England, but the Winter Pearmain, that has a still earlier record, being cultivated in Norfolk in the year 1200! is still extensively fruit, the glowing descriptions of the sacred writers would better suit the citron, quince, etc., than the apple. Whoever will take the pains to observe the apple tree in blossom or bearing, must admit that its beauty and fragrance fully answer the description of the Sacred Volume. I can, perhaps, enlighten the pomology of these critics, by informing them that the present condition of the apples of Palestine is a very poor index of what they were 3,000 years ago-all vegetable products improve or deteriorate by good or bad man-grown and highly esteemed. (See Bloomfield's agement. History of Norfolk). The Pippin, the Romet, "And God saw everything that he had made the Pommeroyale, and Marigold, are very earand behold it was very good." Such, doubt-ly spoken of. In a note-book, kept in 1580 to less, were the apples of Adam's time, but the nomadic character of succeeding generations would insure the general deterioration of fruit; yet, in exceptional cases, very good apples may have reached Solomon's day. If the wise man's apples were "crabs," when he says, "Comfort me with apples, for I am sick of love," we must admit he was driven to desperate expedients. 1583, "the Appell out of Essex. Letherool, Russet Appell, Lounden Peppen, Pearmeane, Grenlinge, Bellabone," etc., are mentioned. The "Husbandman's Fruitful Orchard," published in London in 1897, enumerates Pippins, Pearmains, John Apples, Winter Russetings, and Leathercoats. John Parkinson, who wrote in 1629, was the first English author who gave anything like Beyond all doubt, the Crab or Wilding was a satisfactory account of Early English apthe prevailing type for several centuries anples. He enumerates fifty-nine varieties, with terior and subsequent to the Christian era. twenty sorts of Sweetings, and none good." At the bottom of the Swiss lakes have been Either he was very sourly disposed, or the best found the remains of a people so ancient as to sweet flavors were very coy and slow to come have no metallic instruments-older than out, discriminating very unmercifully against Rome-but among their stores was an entire the ancients and in favor of us. Rea, 1665, black and shrivelled crab apple. The ancient mentions 20 varieties, 16 of which were not Germans, Tacitus informs us, satisfied their mentioned by Parkinson, from which we conhunger with wild apples (Agrestia poma), clude that the popularity of some sorts was of among other things. The word for appies, in short duration, as is the case in our day. several languages, traced to its root, signifies Meager, 1670, gives 83, and Worlidge, 1676, fruit in general; but as this fruit has appro-gives 92 varieties. From this period there priated the generic term, it has proved its antiquity, universality and importance. Herodotus, Theophrastus and Virgil speak of the apple. Pliny treats it largely, and says that the Crabs or Wildings "have many a foul word and shrewd curse given them on account of their sour harshness." He mentions seyeral improved varieties introduced by Cestine, Manlius, Claudius, and others. Grafting was introduced previous to this time. Columella, who wrote before Piiny, describes several methods, and Virgil, born 70 B. C., says, (as translated by my friend, Prof. Morse, of Wyoming), "And we oftentimes see the branches of one tree inserted in another without injury, the apple ingrafted upon the pear," etc. Christ, also, alludes to grafting. The Api or Lady's apple is believed to be the Appiana, and by some the Petesia of Pliny. The dark ages was a dark time for apples, but it is known that Agriculture and Horticulture were kept alive by religious establishments, endowed with lands by princely patrons Cultivated apples doubtless owe much to their fostering care. The ancient Celts knew the apple, calling it Abhail, Aval, Avel, in different dialects. In 973, King Edgar, "while hunting in a were sorts enough, the world knows, Coxe, in 1816, enumerates 133 varieties; Downing 182; Hogg's British Pomology' enumerates 942, and yet our "New American Encyclopedia" takes the trouble to tell us there are over 200 varieties. It is well known that apples were introducod to this country from England by the first settlers. "The Governor and Company of the Massachusetts Bay in New England" introduced apple seeds in 1628. Governor Winthrop was