FRUITS. 57 



Some varieties produce better fruit in some localities than 

 in others. Better Roxbury Russets are produced near the 

 seashore than in the north part of the county ; although they 

 are, in our opinion, far inferior to what they were sixty or 

 seventy years ago. The Rhode-Island Greening has greatly 

 deteriorated with us, but is said to do well in some other 

 places. The same may be said of the Hunt Russet. 



The Northern Spy is said to be a late-keeping winter 

 apple. It is a good apple, but with us not profitable to cul- 

 tivate. On some trees the apples rot ; on other trees they 

 are of inferior quality. 



In a letter received from Gen. Newhall, he says the 

 English Pearmain was brought to this country by the early 

 settlers. In his early life he set out several trees of that, 

 variety, which produced fruit for a few years ; then the fruit 

 began to decline, and became worthless. He also mentions 

 the Russet Pearmain, Codlin, Cat's-head, Redstreak, &c. ; 

 which were popular apples one hundred years ago, but are 

 now worthless. 



He further says he believes the apple-tree is no exception 

 to the law of nature in regard to every living thing, which 

 has its youth, maturity, and decline. From our own experi- 

 ence and observation we fully agree with our venerable 

 friend ; and we think the opinion he has formed from his 

 long experience should have weight. If it is a fact that 

 apples deteriorate in quantity and quality, as we think they 

 do, then it will be a great blessing to posterity if new varie- 

 ties can be procured of superior quality, particularly of late- 

 keeping winter apples, as we think we are most deficient in 

 that class of fruit. The apple-cr©p is of immense value, not 

 only as a luxury, but as a necessary healthful food ; and the 

 fruit continues fresh nearly the whole year. If a new varie- 

 ty of apples can be obtained like the Roxbury Russet of 

 seventy years ago, — the fruit large and fair, rich and juicy, 

 a prolific bearer, which would come into the market after the 

 Baldwin in late spring and early summer, — it would be 

 of great value ; so would a variety to take the place of the 

 Baldwin, should it decline as other varieties have done. 



Several years ago we sowed a small nursery, nearly all 

 from the seed of the Baldwin apple. Being desirous, if 

 possible, of procuring a new and valuable variety of fruit, 



