VOL. XII. NO. 11. 



AND HORTICULTURAL JOURNAL 



85 



From the Detroit Journal. 

 FRUIT. 



The great celebrity which our territory sustains 

 for excellence in the quality of its cider lias not 

 resulted so much from any superior skill or care 

 in its manufacture, as from the quality of our ap- 

 ples. It is evident that the ancestors of the pres- 

 ent race of French inhabitants, when they emigra- 

 ted from Fiance, took unusual care to select the 

 best kinds of apples. Normandy has been celebra- 

 ted for apples, and those of this country are said 

 to have been imported from that province. It is 

 evident, that, whatever may have been the im- 

 provement in agriculture since the original settle- 

 ment of this country, it has not been manifested 

 by any increased care and attention to the culture 

 of fruit trees. Though the orchards in this neigh- 

 borhood have been in existence, near a century, 

 and have had little attention paid to their pruning 

 and dressing, they still maintain their superiority 

 for cider. This is conclusive evidence of the adap- 

 tation of our climate to fruit; but with the excep- 

 tion of apples, we have very few varieties. With 

 respect to cherries, we have none but the common 

 small, ted kind, and they are nearly run out ; and 

 there are very few good varieties of peaches, plums, 

 or pears. In the interior the early settlers have 

 not generally been so provident as to plant our or- 

 chards, though the approach to the country hav- 

 ing been by water, was calculated to facilitate the 

 introduction of fruit. As so desirable a luxury 

 is so easily attained, we think it almost inexcus- 

 able to neglect it. In the whole scope of farm- 

 ing operations, there is nothing which better 

 repays the care and culture bestowed upon it 

 than fruit. And those who addict themselves 

 to it, and acquire any tolerable degree of skill 

 in the management of fruit, find sufficient de 

 light in it to repay their trouble, even if the profit 

 were not sufficient. The mode of training trees 

 in the espalier form, or on walls, we believe, has not 

 been practised here. As a substitute for walls, a 

 strong board fence will answer to train to. The 

 superior quality and flavor of fruit cultivated in 

 this way, will well repay the trouble ; and beside 

 this, by attention to pruning, a crop of fruit may 

 be insured every year, whereas without that atten- 

 tion, trees rarely bear oftener than every other 

 year. Trees in this way may be trained to any 

 form; in gardens, dwarf trees may be planted 

 along walks, and are preferable to standards from 

 occupying less space, and can be trained so that 

 the fruit can be picked off with case by hand. The 

 common wild crab affords an excellent stock to 

 graft dwarf trees on, both on account of the small- 

 ness of its size, and its hardiness ; but it is not 

 material, for the tree is trained to the dwarf form 

 by cutting or heading down, and any kind will 

 answer. In training on a wall or board fence, the 

 tree, after one year's growth from setting out, is 

 cut down to three or four eyes, say a foot or eigh- 

 teen inches from the ground, as the shoots put out 

 those that are foreright or front as well as rear, 

 are pinched oft' with the fingers, while those 

 shoots which grow in a position suitable for train- 

 ing are nailed with strips of cloth to the wall or 

 fence, in this way they are usually trained, in the 

 form of a fan ; but the form may be varied to suit 

 the place where they are to grow. Trees should 

 be pruned every year, in order that the useless or 

 superabundant wood may not draw oft' the sap 

 which is necessary to supply those shoots that pro- 

 duce fruit. The fruit is borne on shoots of a for- 



mer year, and those which will bear fruit may be 

 distinguished by their buds. After bearing three 

 or four years, they become exhausted, when they 

 should be cut down to two eyes, in order to pro- 

 duce new wood. This mode of cutting out the 

 useless wood and producing an alternate growth 

 of new wood, preserves the tree in a constantly 

 healthy and bearing state, and the fruit is, conse- 

 quently, fairer and finer. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



BOSTON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, SEPT. 25, 1833. 



HORTICULTURAL FESTIVAL. 



The fifth Anniversary of the Massachusetts Hor- 

 ticultural Society was celebrated on the 13th hist. 

 At 1 1 o'clock, an excellent Address was delivered at 

 the Masonic Temple, by Hon. Alexander Everett. 

 This contained brief hut comprehensive historical 

 sketches of Horticulture, and notices of existing 

 improvements in gardening, as displayed in various 

 parts of Europe, and noted by the personal obser- 

 vations of the Orator. A portion of the Address 

 had reference to Cemeteries, in different portions 

 of the globe, and particularly that at Mt. Auburn, 

 which was originated and established under the 

 auspices of the M. H. Society. This part of the 

 performance was particularly interesting, eloquent 

 and impressive. From half past 12 to 2 o'clock, 

 the Dinner hall was open to public inspection, and 

 notwithstanding the rain, which fell profusely, a 

 large concourse of spectators proved that the pub- 

 lic felt an interest in the exhibition. 



At three o'clock the Members of the Society, 

 together with numbers of respectable guests, sat 

 down to a dinner provided by Mr. Eaton, which 

 consisted of all the substantials and delicacies the 

 Epicure could wish for, or the Temperate Man 

 enjoy. The following are some of the donations 

 of Fruits and Flowers, which wejp" presented for 

 the festival. 



A fine basket of Isabella grapes, &c. from E. P. 

 Hartshorn, of Boston, — also a basket of Black 

 Hamburgh and Sweet Water grapes, from the 

 same — open culture, fine for the season. A basket 

 of apples, and a basket of Seedling pears, from 

 Joseph Morton, Esq. of Milton. Freestone Rare- 

 ripe peaches, a very handsome specimen, from E. 

