DOWN ON RUSSETS. 209 



was told at the time by some one that it was not a good time 

 to trim, and so I took particular notice to see whether there 

 were any injurious effects. As far as I have observed, they 

 have yielded as well as any trees I have seen. 



There are a good many reasons why we should trim earlier 

 than June. If you undertake to trim in the middle of June, 

 your grass is coming to maturity, and the wood you cut off 

 will trouble your mowing-machine. As far as time is con- 

 cerned, no farmer can do it better than at the time I have 

 suggested. The sap is just starting, and the wound begins 

 to heal over soon. 



In regard to the varieties of apples, I think my opinion and 

 that of jNIr. Ordway are a little different in regard to the 

 Northern Spy. My judgment is, that a bushel of Northern 

 Spies is worth more than a bushel of any other apple that 

 grows. I think they are the most splendid flavor of any 

 apple I ever tasted. I set out only two trees, with some 

 others, in my little orchard, not knowing anything about 

 them, but they have done very well, and are doing very well 

 now, for trees of their size and age. 



Another thing I want to say : I repudiate the whole family 

 of Ilussets, from beginning to end. I would not give a 

 picayune for all the Russets in New England. Talk about 

 your "Hunt's Russet," and your "Black Russet"! A man 

 set out some trees he called the "Black Russet," a number of 

 years ago, and he never has had a bushel of apples from 

 them since they were set out. 



Mr. . Last year, I had nearly a barrel of Hunt's 



Russets, which were the handsomest and best apples I ever 

 2)ut into my cellar. I had them this year as late as August. 

 They were full flavored, and some of the best fruit I ever ate 

 at that season of the year. I would rather have one of those 

 trees than any Northern Spy I ever saw. 



Mr. Ordway. I cannot let this matter of pruning go by 

 without saying a little more. I say that any man who applies 

 anything to a tree where a limb is cut off, if it adheres to the 

 tree so that the sap shall not flow, it must kill the tree to stop 

 it. For instance, I have grafted as many trees, prol)ably, as 

 any man, and I have had great experience in that matter. I 

 have used what they call wax in grafting. I say no man can 



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