THE GENESEE FAEMEE. 



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together, make an interesting volume — one that would show that the wives and daugh- 

 ters of American farmers are behind none others in their appreciation of the beautiful in 

 nature, and moreover possess a degree of intelligence surpassing that of the same class 

 in any other country. These letters have surprized us, and give us great hopes for the 

 future of American horticulture. 



FRUIT CULTURE IN INDIANA. 



We take the following pomological items from a friendly and familiar letter received 

 from a correspondent at Versailles, Indiana. The experience of observing, practical men, 

 gleaned in this way, is valuable ; and we beg our friends in other quarters, who desire 

 to promote the interests of pomology, to favor us in the same way. We omit the name 

 of our correspondent, as the letter appears not to be intended for the public. 



I have been trying for some years to establish an orchard of first rate fruit, but find it a more difS- 

 ciilt task than I had expected. I consulted the works of Kenrick and Downing, and have been much 

 disappointed in many of the varieties recommended by them. For example : Prince's Harvest is a 

 good a]>ple, but so unproductive as to render the trees mere cumberers of the ground. Jied Astrachan 

 has nothing to recommeiid it but good looks. The same may be said of the Summer Queen. Summer 

 Pcarmain of Cox is a good apple, but with me as yet has proved a shy bearer. Porter is a good 

 bearer on yoimg trees, but has too much acid. We have an apple liere ripening at the same time 

 with the Porter, which is far better ; we call it the Wine apple. It is red, and first rate in every 

 way. Does your Pomme Royal, or Dyer, ripen in advance of the Porter 'i (1) If it does, I would 

 like to get some grafts. The best early apple which I have tested, is the Carolina June. (2) I have 

 not seen it noticed in the eastern catalogues, nor do I think it has ever been exhibited at Cincinnati. 

 It is a red apple, conical in form, very handsome, a great and constant bearer, and comes into bearing 

 very eai'ly. It ripens nearly at the same time as Prince's Harvest. I sent some grafts of this to your- 

 self and partner, by mail, a few winters since, and hope you will soon test its merits in your locality. 

 I believe yoxi were from home at the time. 



I have tested many varieties of winter apples, and find but few which I consider first rate. These 

 are — Oolden Russet, Prior's Red, White Belljlower, Newtown Pippin, and Rawles Janet, or Genneting. 

 I am planting Norton's Melon and Northern Spy, but have never seen the fruit of either variety. I 

 hope to prove the Spy in a year or two. 



The best pears which I have tested are Julienne, Dearborn' s Seedling, Bartletf, SecJcel, Washington, 

 and White Doyenne. This last is the best of all. I have never seen what I would call a good winter 

 pear. Tlie Passe Colmar is the best; but it ha-s a great fault — namely, dropping most of its fruit 

 before gathering time. Have you ever seen the Lawrence ; and if so, what do you think of it ? 



My orchard stands on high ground ; surface rolling ; subsoil stiff yellow clay, retentive of moisture, 

 and based on blue limestone. Will such a state of things suit the Northern Spyl (3) It does not suit 

 the Baldwin ; it takes dry rot in specks ; but I have raised it sound and fine, after manuring with 

 lime and ashes. 



(1) It begins to ripen earlier, but continues nearly as long in use. 



(2) We have seen specimens of this variety grown at Kalamazoo, Mich., and believe 

 it valuable, especially for the west. It resembles the Summer Queen — a little more 

 conical, and deeper red. 



(3) We cannot answer this, as we do not remember to have seen it grown on such soil. 



Horticultural Society of PrrrsBURO. — ^The following gentlemen are elected officers of this Society 

 for the ensuing year: Johk Chislett, President; John Murdoch, Jr., Vice President; A. Hersperger, 

 Treasurer ; Henry Woods, Secretary ; A- Campbell, A. B. McQuewan, James Windkop, John Lowen, 

 C. L. GoEURiNG, Chas. Lockhart, T. J. BiGHAM, James Murdock, James McKain, W. H. Williams, W. 

 P. Marshall, and S. N. Wickersham, Executive Ccommittee. 



Horticultural Soctety of the Valley of the Genesee. — The officers of this Society for the present 

 year are as follows : P. Barey, of Rochester, President Mathew G. Warner, of Rochester ; John 

 i. Thomas, of Macedon ; Henry P. Norton, of Brockport ; R. G. Pardee, of Palmyra ; and John Don- 

 nellan, of Greece ; Vice Presidents. Leander Wetherell, of Rochester, Corresponding Secretary. 

 Joseph A. Eastman, of Rochester, Recording Secretary. James H. Watts, of Rochester, Treasurer. 



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