280 Farmers' Miscellany. [Oct., 



was Oct. 18th, and now, Oct. 5, 1846, we have had but a very 

 slight frost, not sufficient to kill buckwheat. There are probably 

 few portions of the United States that are more favorable to the 

 cultivation of fruit than this section. We have a great and de- 

 cided advantage over the southern and western states, wath re- 

 spect to frost, which often kills the fruit in those states. During 

 three years which I spent in the state of Alabama, frost killed the 

 peaches, so that we had no fruit two years of the three. The 

 fruit crop there was so very uncertain, that very little attention 

 was paid to its cultivation. It often happens that the warm 

 weather in February will cause the peach trees to bloom, and af- 

 terwards a cold spell in March blasts the fruit, and in large por- 

 tions of the western states the same circumstance often occurs, 

 though at a later period in the season. Through the southern 

 range of counties in this state, namely, in Allegany, Steuben, 

 Chemung, Tioga, &c., fruit is very uncertain on account of its 

 being nipped in the bud by frost, and I presume the same is true 

 throughout the mountainous region of Pennsylvania. From 

 which it will be seen that our fruit growers have little to dread 

 from competition, should they turn their attention to the raising 

 of apples for export. Here apples, pears, peaches, plums, cher- 

 ries and quinces grow in great perfection. Of apples the most 

 common grafted kinds are the greening, called by some the Rhode 

 Island greening, and said to be different by others who are ac- 

 quainted with the New England apple. With us it is an excel- 

 lent winter apple, and a good keeper, being easily preserved un- 

 til July. The Newtown pippin is cultivated by some, and here 

 ranks as a second rate apple, and hence by many it is considered 

 unworthy of cultivation. The Roxbury russet is fast coming into 

 extensive cultivation, though as yet we have but few bearing 

 grafts of this apple. The northern spy is fast coming into culti- 

 vation, and deservedly ranks among the first of our apples, both 

 for its late keeping, fair size, and agreeable flavor; it being the 

 best for eating during the month of May. The Baldwin apple 

 begins to attract attention, yet it is so rare that it is rather diffi- 

 cult to obtain grafts for insertion. The Spitzenburgs are exten- 



