SELECT FRUITS FOR THE NORTH. 



409 



ton. For more than forty years his atten- 

 tion has been largely directed to the collec- 

 tion and testing of hardy orchard fruits on 

 the Penobscot river. His letter is very 

 brief, and relates chiefly to the apple. We 

 give it nearly entire : 



" This climate will not permit us to grow 

 southern fruits; but we can supply all sea- 

 sons easily with good apples, as well as 

 many of the best pears, plums, gooseberries 

 and currants. There is no doubt, also, that 

 more experience will enable us to cultivate 

 successfully many fine cherries, grapes, 

 peaches, etc. 



" I shall, however, confine myself at the 

 present moment, to apples; as I consider 

 them, for Maine, worth all the other fruits. 

 You inquire, 'if restricted to three varieties, 

 which would I select ? ' I answer — 



" Williams^ Favorite, Ribston Pippin, 

 and Roxhury Russet. But as the limit is 

 almost too small, even for a very small col- 

 lection, I should wish to add the Porter and 

 the Gravenstein, to keep up the succession 

 and afford a constant supply. These five I 

 would recommend as the smallest collection 

 to be planted on our Penobscot river. If 

 six were desired, I would add to the list the 

 Early, or Sweet Bough. For twelve varie- 

 ties, I would say — 



Early Harvest, Maiden's Blush, 



Williams' Favorite, Gravenstein, 



Sops of Wine, ['Bel's^ Garden Sweet, 



Early,' as known here.] Ribston Pippin, 



Sweet Bough, Johnan Sweeting, 



Porter, Roxbury Russet. 

 Golden (or Or.) Sweet, 



" This will furnish a supply through the 

 whole season ; and as they have been tho- 

 roughly proved here, their merits can be 

 depended on. There are many new varie- 

 ties not yet fully proved, which may, pro- 

 bably, excel some of the above. 



" The proportion of sweet apples in an 

 orchard of one hundred trees, depends on 

 Vol. II. 52 



the location and intentions of the grower. 

 Some men would plant fifty, others only 

 five. When deprived of a good market, 

 and when it is desirable to fatten stock with 

 this fruit, I would recommend a large pro- 

 portion of sweet apples." 



The following interesting notes, in reply 

 to the circular, are from a very intelligent 

 cultivator of our acquaintance, Mr. S. L. 

 GooDALE, Saco, Maine: 



" 1 would recommend the following, as 

 the best apples for Maine culture : 



" Best Three. Williams' Favorite, (sum- 

 mer,) Graceyistein, (autumn,) Baldwin, win- 

 ter.) 



"If the Baldwin can be grafted on healthy 

 grown trees it does well; but young trees 

 from the nursery are tender. 



'* For the best six, add to the above, 

 Rhode-Isla7id Greeni?ig, Ydloio Bellflowery 

 and Ribston Pippin. 



" My selection of twelve, would be com- 

 posed as follows : 



Ribston Pippin, 

 Fameuse, 

 Yellow Bell/lower, 

 Baldwin, 



Danvers' Winter Sweet, 

 Rhode-Island Greening, Roxbury Russet. 



" For the best three pears — Dearborn's 

 Seedling, (simimer,) Flemish Beauty, (au- 

 tumn,) Vicar oj Winkfield, (winter.) 



" For the six best — add Fulto?i, Gushing 

 and Belle Lucrative. 



"For the twelve best — add Frederick of 

 Wurtemhurg, Dix, Heathcot, McLaughlin, 

 Golden Beurre of Bilboa, and Beurre Bosc; 

 and for cooking only. Black Pear of Wor- 

 cester. 



"Plums — best three — Jefferson, Princess 

 Imperial Gage, Purple Gage. 



"For the best six — add Washington, Di- 

 aprie Rouge and Coe's Golden Drop. 



"For the best twelve — add Green Gage, 



Early Bough, 

 William's Favorite, 

 Porter, 

 Gravenstein, 

 Golden Sweet, 



