150 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



with thorough cultivation, if the manure applied be but small 

 in amount. 



The art of pruning the apple tree is by no means a difficult 

 one. Begin with the tree when young ; cut out all tlie 

 branches which seem damaging or useless ; practice this annu- 

 ally, and when the tree is fully grown, it will, in most cases, 

 be what it ought to be. 



The common method of keeping apples is, to put them into 

 barrels as soon as gathered, and leave them in the orchard, 

 under the shade of trees, till quite severe frost, when they are 

 removed to the cellar. Many persons think that apples cannot 

 be kept well, if the barrels are placed in the confined air of a 

 barn, instead of being allowed to remain in the open air of the 

 orchard, in the warmer part of autumn. But Mr, Austin J. 

 Roberts of Lakeville, who has observed and experimented much 

 in keeping apples, does not follow tlie common method. All 

 the fruit is carefully picked from the tree and removed to some 

 building, spread on the floor in piles not exceeding one foot in 

 depth, and there suffered to remain and " sweat " for two or 

 three weeks, when it is picked over and placed in barrels, not 

 to be disturbed again till sold. His crop of apples, this season, 

 amounted to three hundred barrels, and all were treated in this 

 manner. 



As there is some difference in tastes, there will be a corres- 

 ponding difference in judgments as to the best kinds for gen- 

 eral cultivation. Those who cultivate for their own use only, 

 will want a variety, even if some are poor bearers. Those who 

 grow fruit for the market will, perhaps, confine themselves to 

 half a dozen kinds, all of which must be good bearers, produc- 

 ing large and fair fruit. 



Mr. Thomas 0. Jackson of Plymouth, who has had mucli 

 experience in fruit culture, has been' kind enough to furnish 

 the following list of apples, for general cultivation, which have 

 ripened well and proved of good quality with him. -His soil is 

 a heavy clay, which has been under-drained, enriched and cul- 

 tivated in the most thorough manner : — 



Sweet Bough, Red Astrachan, William's Favorite, Holden 

 Sweet, Gravenstein, Manomet Sweet, Porter, Golden Sweet, 

 Hubbardston, Golden Russet, Loring Sweet, Holmes, Baldwin, 

 R. I. Greening, Tolman Sweet, Ladies' Sweet. 



