DOMESTIC NOTICES. 



have ever seen of the kind, and I am free to ad- 

 mit them a very, very choice apple, and a good 

 keeper. The " Northern Spy" I have found to 

 bear me out in all that has been said in its favor, 

 and I am sure a better, or more choice barrel of 

 fruit, has never been sent to Europe, than one of 

 that kind which I packed the past week to send 

 there, which Dr. Lindley, Mr. Rivers, and 

 all the nurserymen in and about London, are to 

 have the privilege of tasting. 



Of their keeping qualities, let me tell you. 

 I put my '• Spys" as late in the fall as possible, 

 and vei-y soon after they are gathered, into a cel- 

 lar, kept cool by having a pane of glass taken 

 out of the window, (which remains out all win- 

 ter,) and place them on wooden frames, about 

 12 inches from the bottom of the cellar, (the 

 bottom a ground one,) and there let them stand 

 till the first of March. If well selected, the 

 fruit will open sound, and well colored, with a 

 fragrance equalling anything of the fruit kind. 

 About this time they commence ripening, and 

 if pains are taken to head up the barrel, as the 

 fruit is taken out for use, so that the air is ex- 

 cluded, they will keep till June. This is my 

 plan, founded upon experience. 



Many of the trees grafted are producing the 

 " Northern Spys," and all I have seen thus far, 

 have been choice ; and persons growing them 

 hesitate not to charge a dollar per bushel, and 

 get it too. 



Trusting you may get the fruit safe, I remain 

 truly, James H. "Watts. Rochester, March 

 8, 18.52. 



The apples were received in perfect order, 

 and our correspondent will please accept our 

 thanks for the beautiful pomonal display. The 

 Northern Spys, (for which Rochester is the 

 meridian,) were the handsomest specimens 

 — and very sprightly and refreshing in flavor. 

 The Canada Red, or old Nonsuch of New-Eng- 

 land, is, to our taste, one of the finest of apples 

 — really superior in flavor to the Northern Spy. 

 Its merits as a dessert fruit, have long been 

 known, but in New-England and Long-Island, 

 where it has been most cultivated, it is rather a 

 shy bearer. In Western New-York, it is, we 

 believe, quite prolific, and we certainly know 

 few apples better worth planting, in a rich, deep 

 than this variety. 



pecimens of Swaar and Spitzenbergh, 



were very handsome— but not .so high flavored 

 as the same sorts grown on the Hudson. 



Tan on Stkawberry Beds. — A. J. Down- 

 ing — Dear Sir: From what has been published 

 in the '-'Horticulturist," of the good qualities 

 of tan-bark to cover strawberry beds, I have 

 tried it on mine this winter, and now I wish to 

 ask what is done with the beds in the spring? 

 Is it necessary to remove any part of the tan, 

 as this would be a difficult job. I first gave my 

 beds a good top dressing of old compost manure, 

 and then the tan, but not so thick but what the 

 tops of the plants have always been in sight, 

 (when the snow was off".) If all the tan is left 

 on the beds, will it not prevent this year's runners 

 from taking root? Respectfully yours, T. P. 

 Waltham, Mass., March 9. 



Leave the tan on all summer, say from one 

 to two inches deep. It is only necessary that 

 the heart or crown of the plant should be ex- 

 posed when growth commences. The runners 

 will strike roots through the tan. Ed. 



Early Grape Crops. — Dear Sir: I feel grati- 

 fied that my article on the grapevine, in the 

 Horticulturist of last month, has aroused at 

 least one of your numerous subscribers. I was 

 not aware that it amounted to such paramount 

 importance as he assigns to it, and do not con- 

 sider that I have done more than hasoftenbeen 

 performed before, and that without injury af- 

 terwards, under good treatment. As to the 

 doubts and fears of Mr. Cleveland, they go 

 for what they are worth. It is well known that 

 the grapevine can be brought to healthy and 

 permanent bearing in less time than four years. 

 I sincerely hope that his invitation to grape 

 growers, generally, will meet with a hearty re- 

 sponse, for no one more than myself, wishes to 

 see this valuable boon of nature brought to its 

 greatest capabilities ; but if we are to derive any 

 really valuable information for our guidance, 

 our various operations in detail should be re- 

 corded, our success and failures alike registered, 

 so that the sure test of public opinion may pass 

 its verdict, and we may be benefitted, generally 

 and collectively. It was no self-glorification on 

 my part that caused me to give my practice as 

 in that article detailed, but a wish to encourage 

 the erection of graperies and the cultivation of 

 the grape vine, and if it will lead to further and 



