State Agricultural Society. 321 



gorgeously arrayed Astrachan still lower in our estimation. The early 

 strawberry is in every way excellent, but ripening late. For cooking, 

 during the months of June and July, the Dutch Codlin holds its sway. 

 Fall Pippin, Holland Pippin, Gravenstein, Lyscom, Maiden's Blush, Rox- 

 bury Russett, do well until late in Autumn. Rhode Island Greening, 

 Baldwin,. Swaar, Newtown Pippin, Spitzenberg, and White Winter Pear- 

 main, will fill the list for Winter. Apples keep well all Winter, piled 

 under the trees and sheltered from rain and sun. 



A choice selection of pears would be covered by Bloodgood, Bartlett, 

 Washington, Seekel, Winter Nelis, Flemish Beauty. Duchesse and 

 Easter Beurae attain great size, but they are not favorites with the pub- 

 lic. Belle Lucrative, Louise Bonne de Jersey, Beurre d'Anjou, Stevens' 

 Genesee, Doyenne, are a drug in the market. Glout Morceau and Vicar 

 are worthless. Experiments in progress with seedling pears are full of 

 interest, and sustain the hope that some of our best varieties can be 

 revivified as seedlings, thus producing a new generation to propagate 

 from. By selecting a variety with large, full seeds, and hybridizing — 

 artificially or by chance — the seedlings thus raised will at once equal, 

 and possibly may excel in some desirable qualities, the parental stock on 

 either side. This will hold good with all other varieties of fruit. 



The peach is the most hardy tree grown here; will survive the worst 

 ill-usage, and repay it without diminution of fruit. All it requires is 

 close pruning, shortening in, and chopping down of the worn-out 

 branches, to sprout from the ground with renewed vigor, and bear an- 

 other series of superior crops. In wet years the curl prevails, and re- 

 cently a white fungus attacks the fruit, in blotches, and the ends of the 

 shoots. 



A few nectarines are raised, the fruit being inferior in flavor to the 

 peach. 



Apricots — the Large Early and the Peach are favorites, and bear pro- 

 fusely, but are often cut short by Spring frosts. Peach stock preferred. 



Plums bear abundantly, and, so far, no curculio has appeared. All 

 varieties do best on peach stocks*. 



Quinces produce regular crops. The largest fruit is grown on the 

 Portugal, attaining the weight of over two pounds. The tree is subject 

 to the black knot. 



Cherry trees are very tender; the least bruise of the stem starts the 

 exuding sap, and decay follows. To shade the stem, any way most con- 

 venient or practicable, will be found beneficial. A cement of clay and 

 ashes plastered over the stem and thicker branches appears to answer 

 well. Black varieties are preferred here. There are two varieties 

 brought out here under the name of Royal Ann. One is a black, supe- 

 rior to the Black Tartarian; the other a white. 



The fig fairly luxuriates under our bright skies. Furnished with 

 sufficient moisture,' it produces enormous crops. 



Pomegranates thrive well. 



The olive is, as yet, little appreciated. Grown easily from cuttings, 

 requiring hardly any pruning, attaining the age of several centuries, and 

 bearing regular crops of olives, as highly prized in the green state as for 

 oil — it will be, by the next generation, more extensively utilized. 



Almonds, walnuts, pecans, and chestnuts, the most valuable of nut- 

 bearing trees, come into bearing at an early age; the Japan chestnut 

 fruiting the second year from graft. 



41_(agri) 



