NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



241 



For the Neiv Ensland Farmer 

 SELECTION OF FRUITS. 



BY GEORGE JAQUES. 



I noticed in the last number (if the weekly Farmer 

 a half-dozen quince-rooted and a half-dozen near 

 rooted pears recommended for general cultivation. 

 Considering that this recommendation was based 

 upon "the authority of two or three of the most dis- 

 tinguished horticulturists of New England," I was 

 surprised to find the Passe Colmar inserted in the 

 first list, and the Bartlett omitted in the second. 

 For myself, I should hardly venture to recommend 

 the Passe Colmar in a list of less than twelve or 

 fifteen varieties on quince ; and as for tbe Bart- 

 lett, I should not venture to omit it in the smallest 

 number of standard (or pear-rooted) trees. How- 

 ever, I will not find fault without attempting to 

 furnish a substitute, and so I submit to your and 

 your readers' criticism my two lists of six pears 

 for each mode of cultivation. 



PEARS ON QUINCE. 



NAME. TIME OF 1UPENING. 



1. Beurre d'Amalis September. 



2. Louise Bonne tie .Jersey Sept. and Oct. 



3. Urbaniste Oct. to Nov. 



4. Duchesse d'Angouleme November. 



5. lieurre Diel Nov. and Dec. 



6. Glout Morcenu Dec. and Jan. 



"Were I to increase the number to nine, I would 

 add Golden Beurre of Bilboa, (Sept.;) St. Michael, 

 (Oct.;) Vicar ofWinkfield, (Nov. and Dec.,) &c 



PEARS ON PEAR-ROOTS. 



NAME. TIME OF RIPKMNG. 



1. Rnsteizer Aug and Sept. 



2. Bart lei t September (early.) 



3. Flemish Beauty September (late.) 



4. Seckel October. 



5. Dix Oct. and Nov. 



6. Beurre d'Aremberg Dec. and Jan. 



Extending the list, I would add, — 



7. Madeleine August. 



8. Andrews September. 



9. Belle Lucrative September. 



10. Louise Bonne de Jersey Sept. and Oct. 



11. Urbaniste Oct and Nov. 



12. Winter Nelis Dec. and Jan. 



Adding still farther such as promise remarkably 

 well, 1 would name, — 



13. Paradise d'Autonme Sept. and Oct. 



14. Swan's Orange, or Onondaga Oct. and Nov. 



15. Beurre Langlier Dec. and Jan. 



There are a great number of other pears of much 

 excellence ; but, as the Frenchman affirmed, "too 

 many is no better than enough," and therefore I 

 will not at present extend the list. 



Of the pears above recommended, the trees grow 

 vigorously, and are hardy an™ productive. The 

 fruits are of the finest dessert varieties, and ripen 

 successively, so as to afford an almost constant 

 supply through the year. From my own experi- 

 ence, however, I find it much easier to recommend 

 what are excellent than what are the most excel- 

 lent of pears or other fruits. 



Now I am writing, I will remark, that being re- 

 stricted so as to be permitted to have but six ap- 

 ple trees, each of a different dessert variety, — 

 growth, productiveness, home and market value of 

 fruit, &c, all taken into account, I would choose 

 as at present advised, — 



NAME. TIME OF RIPENING. 



1. Porter Sept. and Oct. 



2. Gravenstein October. 



3. Hubbardston Nonsuch Nov. to Feb. 



4. R. I. Greening Nov. to March. 



5. Baldwin Dec. to March. 



6. Roxbury Russet March to June. 



The best four sweetings, perhaps, are, — 



1. Large Early l!(. ugh August. 



2. .lersev Sweeting Sept. and Oct. 



3. Danvers Winter Nov. to April. 



4. Ladies' Swelling Jan. to May. 



Nos. 2 and 4, however, have as yet been hardly 

 sufficiently tested in our climate. The number of 

 first-rate varieties of sweetings still continues to be 

 quite small. 



The best three cherries are those recommended 

 by Col. Wilder : — May Duke, (early;) Black Tar- 

 tarean, (a little later;) Downer's Late, (a little 

 later still.) 



The best half-dozen plums are none at all, at 

 least in this vicinity. 



The best advice, in all fruit matters, is one's 

 own observation and experience. 



Truly yours, g. j. 



Worcester, April 12, 1852. 



Remarks. — "Who shall decide when doctors 

 disagree?" Of ourselves, we have no great con- 

 fidence in selecting choice fruits, and are always 

 glad to defer to others whose experience has been 

 very extensive, and whose skill can scarcely be 

 doubted. But fruits vary materially on different 

 soils and in different locations; so that good judges, 

 even, come to different opinions in regard to the 

 same fruit. At a late agricultural meeting at the 

 State House when the subject of discussion was 

 fruits and fruit trees, Col. Wilder and Mr. French, 

 both recommended the Rhode Island Greening, and 

 now our esteemed correspondent includes it in his 

 list. Now if we were about to recommend a list of 

 choice apples, this fruit would not find a place in it, 

 for the reason that with ourself, and in our vicinity, 

 it is almost worthless ; running to a dense and 

 beautiful foliage, and when bearing dropping its 

 fruit prematurely. But in other locations it is an 

 excellent and profitable variety. We thank our 

 correspondent for this timely contribution to our 

 columns, and improve the earliest moment to give 

 his opinions publicity. 



Preserving Hams. — While writing, and as it is 

 the season of the year for securing smoked ham, 

 or other meat, from the flies and bugs during the 

 summer, I will give my plan for the same. After 

 having the hams properly smoked I pack them 

 down in coarse rock salt in a box, or cask of suit- 

 able size, covering everything well with the salt ; 

 they keep clean, cool and dry, and most perfectly 

 secure from insects of every kind. The same salt 

 is not injured and answers for pork in the fall, so 

 that no loss is sustained. I have tried many ex- 

 periments heretofore in keeping hams ; but my 

 present method is decidedly the best and the least 

 trouble. Respectfully yours, &c, 



A. Y. Moore. 

 — Michigan Fanner. 



The Spindle City and Middlesex Farmer, pub- 

 lished at Lowell, Mass., has an Agricultural De- 

 partment conducted by Mr. L. H. Hildreth. It 

 has well-written editorials and wdll help the good 

 cause in Old Middlesex. 



