48 



DOMESTIC NOTICES. 



A call for such a convention , to be held at Buf- 

 falo on the first of September next, has been widely 

 circulated, and a number of fruit-growers and po- 

 mologists, from the east and from the west, have 

 assured us that they would be present upon that 

 occasion. This call was made before any notice 

 had appeared elsewhere. The convention is to as- 

 semble on Friday previous to the coming off of the 

 State Fair, and Cattle Show, also to be held at 

 Buffalo. There cannot be a doubt but that a very 

 larije number will be present, and take part in the 

 deliberations of this convention, and that much good 

 will result from this convocation. 



Under these circumstances, I would beg leave to 

 suggest, that we hold but one convention this year, 

 and that the convention for next year be held in 

 New-York. What say you and friend Hancock to 

 this suggestion ? 



However, should our eastern friends determine 

 to hold a convention, as suggested, in the city of 

 New-York in the month of October, I trust that 

 western New- York, and the western country will 

 be fully represented in such convention. We have 

 much to do in this matter, and I am decidedly in 

 favor of having such convention adjourn from year 

 to year, and make it a perpetual institution. Yours, 

 very respectfully. B. Hodge. Buffalo Nursery, 

 June, 1848. 



[The pomological convention to be held at New- 

 York, has been in contemplation for some time, 

 and a plan was suggested to us by the fruit com- 

 mittee of the Mass. Hort. Society while we were 

 in Boston last April. 



We believe materials can be assembled at New- 

 York for a much more complete pomological con- 

 vention than at any other point in the country. The 

 pomological convention at Buffalo will no doubt be 

 a highly interesting one, but it is impossible, from 

 the position of Buffalo, and the comparatively re- 

 cent attention to horticulture in the west, that the 

 same amount of experience in pomology can be 

 concentrated there as in a convention near the sea- 

 board which will be mainly composed of the most 

 experienced pomologists of New-England, New- 

 York, New- Jersey and Pennsylvania. Let our wes- 

 tern friends crijstalize their experience at the Buf- 

 falo convention, and afterwards, by an able delega- 

 tion, add it to the accumulated facts which will be 

 presented at the New- York convention — Ed.] 



Raspberry Culture. — I notice, with you, as in 

 our more immediate neighborhood, there are many 

 complaints made of the uncertainty of the rasp- 

 berry crop, and of poor success with the canes. It 

 is a difficulty we have never experienced ourselves, 

 as the raspberry is by far the most certain yield of 

 any fruit cultivated by us, not excepting the grape. 

 We have tried them on all soils, and exposures, both 

 north and south sides of close fences ; but the situ- 

 ation which with us suits them best is in the open 

 ground, in a deep soil, {not necessarily very moist 

 or damp,) in rows as far apart in the rows as the 

 rows are from each other ; about the 4th of July, 

 tieing each vine to a single strong stake. We have 

 tried a trellice and bars for each row, but find they 

 do better tied singly in this way. The ground is 

 covered with a heavy coating of manure in the 



fall, which is dug in in the spring, and we tfiittfe fl 

 is a good plan to dig in along with it the trim- 

 mings of the vines. 



The pruning is performed the early part of third 

 month, after the heavy frosts are over, and consistss 

 simply in cutting out all but the preceding sum- 

 mer's wood, which is likewise shortened about i to 

 ^ of its length. We find a great secret of raising 

 fine large berries, is never to allow the vines to re- 

 main in one If cility more than 5 or ft years : every 

 3 or 4 years setting out fresh plants (suckers) in a 

 new location, to take the place of those whose time 

 is expired, being satisfied that a ' rotatiorrof crops' 

 is necessary in horticulture as well as agriculture. 



By practicing steadily on these rules, we have 

 now for 13 or 14 years never failed, I think, of a 

 fine and abundant crop of large raspberries. The 

 variety is, I think, the " red Antwerp." j} New 

 Subscriber. Philadelphia, 6th mo. 24, 1848. 



[Good advice ; and especially the necessity of 

 making the soil deep. — Ed ] 



Pomological Convention in New- York. — Re' 

 spected Friend: I have noticed, with pleasure, the 

 suggestion for a general fruit convention, to be held 

 in New- York city next autumn. Permit me, how- 

 ever, to propose an alteration in the time. VVould 

 not the 20rh to the 25th of 9th mo. (September) 

 be a decided improvement, all things being borne 

 in mind? Autumn apples would then be sufficiently 

 matured, as well as a large part of autumn pears ; 

 a large portion of the later peaches would be in 

 condition for exhibition, and the winter apples suf- 

 ficiency developed to sliow their distinctive charac- 

 ters, about as well, I should think, as a week or two 

 later. In other words, while it would afford an 

 opportunity to compare some of the late summer 

 and early autumn fruits, which ripen quickly, and 

 as quickly disappear, it would give nearly an equal 

 chance for winter fruits, which ripen more slowly, 

 and to which a week or two would be a matter of 

 less consequence. If New-Jersey and Pennsylvania 

 only were taken into consideration, perhaps the 

 proposed time need not be changed ; but as there 

 would doubtless be considerable contributions from 

 New-England and from Eastern and Western New- 

 York, I think the 25th of 9th mo. would be as late 

 as would be desirable. 



Permit ine to inquire, if the Easter Beurre is 

 undoubtedly identical with the Doyenne d'Hiver ? 

 A tree of the latter was procured by Ex-Governor 

 Throop, when he was in France a few years ago; 

 and on comparing the fruit last winter, side by side 

 with Easter Beurre, while there was no perceptible 

 difference \n flavor and quality, the Doyenne d'Hi- 

 ver was different in form from any specimens of 

 Easter Beurre I had seen, having a small distinct 

 neck or taper to the stalk, like the Glout Morceau, 

 and was very regular in shape. Very respectfully, 

 /. J. Thomas. Macedon, N. Y , 6«io. 19, 1848. 



[We understand that a conference is going on 

 between the Massachusetts and Pennsylvania Hor- 

 ticultural Societies, and the American Institute, 

 respecting the time and place of holding a great 

 Pomological Convention, which has been in con- 

 templation for some time. Both Mr. Hancock's 

 and Mr. Thomas' suggestions will, no doubt, 



