244 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



Oct. 



THE BAILEY (OH EDGERLY) SWEET APPLE. 

 BY r . K. PHOENIX, OF WISCONSIN. 



Mr. Editor: — Yon published not longsince an out- 

 line and description of a fine sweet apple from Perry, 

 Wyoming Co., N. Y., which you called the "Bailey 

 Sweet"— stating on, "good authority," that it origi- 

 nated with C. P. Bailey, Esq. of that place. Hav- 

 ing been acquainted with that fruit for the past 18 

 years, and esteeming it very highly, I have propa- 

 gated it extensively in my nursery, and not being 

 able to identify it with any book variety, I have felt 

 very desirous of ascertaining its origin. Last fall 

 when at the east, I stopped some time at Perry, my 

 native place, and while there took much pains to trace 

 out the source of this fruit, but could only learn the 

 following facts: 



They first appeared in the orchard of T. Edgerlt, 

 Esq. and his father in that place, from scions set 25 

 or 30 years since by some traveling grafters. Where 

 they came from, or where they obtained that fruit, 

 was alike unknown to my informant, Mr. E. Ed- 

 gerly, a brother of T. Edgerly. Hence you will ob- 

 serve that it did notorigiuate with Mr. Bailey — who, 

 however, afterwards came in possession of the orig- 

 inal orchard, and being a zelaous amateur horticul- 

 turist, and withal very liberal, disseminated it widely 

 — and to whom therefore, the public is much indebt- 

 ed, as also to the Messrs. Pattersons of the same 

 town. I have called it the Edgerly Sweet as first 

 appearing with that family, and as having been so call- 

 ed to a considerable extent in that vicinity — though 

 known by both names. Having given you the facts 

 you can judge for yourself which is the correct name. 



I fully acquiesce in the character given' it in your 

 description. It is by odds the finest sweet apple I 

 ever saw of any season. The trees are productive 

 and in the nursery very hardy and thrifty, and gen- 

 erally upright, though slender, and on poor soils some- 

 times straggling. Wood remarkably dark. F. K. 

 P.—Delavaii JYursery, Wis., Sept., 1849. 



This apple has been described under the name of 

 " Baily Sweet," and considerably disseminated since 

 under that name. That name was adopted because 

 in most general use. We do not think that any oth- 

 er could be adopted now, with propriety. — Ed. 



Notes on Cherries. — We consider cherries that 

 ripen during the last of July and first of August very 

 valuable. Some people think that because the cherry 

 season is short, it is not important to select varieties 

 with regard to their season of ripening; but they 

 are greatly mistaken. If we are to have a dozen 

 cherry trees, instead of selecting only two or 

 three popular sorts, such as Black Tartarian, Yel- 

 low Spanish, Black Eagle, Knights Early Black, 

 Elton, he. — all first rate to be sure, but ripening 

 about the same time, or varying not more than a 

 week — we should make some such selection as the 

 following: Bowman' s May, or Early Purple Guigne, 

 both very early, (say 10th to 15th of June in this re- 

 gion,) and about equal in quality, May Duke, 

 Knignf& Early Black, Black Tartarian, Elton, 

 Napoleon liigarreau, Belle de Choisy, Sparhawk's 

 Honey, Downer's Laic Red, Elkhorn, Belle Mag- 

 nifique. Here we have a dozen trees that will sup- 

 ply fruit from the tenth of June (in some seasons 

 earlier,) until the middle of August; and if we would 

 add one or two late Morellos, we might extend the 

 cherry season nearly three months. 



PEAR TREE BLIGHT. 



Mr. Barry : — Having witnessed the effects of 

 Blight in pear trees, and the almost certain destruc- 

 tion of them in our immediate region, I have taken 

 no small pains to enquire of growers of them in dif- 

 ferent localities near us what the cause was, and 

 remedy, if any. Premising that the pear tree natu- 

 rally is a lopg lived one, I have found that where 

 they have been grown in land where the grass has 

 been suffered to remain in heavy turf aroend them, 

 in close, compact, heavy soil, little if any blight has 

 been seen. This culture prevents a too rapid growth 

 of the young and tender shoots, consequently the hot 

 sun's rays does not check the circulation of the sap, 

 to burn and blight them. I find many persons who 

 say that trees of theirs, growing under these circum- 

 stances, rarely blight; while others, who dig round 

 the roots and give them strict attention, only find 

 disappointment in blight. I am satisfied that had I 

 not spaded round a large tree this season, around 

 which I found the earth had packed and grass well 

 grown and matted, that I should not have lost it. 



My advice is to plant the trees in good heavy soil 

 and pack it round, even to stamping down, and then 

 put leached ashes around them. Then we shall have 

 slow growing, long lived and sure bearing pear trees. 

 I should be glad to have some one or many give their 

 experience in this matter, and tell the public through 

 the Farmer, whether I am right or wrong in my 

 conjectures. James H. Watts. — Rochester, JY. Y., 

 August, 1849. 



Remarks. — We shall be glad to hear the expe- 

 rience of fruit growc rs on this point. The same 

 view has very genei ally been taken of blighi A 

 connection has been supposed to exist between » ip- 

 id growth and blight, but from very extensive obser- 

 vation we are inclined to doubt it. We have seen 

 old and slow growing trees, on hard and dry soil, 

 just as much affected as rapid growers on a damp soil. 

 One thing however is true, that it is more difficult 

 to save a tree growing rapidly when it is attacked, 

 on account of the more rapid circulation of the 

 juices, and consequently the disease. As far as our 

 observation has extended, there has been very little 

 blight this season. Indeed we have seen none what- 

 ever in any of the nurseries here— nor in private 

 gardens, except in cases where trees had been pre- 

 viously attacked. It is evidently disappearing. 



Culture of the Plum. — "An old Digger," in the 

 Horticulturist, says: " I'lum trees like a moist soil. 

 [ have found that covering the ground four inches 

 deep with old spent tan-bark, is a good way of pre- 

 serving the moisture, and keeping the tree in hi 

 I scatter fresh lime thickly over the surface of the 

 tan every year, as soon as the green fruit begins to 

 fall. This kills every curculio that attempts to enter 

 the ground. The tan prevents the weeds ln>::i 

 growing, keeps the roots cool, and insures m > good 

 crops of plums. 1 spread it as far as the roots ex- 

 tend., and it wants renewing, or adding to, once in 

 three or four years." 



Fruit Treks may be transplanted successfully, in 

 this and most other sect ions, any time from the 1st 

 of October until the ground is frozen. The trees 

 should be well secured, and a few inches of manure 

 or litter spread around the roots. 



