20 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan. 



Dr. Fisher. The Rhode Island Greening on my land 

 does very well indeed. Most people in this region do not 

 succeed with it ; I do not know why. 



Question. About its popularity in the market? 



Dr. Fisher. It is an apple that never is popular until it 

 is known, and after it is known it is more popular than the 

 Baldwin. The Rhode Island Greening is not so Avell appre- 

 ciated in Boston as it is in New York. It will always bring 

 in New York fifty cents a barrel more than in Boston ; I do 

 not know why, but it is the ftict. When apples were first 

 exported to England, the green varieties brought very low 

 prices ; but they are beginning to appreciate the Rhode 

 Island Greening there now, and they Avill pay almost as 

 much for it as for a red variety. For retailing, a red apple 

 is much better than a green one ; but for cooking purposes 

 the Rhode Island Greening is far ahead of the Baldwin. 



QuESTiox. How about the Gravenstein ? 



Dr. Fisher. The Gravenstein is a very fine apple indeed. 

 It is one of the best apples for exportation. Nova Scotia 

 has found that out. They are growing enormous quantities 

 of Gravensteins there. 



Question. How about the profit, compared with the 

 Baldwin ? 



Dr. Fisher. There is one great objection to the Graven- 

 stein. It is an apple that does not ripen all at once, and 

 therefore you must pick two or three times in order to get 

 the best results. I have known people who mulched the 

 ground underneath their trees, and allowed their apples to 

 drop ; but that, of course, spoiled half of them. 



Question. The Northern Spy, doctor? 



Dr. Fisher. It is a very fine apple, and brings high 

 prices, but I think it costs a good deal of money to get it. 

 The trees are late in bearing, and it must be handled very 

 tenderly or it does not keep until the time of the year when 

 it is valuable. 



Question. Is it best to trim pear trees? Does not 

 mulching tend to bring the roots nearer to the surface, so 

 that a drought will aftect them more, and also attract mice? 



Dr. Fisher. After pear trees have arrived at the bear- 

 ing age there should be very little trimming done. As long 



