242 JVolcs and Gleanings. 



The Fairy Apple. — We do not often notice the new varieties of apples 

 which we find mentioned in our foreign exchanges, for it is only with very rare 

 exceptions that European apples prove suited to our climate. The present va- 

 riety, however, we think, will prove valuable for the gardens of amateurs, and for 

 the same uses which have made the Lady Apple so popular. We have no doubt, 

 also, that it will be hardy and highly prized in those northern climates where 

 ordinary apples do not succeed, and reliance is placed on the improved Crabs. 



We wish we could give our readers the charming colored engi-aving of this 

 fruit. In form it is represented as more conical than the Lady Apple, and the 

 yellow ground color of the skin is much more brilliant. The foliage shows a 

 decided resemblance to that of the Siberian Crab. The description, from the 

 Florist and Pomologist, is as follows : — 



" Notwithstanding the efforts which the late Mr. Thomas Andrew Knight 

 made to cross existing varieties of the cultivated apple with the Siberian Crab, 

 they all failed to produce a result which has been of any real benefit. Mr. 

 Knight's object in thus crossing these individuals was, as he states, ' to obtain 

 such fruits as vegetate very early in spring by introducing the farina of the Sibe- 

 rian Crab into the blossom of a rich and early apple, and by transferring, in the 

 same manner, the farina of the apple to the blossom of the Siberian Crab.' At 

 the time Mr. Knight wrote this, the trees so produced had ngt yet borne fruit ; 

 but he observes, ' The leaf and habit of many of the plants that I have thus 

 obtained possess much of the character of the apple, whilst they vegetate as 

 early in the spring as the apple of Siberia, and appear to possess an equal power 

 of bearing cold.' But what was the result of these carefully performed experi- 

 ments ? From this crossing we got the Siberian Bittersweet, which, Mr. Knight 

 himself says, ' is wholly worthless, except for the press,' that is, for cider making. 

 Then the Siberian Harvey has a juice so 'intensely sweet,' that it, too, can only 

 be used, mixed with other apples, for cider. Both of these were raised from the 

 fruit of the Siberian Crab fertilized with the Golden Harvey, one of our best 

 dessert apples. Another, called Foxley, was also raised from the Siberian Crab ; 

 but the male parent was the famed Golden Pippin. Yet the Foxley is a worth- 

 less little apple, not so large as some gooseberries, and fit only for cider. 



" It is interesting to watch these struggles between philosophy and nature. 

 Philosophy says, ' I will,' and Nature replies, ' You won't.' But when left to her- 

 self. Nature fashions an object without the philosopher's aid, excelhng in merit 

 all that he had dreamed of. Here we have such an instance in the little Fairy 

 Apple. This, too, was raised from the fruit of the Siberian Crab, but without 

 any human aid. What is its parentage, and how it was produced, no one knows ; 

 but there it is, a haphazard foundling, destined and worthy to take its place among 

 the worthiest of its kind. 



"Whether for its beauty or its excellence as a dessert fruit, the Fairy Apple 

 cannot fail to become popular and valuable. In color, size, and form it rivals the 

 Pomme d'Api, or Lady Apple, so much vaunted, and which makes the fruiterers' 

 windows and our desserts gay during the dreary months of winter. For this 

 purpose, the Fairy will command the attention of all growers of dessert fruit in 

 large establishments, and for commercial purposes ; for not only does it com- 



