THE APPLE. 



Pyrus Malus, L. — Rosacea of Botanists. 



Of all fruits natural to temperate climates the apple has ever 

 had preference. The " crafte of graftynge, alterynge, and plantynge of 

 fruits," was written on by a British writer in 1502, but it had then 

 long received the attention of " wise men of the East," and had 

 arrived to all the perfection of the present day ; the art of producing 

 and propagating varieties, probably, being then as well understood 

 as now, except however, as compared to the population, by a less 

 number of -persons. A native, in its wild state, of this country and 

 of Europe, it is generally understood, that, from the variety pyrus 

 mains of Lindley, our cultivated sorts have originated. Twenty- 

 two varieties are the number first mentioned and named by Roman 

 writers ; these have increased, until now probably 2000 would not 

 include the whole number named and partially or wholly de 

 scribed. 



To the labors of Thompson, Downing, Thomas and others, as 

 well a-s of local and national Pomological Societies, we owe much 

 in aid toward winnowing from this immense number, the wheat 

 from the chaff; and yet such is the extent of our country, and the 

 habit of all our pioneer settlers to sow seeds of the best apples, 

 that we are yearly in the production of vast numbers of new seed- 

 lings, adapted mainly only to their own locality, but occasionally of 

 such excellence as to warrant their general introduction. It is 

 owing to tliis, fhat, notwithstanding pomological waiters are daily- 

 condemning, our list of esteemed varieties is constantly swelling, to 

 the almost'utter confounding of the seeker after a knowledge rela- 

 tive to " what varieties to plant." 



Orcharding in its profits pecuniary, as relating to the apple, has 

 become well understood, and no one, who has land in any way 

 suited now hesitates to plant. We have no certain data, but think 

 we do not overstate when we say, that, besides large quantities im- 

 ported from Eastern States, there are propagated and planted annually- 

 over 6,000,000 trees in the States of Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, 

 Illinois, and Wisconsin. The Western country is already pro- 

 ducing by millions of bushels, and her "orchards," so to speak, are 

 not yet planted. Such is the value placed on fruit, such the rapid 

 increase of people in cities, that no one should be at all deterred 



