No. 3. 



Seedlins' Fruit Trees. 



77 



But, sir, great as has been the progress 

 of improvement in tlie science of vegetable 

 physiology, and all others — bright as are the 

 lights that shine upon our path, let us not in 

 the vanity of self-conceit, suppose that these 

 improvements liave been achieved by any 

 wonderful faculties or extraordinary ener- 

 gies of our own : — no age can claim super- 

 excellence; each is indebted to the one pre- 

 ceding, as much as the succeeding one to it. 

 Knowledge has a tendency to increase in a 

 compound ratio. The great developments 

 of one period, are the fruits of seed planted 

 in the one preceding. Instead then of fold- 

 ing our arms and priding ourselves on our 

 own achievements, let us endeavour to prove 

 ourselves faithful stewards in the manage- 

 ment of the talents committed to us. Where 

 much is given, much will be expected. Let 

 each in his sphere, however humble it may 

 be, render to the great Father of all, accept- 

 able homage, by endeavouring to augment 

 the comforts and happiness of his fellow- 

 creatures : such has been, in a measure, the 

 practice — such is the religion of your well- 

 wisher and friend, J. S. Skinner. 



Washington, October 1st, 1843. 



Auditor'-s office, Post-office Department, 

 September 9tli, 1843. 



My Dear Sir, — Having read your letter 

 of this date, and the article signed " Poma," 

 in the " American Farmer," copied from the 

 " Farmer's Cabinet," I shall very briefly at- 

 tempt to answer your inquiries. 



The apples in the north part of Ohio, — in 

 what is known by "the Western Reserve," 

 and in the country bordering on the Ohio 

 river, as far as Marietta and its vicinity, 

 where I am best acquainted, — when proper 

 care has been taken in selecting and culti- 

 vating them, are superior in size, fairness, 

 and flavour. I have visited no part of the 

 country, where they so generally abound. 

 It is as uncommon to see a house without an 

 orchard, as without a garden. 



When trees are taken from nurseries not 

 grafted or budded, and are left to contend 

 with weeds and grass, they become scrubby ; 

 are covered with rough bark and moss, and 

 bear small, ill-flavoured fruit. Seedlings, 

 when reared and pruned by a horticulturist, 

 instructed and skilled by the veteran editor 

 of the old "American Farmer," are in very 

 many instances, delicious. 



Several years elapsed after my residence 

 in the Western country, before I saw a de- 

 fective or wormy apple. South of Lake Erie, 

 and distant from it, from two to twelve miles, 

 is a ridge composed of loam and sand. This, 

 and the land between it and the Lake, is the 



best region for fruit I have seen, whether 

 abundance or perfection is considered. Four 

 years this fall, there was more fruit between 

 Elyria, in Lorain county, and the Pennsyl- 

 vania line, a distance of about 100 miles, 

 than was, at the same time, in some of the 

 old thirteen States — not the smallest. 



The writer under the signature of "Poma," 

 raises the question, whether the youthful ap- 

 pearance of the trees and the excellency of 

 the apples in Ohio, may not be accounted 

 for, " from their much more recent deriva- 

 tion from seedlings'!" 



He is correct in saying, that the early set- 

 tlers, particularly those who went to the 

 northern part of Ohio from the New Eng- 

 land States, carried apple seeds of the most 

 esteemed varietie.s, and there is no doubt, a 

 variety of choice fruits might be selected in 

 different sections of that country, from such 

 seedlings, thus produced. The youthful ap- 

 pearance of the trees depends, first, on age 

 and culture ; secondly, on climate and soil. 

 Trees of the same age, on the ridge men- 

 tioned, are generally more thrifty, smooth, 

 and taller, than they are on the high lands 

 south of it. Their roots strike deep into a 

 good soil, from which nourishment is de- 

 rived. 



The French traders and the Indians had 

 apples at Detroit, river Raisin, Peninsula of 

 Sandusky bay, and other places. The trees 

 were uncommonly thick, and some of the 

 orchards appeared not to have been trans- 

 planted. Where the seeds were first ob- 

 tained, is not within my knowledge. The 

 fruit was generally fair and good, and most 

 of it was a deep red. 



Mr. Neesley settled early in Western 

 Virginia, on the Ohio, nearly opposite to the 

 mouth of Yellow creek, and propagated fruit 

 extensively. When the land north-west of 

 the Ohio was open for sale, he purchased a 

 tract on the bank of the Ohio, above Yellow 

 creek, where lie sowed a large nursery, and 

 engrafted and budded the choicest apples he- 

 could obtain. Many, if not all of his kinds, 

 are mentioned in books on horticulture. 

 General Elijah Wadsworth, emigrated from 

 Litchfield, in Connecticut, to Canfield, in 

 Tr^imbull county, Ohio, as early as 1800,, 

 and having cleared a field, he planted Sd 

 large orchard from Mr. Neesley's nursery.. 



Last fall, I exhibited in this city, seven- 

 different kinds of this fruit from my own 

 orchard, which were admired at a large 

 table, for their beauty and taste. 



Mr. Neesley's fruit was so celebrated, 

 that Alfred Kelly — since distinguished for 

 valuable services in the improvements of 

 Ohio — early carried a large bundle- of small 

 trees on horseback, from the river to the- 