 Cowing, of Roxbury. From John Prince, Esq. 

 of Roxbury, a basket of Ruckman's Pearniain, a 

 basket of Gilliflower apples, a basket of Bouras- 

 seau apples, a basket of Pomme Niege apples, a 

 basket of Summer Queen apples, a basket of Rib- 

 stone pippin, Fall Queening apple, Golden Pippin, 

 French apple, French Bon Chretien pear, all very 

 beautiful. From E. M. Richards, of Dedham, 

 two baskets of natural peaches, superior, two bask- 

 ets of Benoni apples, large, one basket of Red Ju- 

 niating. From Madam Dix, Boston, a basket of 

 Dix pears, very fine. From Dr. S. A. Shurtleff, 

 Boston, a basket of St Michael pears, and 4 bask- 

 ets of White Chasselas grapes, open culture, very 

 beautiful. From Luther Allen, of Sterling, 3 

 baskets of monstrous Red apples, for baking. — 

 From J. Tidd, Esq. of Roxbury, 4 clusters of very 

 fine Black Hamburgh grapes, also a large Musk- 

 melon. From Charles Oakley, Esq. of the City 

 of New York, a basket of Heath Clingstone peach- 

 es, a basket of plums, name unknown, a basket of 

 Orange Nectarin Clingstone seedlings, a basket of 

 Orange Clingstone seedlings, a basket of seedling 

 pears, a basket of pears, called Vergalieu in New 



York, the St Michael in New England, a basket 

 of peaches, name unknown, all beautiful and some 

 splendid specimens. From Enoch Bartlett, Esq. 

 Roxbury, a basket of Bartlett pears, a basket of 

 Andrews pears, a basket of Capiaumont pears, all 

 very superior. From John Wilson, of Roxbury, 

 2 baskets of Melacaton peaches. From E. Vose, 

 Esq. of Dorchester, a basket of Capiaumont pears, 

 a basket of Bartlett pears, very superior. From 

 John Breed, Esq. of Belle Isle, 2 baskets of wall 

 fruit peaches, one basket of Bartlett pears, one 

 basket of pears, name unknown, a basket of long 

 green pears, a basket of pears, name unknown, all 

 very fine fruit. From Howland Cowing, Rox- 

 bury, a basket of large sweet apples, name un- 

 known, and one do. of sour. From Dr. Webster, 

 of Cambridge, a variety of Flowers, also a vegeta- 

 ble called Glascol Rabbi, a basket of almonds, 

 open culture, a basket of white Chasselas and red 

 Chasselas grapes, a Persian and one other variety 

 of melon, very fine. From P. B. Hovey, and 

 Charles M. Hovey, of Cambridgeport, one highly 

 decorated basket, containing Bartlett, Johonnot and 

 Andrews pears, and several varieties of peaches, 

 grapes, and Flowers, also another basket of Bart- 

 lett and Johonnot pears, and a basket of Porter ap- 

 ples, very fine specimens. From Messrs. Winship, 

 of Brighton, 2 baskets of Semiana plums, very 

 superior. From E. P. Hartshorn, eight baskets 

 containing Isabella, black Hamburgh, and white 

 Chasselas grapes. From Messrs Willet and Wil- 

 son, of Boston, one large basket of Autumn Ber- 

 gamot, also a large basket of Gansels or Brocas 

 Bergamot pears, also a large basket of white 

 sweet water grapes. From Professor Farrar, of 

 Cambridge, a fine basket of Porter apples. From 

 E. Breed, Esq. of Charlestown, two large decorated 

 baskets, consisting of the white Muscat of Alexan- 

 dria, the St Peters and black Hamburgh grapes, 

 Bartlett and Roussellet de Rheims pears, and a va- 

 riety of peaches, very beautiful specimens. From 

 Lawsoo Buckminster, Esq. of Franiingham, one 

 large basket of Porter apples, very superb. From 

 Mr. Mason, of Charlestown, a basket of green Cit- 

 ron melons, 3 baskets, containing Malta peaches 

 and Nectarines, 4 baskets of black Hamburgh 

 grapes, and one of Miller's Burgundy grapes, also 

 yellow Musknielons, very fine specimens. From 

 Joshua Childs, Boston, a basket of Manilla grapes, 

 a beautiful specimen. From the garden of the 

 late Redfbrd Webster, Boston, a basket of St Mi- 

 chael's pears, a basket of sweet water grapes, and 

 one of sweet lemons. From David Fosdick, 

 Charlestown, a very beautiful ornamented pyramid 

 basket of white Muscadine and Isabella grapes, and 

 a variety of apples and peaches. From Enoch 

 Bartlett, Esq. Roxbury, two baskets of beautiful 

 peaches, and a splendid specimen of Porter apples. 

 From Zebedee Cook, jr. Esq. of Boston, 1st Vice 

 President of the Society, a basket of most beautiful 

 Bartlett pears. From Dr. Fisk, of Worcester, a 

 basket containing very large varieties of apples. 

 From Win. B. Roberts, Gardener to Samuel G. 

 Perkins, Esq. of Brookline, a large and highly or- 

 namented basket, containing black Hamburgh, 

 Cape, St Peters, Liufendal, white Muscat of Al- 

 exander, Golden Chasselas, common do. grapes, 

 Admirable, Jaune, Bolle Chevereuse, Morris's 

 white early Admirable, Pine apple, Clingstones. 

 From Hon. H. A. S*. Dearborn, President of the 

 Mass. Hor. Soc, Roxbury, two baskets of red Ro- 

 man Nectarines, one do. containing Drap d'Or, 

 and late blue French plums, one do. Cantaleupe 