granted Governor's Island, in Boston Harbor, April 8, 1682, on the condition that he should plant thereon a vineyard or orchard-I suppose he planted it. Orchards were planted near Pawtucket, R. 1., 1636, and at Hartford, Conn., 1645. Mr. Henry Coleman says, "An apple tree growing in Kingston, Plymouth county, and planted 1669, the year of King Phillip's War, bore, in 1888, thirty bushels of good fruit." Pretty well for a tree 169 years old-it was a " High-Top Sweeting," a favorite apple with the Colonists. The apple, like the pear, is tenacious of life; our best varieties, with their owner's permission, will last from filty to eighty years, and some hardy and vigorous trees have reached at least two hundred years of age. There was recently standing in Prince the apple, with pride points to its Melon and George county, Maryland, a Codling tree sent Northern Spy, while the Early Harvest and there by Lord Baltimore over a century ago. Rambo own to an American origin. The PriThe interest that our fathers took in fruit is mate I cannot trace Coxe does not mention further witnessed by the liberal premium of it in 1819; Downing records it in 1845. The £10 awarded in 1768, by the Society for Pro-King of Tompkins County, born in the Jermoting Arts, etc., to Thomas Young, of Oys-seys, is an apple eminently fit to be eaten.ter Bay, for the largest nursery of apples- Hubbardson Nonsuch, of Hubbardson, Mass., the number being 27,123. The famous apples and Jonathan, of Kingston, N. Y., are not unof the 17th century were the Pearmains, Cod-known to fame. lings, Catsheads, and Red Streaks-the Gold- The Pippins are as numerous as our celeen Pippin, a small yellow apple of very fine brated family of Smiths, and seem to glory in flavor, though well known at that time, reserv- being citizens of the world. I find enumeraed its popularity for a later period. Miller, ted in "British Pomology" 128 distinct Pipin 1724, records among others the following pins. apples that are well known now, Juneating, Summer Pearmain, Sops of Wine, Gilliflower, Flower of Kent, Go No Further, which, being interpreted, means "I am as good as you can get." Our own Newtown Pippin, of world-wide repute, dates back to the same period. The original tree was a seedling which grew near a swamp in Newtown, Long Island, about 1700, on the estate of Gershom Moore, and the fruit was called the Gershom Moore Pippin for a long time. The tree lasted over a hundred years, and finally died from excessive cutting, it having been much resorted to for scions to graft with. The Baldwin, New England's favorite apple, originated in Wilmington, near Boston, more than a century ago, (if it started last year, I | don't believe the Yankees would like it so excessively well); it grew on the farm of Mr. Butters, in the part of the town called Somerville, and was known as the Woodpecker's apple, (the woodpeckers having perforated the tree), being disseminated by Col. Baldwin & Sons, it was called Baldwin apple. It is too late to ask, "What's in a name?" Judas Iscariot has copyists enough, but no namesakes. The poorest child, even in South Carolina, would sooner go without a name than take Benedict Arnold. And yet, every Paul is not a saint, nor every Jefferson a patriot. Apples sometimes take their patron's name, and if the apple be only a good one, that name bids fair for immortality. I would sooner trust the Roxbury Russet than any granite obelisk from New England quarries. If great names would make apples, what may we not expect from Gloria Mundi, the glory of the world; Nonpareil, unequalled; Sine Qua Non, indispensable; to say nothing of the Kings and Queens. Among the efficient friends of the apple, beside the old writers alluded to, I will mention Mr. Knight, President of the London Horticultural Society, who assiduously labored to correct the nomenclature and arouse an interest in the apple itself. The Society over which he presided, as well as our own American Pomological Society, now under the able presidency of Marshall P. Wilder, of Mass., have done and are doing a work for which the world should thank them. Mr. Robert ThompThe Spitzenburg and Swaar grew up on the son, of England, Mr. A. J. Downing, of AmerHudson, under Dutch patronage. We have ica, Diel and Van Mons, of Germany, and a borrowed some choice flavors from our neigh-host of others, have done a work beyond all bors on the other side of this beautiful Ontario-the Fameuse, St. Lawrence, Red