104 Remarks on the Northern Spy Apple. 



with which these experiments have been detailed will in- 

 duce all who may have rare seeds placed in their hands to test 

 their vegetative powers. Has our correspondent tried the boiling 

 process on rose seeds, which often require a long period to 

 vegetate, especially if not sown as soon as gathered? We 

 might name other kinds which are found difficult to make 

 grow : but the hints here given are sufficient to induce all lov- 

 ers of plants to institute experiments. — Ed. 



Art. III. Additional Remarks on the Northern Spy Apple. 

 By J. H. Watts, Esq., Rochester, N. Y. 



Amongst the strange things of the day, I find a very strong 

 prejudice existing against the endeavors to introduce tlie North- 

 ern Spy apple ; — not that it is not a superior fruit, but that the 

 tree is not a fruitful bearer. Now in a country where fruit 

 is so abundant of other kinds, suppose our Spy trees are not 

 as prolific, does that militate against them entirely '? Surely 

 not • and, as I have interested myself much in favor of the 

 fruit, and not so much in the tree, I think it my duty to give 

 you the particulars. You will find them in the copy of a letter 

 which has been furnished me, and which I transcribe for 

 your use : — 



"Mr. Oliver C. Chapin, of East Bloomfield, N. Y., says, 

 under date of the 20th January, 1847, — that the first North- 

 ern Spy apple trees were raised from seeds brought from the 

 Northwest part of Connecticut, about the year 1800, by Eli- 

 jah Taylor. The original tree was set in an orchard by He- 

 man Chapin, and some sprouts from it were taken up by 

 Roswell Humphrey, and by him the fruit was first raised — 

 (an honor, by the way, equal and more so than that he had 

 commanded — large armies) — as the original tree died before 

 bearing." "I believe there are nine of the trees first set out 

 by Humphrey now living, and they are rather larger than the 

 other trees in the orchard will average, of the same age, and 

 treated in all respects the same." "The trees have a hand- 

 some, upright top, are tolerably thrifty, and no indications of 



