farmer's miscellany. 303 



Letter IX. 



Albany, October 2, 1845. 

 My Dear Friend — You know very well, that in our intercourse 

 with our friends, we sometimes misunderstand them even on sub- 

 jecs devoid of all intricacy. At any rate, it so happened with me in 

 my visit last summer to my venerable friend David Thomas. T will 

 therefore devote one letter to the correction of one or two statements 

 which I then made to you ; and at the same time take the oppor- 

 tunity to state a few more particulars in regard to the rearing of 

 fruit trees, which I have just obtained from tlie same high authority. 



First, in regard to Dearborn's seedling (see page 84, vol. 2, No. 

 1), I make my friend to say that it is the very best of pears. It 

 appears, however, that he gives preference to the virgalieur. I 

 ought probably to have said that Dearborn's seedling was one of the 

 best summer pears. 



Again (p. 84), in regard to the common locust. This grows well 

 on calcareous soils, if not injured by the horer : it is the Robinia 

 hispida wliich declines and perishes. 



With these corrections, my friend gives me the following addi- 

 tional facts, which are undoubtedly the result of much experience 

 and extensive observation. No tree appears to be more benefitted 

 by animal manures, than the peach tree. We may often observe this 

 when it grows near a barnyard, so as to reach the manure ; that 

 the growth is greater, the leaves greener, and the fruit larger, than 

 when it stands on sterile ground ; and even as a general rule, fruit 

 of the same variety is flavored in proportion to its size : the larger, 

 the finer. Urine may be very advantageously applied to this tree, 

 especially while it is small, as well as to young apple trees. It not 

 only hastens their growth, but, by its offensive odor, repels the 

 borer from the lalter, and the peach-worm {ALgeria) from the for- 

 mer. A small tree will bear a pint once a fortnight, and perhaps more 

 and oftener ; for I have never injured any of my trees by this ap- 

 plication, and consequently have not ascertained the amount wiiich 

 may be used upon them : certainly large trees will bear much more. 



Having given you the above important corrections and additions 

 of my friend, I close by observing that the village formerly called 

 Union-springs, is now more frequently and more properly called 

 Springport, and that Aurora is only the name of a village in the 

 town of Ledyard. I remain yours, &c. 