Canada and Pomme Grise. One of our old varieties, the R. I. Greening, telis its own birthplace and color. It deserves its high reputation. praise. The apple, famous for its many uses, was early found to make a pleasant drink. The The Red Astrachan, that helps when we ancient Hebrews made a drink from apples as want help, having learned, like the Arctic well as from other fruits. The ancient Rocorn, to grow quick, and the Duchess of Old-mans knew all about it; the African fathers enburg, ice-bound Russia sends us greeting. Tertullian and Augustine took time to menScientific Germany, rich in treasures of tion it, if nothing more; while the ancient thought, makes us her everlasting debtor for Britons, like our own Yankee fathers, patronthe Gravenstein; while France, in the warmthized it liberally. Hogg says that there was of old friendship sent her Reinettes, Nonpareils and Pomme d'Ors. Italy, with her Api or Lady Apple, weds the present to the past; and old Spain and her monks watch for mankind, through the world's eclipse the Pomological treasures of the East. Britain, our fatherland, sent us all she had; and we return again more than we received. Our own neighborhood, the favored home of a large cider manufactory as far north as Richmond, in Yorkshire, in the early part of the 13th century. The "Husbandman's Fruitful Orchard, 1597, says: "I have seene in the pastures and hedgerows about the grounds of a worshipfull gentleman, dwelling two miles from Hereford, called M. Roger Bednome, so many trees of all sorts that the servants drink for the most part no other drink but that which is made of apples. The quantitie is such, that by the report of the gentleman himselfe, the parson hath for tithe many hogsheads of sydir." In conclusion, I will only say that the apple, in my opinion, outweighs in value all other fruits together. It may not equal the exquisite flavor of the grape or pear; but as the every day food of the million, I believe it will yet rival the potato itself. Its best varieties in nutritive value equal the potato pound for pound, and can be produced at one-sixth the The Britons, I judge, belonged to the "hard oider" party, for we read of a kind "not to be drank till two or three years old." They made a famous drink, called Lambs-wool, by putting the pulp of roasted apples into ale-cost of the potato. My friend, Mr. J. J. Thomvictuals and drink, I should say. The zeal of our Puritan fathers in the cider business is quite remarkable; the cider-mill early became one of the established institutions of New England, and other sections were not far behind The specific gravity of the juice varies with different apples. The famous English cider apple, Red Streak, gives a specific gravity of 10.79, and other varieties are as high as 10.85 and 10.91-these latter may be considered pretty strong cider. Favorite cider has been sold in New York for $10 a barrel, and I venture to say that good cider is better than poor wine. The fla as, of Macedon, who generally honors us with his presence at these meetings, estimates, in Patent Office Report for 1850, the cost of producing apples at two and a half cents a bushel. Before seeing his estimate, I had calculated it at from three to four cents, good varieties; they are, therefore, the cheapest of all food for man, and, excepting grass, for beasts. Hardy and less exacting than other fruits, adapted to a wider range of soil and climate, more regular and more abundant in yield, they are God's best gift to man, next to woman. The Steal of the Paper Makers. vor of the cider to a great extent comes from MECHANICAL AND COMMERCIAL. the skin; small apples, as having proportionately more skin, make the best cider. If we use cider at all, we will do well to study the best modes of making it, and select the best apples for the purpose; they must be mature, without decay, and must be made up when the warm weather is over, so as not to occasion excessive fermentation; and be sure and put it in sweet barrels. If we would have good fruit, good culture is indispensable. It is a matter of extreme regret that the mass of our citizens are so neglectful of what, by general consent, makes the best return for labor and capital employed. Fruit trees need manure, and the right kind of manure. Well rotted barnyard manure, lime, ashes, charcoal and muck, are the leading fertilizers. It was one of the grounds of the declaration of our independence as a