58 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



we selected about one hundred of the most thrifty, stocky, 

 broad-leaved trees, the most of which were removed to the 

 field for an orchard, the others remained in the nursery, — all 

 to remain ungrafted until they bore fruit. In due time they 

 all produced fruit. What was the result ? There was not a 

 Baldwin, nor any one like a Baldwin ; but all were greatly 

 inferior to the various varieties that we now have. From 

 the above experiment, and as nearly all the young trees that 

 are transplanted are budded or grafted before bearing, how 

 can we procure new varieties of superior fruit ? From the 

 aforesaid history of the Baldwin apples, and the knowledge 

 that we liave of their being disseminated over the communi- 

 ty, we think they must have remained in obscurity for many 

 years, with their great value concealed from public view. 



Is it not possible that there may be a tree in some retired 

 place equal to the Baldwin, or to what the Roxbury Russet 

 formerly was, which a large premium would bring to public 

 notice ? Or may it not be possible that a superior quality of 

 late-keeping winter apples may be found in our markets, 

 which a large premium would lead some one to trace to 

 their origin, and, if worthy, procure grafts therefrom ? 



There are many enemies of the apple to contend with, 

 which we think are worse than those above named. We 

 mean the insects in the tree and in the apple. They are not, 

 in some respects, unlike some of the human species. They 

 work in the dark, and cannot be effectually met. The can- 

 ker-worm and caterpillar can, with care and labor, be de- 

 stroyed. But what can we do with the borer ? One says. 

 Dig him out : another says. We wash the trees, and destroy 

 the eggs. This may be 'done, to some extent, in small 

 orchards of young trees; but to destroy them in large 

 orchards of large trees is much easier said than done. We 

 believe the borer is doing much more damage in our orchards 

 than is generally supposed. He not only perforates the 

 body of the tree, but the branches also, which causes prema- 

 ture decay. 



There are now many difficulties to contend with that did 

 not formerly exist. The canker-worm and caterpillar existed 

 then as now. The canker-worm ravaged the orchards in the 

 latter part of the last century, and was killed by a late frost, 

 and the apples were also killed at the same time ; and it was 



