TRANSACTIONS OF THE STATE AG. SOCIETY. 



than seventy acres, and is rapidly increasing — 'Whether the Orange Pear controversy has 

 had any agency in this matter I cannot say. 



Mr. A. and myself are pretty uniform in our opinion, as regards fruit for cultivation, 

 (the Orange Pear always excepted.) For our main stock of winter apples, we have the 

 Baldwin, Northern Spy, and Roxbury Russet. For autumn, the Porter, Fall Pippin and 

 Fameuse. For early, Early Harvest, Williams' Favorite, and large Sweet Bough. Beside 

 these, we cultivate quite a number of other sorts sparingly. Pears, also, comparatively 

 but few varieties, to wit: Bartlett, Seckel, Bloodgood, Madaleine, Tj'son, Louise Bonne 

 de Jersey, White Doyenne, Stevens' Genesee, Duchess d' Angouleme, Beurre Diel, Glout 

 Morceau, Winter Nells, Beurre Easter, &c. 



I hope to be able to grow the peach successfully. " Peach Haven" has a northern ex- 

 posure; the forests adjoining break off the cold westerly winds. For the main crop, I have 

 Crawford's Early; more of this than any other variety. Early York, Honest John, Royal 

 George, Grosse Mignone, Late Red Rareripe, Crawford's Late, &c. We had a few sam- 

 ples of peaches last year, that looked about right. Mr. Allen had a fine sprinkling of 

 apples on his trees last autumn; more beautiful fruit I never saw. The Porter and North- 

 ern Spy Apples were truly fine. We have no fears in regard to growing the Northern 

 Spy on the Island. Our Boston folks say that it does not succeed well there. Well, then 

 we will lay them under contribution to us — for it is truly the apple for the spring of the 

 year, and they cannot afford to do without it. 



We have had one of the most extraordinary cold winters ever known here, during a re- 

 sidence of over forty j'ears. I am quite certain that I never passed through one more se- 

 vere; and yet the peach buds are but partially killed. The Cedar of Lebanon and the 

 Cedar Deodar, are but little injured; and even the Osase Orange has merely suffered a lit- 

 tle in the top branches. We have had continuous cold weather, and most of the time 

 cloudy. It is the freezing and thawing, accompanied by the rays of a bright sun, that 

 proves so destructive to tender trees and plants. Yours very truly, B. Hodge. 



Buffalo, March, 1852. 



Transactions op The New-York State Agricultural Society, ivith an abstract 



of the Proceedings of the County Agricultural Societies. Vol. X. 1851. 

 The annual volume of Transactions of the New-York State Agricultural Society lies be- 

 fore us, a goodly octavo of over 700 pages. We find it more than usually filled with inte- 

 resting facts, valuable reports, and able speeches, on the topics that belong to the culture of 

 the soil. 



First of all, in importance and completeness, we place Mr. Delafield's, (the late Pre- 

 sident,) " general view and Agricultural Survey of the County of Seneca." We do not 

 remember to have seen any where, in the annals of American husbandry, so perspicuous, 

 comprehensive, and valuable a report, embracing all that relates to the local history, ge 

 ography, scientific facts, and practical agriculture of a district of country, as this survey 

 of Mr. Delafield's. Though intended to apply directly to only a small portion of the 

 broad farm-lands of the State of New-York, a good part of it may be read with the great- 

 est advantage by every intelligent farmer in the northern states. Mr. Delafield is a 

 ical farmer himself, in our best farming district, and it needs but a little such leaven 



such minds are made of, to create a new moving spirit in the hitherto inert and cold 



