30 



GENESEE FARMER. 



Feb. 1845 



NORTHERN SPY. 



The above figure represents this superior native 

 apple. It originated in the town of East Eioomficld, 

 in the orchard of the late Oliver Chapin. 



It was but little known until two or three 

 years ago, when a number of young trees, suckers 

 from the original tree, came into bearing, and the 

 fruit was carried to the Rochester mai-ket, where it 

 attracted general attention. It is now esteemed the 

 best winter or keeping variety known — better than 

 the Swaar or Spitzenburg. It commands the high- 

 est price in the market ; we'have seen them sold in 

 the spiing for 8l 50 per bushel ; and last fall, those 

 that we knew to be sold brought $2 25 per barrel ; 

 while $1 was the usual price of ordinary fruit. We 

 have seen specimens produced on eld, stunted trees, 

 that were small and quite deficient in color and fla- 

 vor. Young trees, or those that have been care- 

 fully pruned, produce abundant crops, and the fruit is 

 of large size and extremely beautiful. The tree is a 

 rapid, upright, and handsome grower ; wood dark 

 brown, covered with gi ay-colored spccLs or dots, ve- 

 ry ea.-ily distinguished from any other. Fneit some- 

 what conical, sometimes slightly ribbed ; the speci- 

 men figured measures 12 inches in circumference. 

 Stalk about 3-4ths of an inch, set in a broad, deep 

 cavity. Eye doej)ly sot in a broad deep basin. Co- 

 lor pale green in the shade, dark rod on the sunny 

 side ; those fully exposed to the sun, arc entirely 

 covered with a fine deep red. Flesh yetiovvish 

 white, tender, juicy, and high-flavored, with a pecu- 

 liar musky perfume. In use from November till 

 May. This, like all other popular fruits, is cuioUer- 

 feited by the men and boys who sell apples around 

 the streets, and on the corners ; every apple they 

 can find, that in any way resembles the "Northern 

 S|v. ," is so called by them. We have, during the 

 I.!i;..cnt winter, seen several distinct varieties sold 

 by tliem under this name. 



How TO Eat an Ap- 

 ple Mechanic ally, 

 s c i e n t i fically, and 

 G K N T E E L Y. — Pare it 

 neatly and carefully, 

 making an entire ribbon 

 of the skin ; then placing 

 the middle finger of the 

 left hand upon the stem, 

 and the thumb upon the 

 blossom end, with your 

 fruit-knife commence 

 cutting a slice from the 

 top to near the centre, 

 and so on, in succession, 

 leaving the core standing 

 as a column or shaft, 

 upon which it revolves 

 until it is demolii^hed. 



It is a cleanly, deli- 

 cate, and systematic 

 operation, which com- 

 mends it to all persona 

 who are fond of that 

 wholesome and valuable 

 fruit. 



POMUS. 



THE APPLE CULTURE. 



The culture of the apple is of much greater im- 

 portance to the farmer than is generally considered. 

 We know that an orchard has grown to be a matter 

 considered as of almost absolute necessity ; but it is 

 the carelessness with which it is generally planted 

 and cultivated, that warrants the remark we com- 

 naenced with. In growing wheat, corn, potatoes, or 

 any other field product, the farmer very rationally 

 procures such varieties and bestows such culture as 

 will, considering their adaptability to his soil and 

 other circumstances, yield him the most liberal re- 

 turn for his expenditures. These considerations are 

 equally important in relation to the orchard. Your 

 land is occupied with it — ^j'our trees, and planting 

 them, cost something — j'our labor is required to pick, 

 preserve, and carry your fruit to market, if you sell 

 them ; and these, altogether, constitute a consider- 

 able item. Hence appears the necessity of exerci- 

 sing as much care in selecting suitable varieties of 

 fruit as of grain, and of bestowing on them a pro- 

 portionate degree of attention, both in planting and 

 after-culture, in order to insure their health and 

 fruitfulness, and make the investment one of profit 

 instead of Iohs. We know many excellent farmers, 

 whose fields show that they are cultivated by a care- 

 ful and skillful hand, but whose orchard is in a state 

 of absolute neglect. This arises from an incorrect 

 estimate of orchard products. It can be easily 

 shown, that an orchard of choice, well-selected ap- 

 ples, ripening in regular succession, properly culti- 

 vated and attended to, will yield as 'great pro fitsas 

 any other ]>roduct. Our soil and climate are admi- 

 rably adapted to the perfect growth and development 

 of this fruit — proved by experience. An acre of 

 land may contain 150 trees. These, in five or six 

 years, will produce at least five bushels per tree, if 