nation, in 1776, that the British government persisted in compelling the purchase of none but stamped paper. But how much worse was that than the present abominable tax upon paper which the great reading and writing public are obliged to pay to-day in the form of two prices for every sheet of paper they use? There is no scarcity of material-the price of rags being two to four cents per pound, according to quality-and yet the exhorbitant Columella treats of stirring the soil among fruit trees, and it is known that the Romans had tools similar in character to ours, includ-prices are kept up. There is no way to account ing the spade, rakes, hoes or weeding-hooks, for it except by the assumption that there is the marra, a hoe-mattock, etc.-and we know they used them sometimes, for Pliny informs a league of paper-makers, to the end that they us that the success of one cultivator, C. Furi- may make themselves rich without waiting us Cresinus, was so great that he was accused for those slow and tedious accumulations by before the Senate of practising magic, and justified himself by the exhibition of his tools, which the great body of business men and laexclaiming, "these are the implements of boring people make themselves comfortable magic which I use; but I cannot show you the and independent after years of faithful effort. cares, the toils, and the anxious thoughts that occupy me day and night." (See Loudon, p.24.) This secret of promoting growth and productiveness by stirring the soil, so singularly divulged before the Roman Senate, eighteen hundred years ago, would seem to be a secret now, so far as the owners of many fruit orchards are concerned. But while we stir the soil, let us not destroy the roots by reckless plowing and spading. Before the war, such paper as this on which the FARMER is printed could have been bought for about $7 per ream. For the past two years we have paid $14 to $18. We are paying $14 now, and without much prospect of early relief from so great a burden of expense. The natural way in which an evil like this should be corrected would be by the establish- of three years corresponding with the date of ment of new factories by honest capitalists, our last returns, August 5th: or by men interested in a reduction of price. But this requires time and large means, and with all the contingencies of sudden fall and unfair competition, is so much of a risk that but few have been disposed to venture it. It is not more factories of this sort that we want; there are probably enough already to supply the large demand. We want simply decent honesty on the part of manufacturers already in the business. For this we shall probably have to wait some time. There is no law against rascally combinations of this sort, except the law of common honesty and simple justice, which the robbers of these corrupt times seem but little disposed to regard. The Pennsylvania Iron Business. The iron districts are said to have made good progress within the past year, under the stimulus of a constant demand for iron at remunerative prices. The following is a condensed exhibit of this branch of industry for the year 1862: Furnaces in blast in Lebanon Valley. Furnaces in blist in Schuylkill district..... 6 30,000 175,918 50,000 Several extensive rolling mills have been added to those already existing. Amount of iron rolled in Pennsylvania during the year, about 280,000 tons. Value, $15,000,000, or nearly $3,000,000 more than in 1860. Average price of wheat.. Rate of discount, 3 to 5 per cent, Coin and bullion........... Other deposits. Other securities.......... Reserve of notes and coin....... Government securitics.. Public deposits.. 12,360 445 10 020,418 19,079,200 5 per ct. 61. 31. 17.956,938 4 per et 8d. 455. 11d. 14.843,185 7.918.355 At cor. dates with wk end. Aug. 563, £21,084 700 £23,378.393 £22.340.809 1861 11,818 980 19.153.801 1862 1563 THE MINER. Gold Mines of Nova Scotia. 17 It is reported that the gold mines of Nova 80,000 20 Scotia, of which so much boast was made last year at the Great Exhibition, are proving themselves less valuable than had been supposed. In this we are not disappointed. They gave but little real promise then, in the estimation of competent, unbiassed judges. But then, the Exhibition afforded the zealous Scotians so good an opportunity for advertising the natural advantages of their bleak, transAtlantic province, and they could not resist the temptation to use it. |