56 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



FRUIT GROWERS' SOCIETY OF WESTERN N. Y. 



Thk Annual Meeting of this Society was held in the 

 Court House, Rochester, N. Y., January 8-9. 

 The following subjects were discussed : 



SUBJECT I. 



Dwarf Apple Trees. — Wltat is the best stock for Dwarfing 

 the Apple, and what are the comparative merits of Dwarf 

 and /Standard Apples f 



P. Barry was asked to open the discussion, and re- 

 marked that there was little new to be said on the subject. 

 There were two kinds of stocks used for dwarfing the ap- 

 ple — the Paradise and the Doucaiu. Worked on the for- 

 mer, the trees are very small, and suitable only for garden 

 culture. The trees bear very early, and the fruit is of 

 extra size and quality. On the Doucain stock, the trees 

 are larger — as large as a dwarf pear. They make fine 

 pyramids, or half standards, and might be of advantage 



DWARF APPLE TREE ON THE PARADISE STOCK. 



■ 



in the West and other places for orcharding. They do 

 not fruit so early. Would plant them 12 feet apart. On 

 the Paradise stock, they might be planted Ji to 6 feet 

 apart. 



Dr. Beadle, of Canada, asked if an orchard could be 

 planted, under any circumstances, with either of these 

 stocks so as to make it, profitable. 



P. Barry. —On the Paradise stock, the trees are short- 

 lived. The trees would not last more than fifteen to 

 twenty years at best — perhaps not more than half so long. 

 On the Doucain stock, the trees are much longer-lived. 

 Had seen them twenty years old. They do not come into 

 bearing much earlier than ou the free stock, say six years 

 from the bud. 



[We annex a cut of a dwarf apple tree worked on the 

 Paradise stock. . The drawing was made expressly for the 

 Genesee Farmer, from a beautiful specimen growing near 

 this city. It will give a better idea of a dwraf apple tree 

 than the most elaborate description.] 



SELECT LIST OF APPLES FOR FAMILY USE. 



SUBJECT II. 



What are the best twenty-four varieties of Apples for 

 general vse ? 



Which of the twenti/four are the four best Summer vari- 

 eties : two for the table, one for baking, and one for cooking ? 



P. Barry. — The Early Harvest is the most popular 

 summer apple in America. It is grown in every State in 

 the Union as far South as the apple is cultivated. Had 

 seen it at Memphis, and further South, as good as at the 

 North. 



W. P. Townsend, of Lockport, spoke favorably of the 

 Primate, Early Joe, Early Harvest, and Red Astrachan, 

 and the Sweet Bough for baking. 



Dr. Beadle said in Canada the Sweet Bough was the 

 the most popular sweet apple, and the Red Astrachan ex- 

 cellent for cooking and eating. 



H. E. Hooker recommended Sweet Bough for baking, 

 and the Early Harvest, Early Joe, Primate, and Red As- 

 trachan for eating and cooking. 



Geo. Ellwanger. — The Summer Rose is one of the best 

 summer apples. ' Had he but one variety, it should be the 

 Summer Rose. The Early Joe is a delicious eating apple, 

 but is very apt to be imperfect and spotted. The Early 

 Harvest is good for the table. The Sweet Bough for bak- 

 ing, and the Red Astrachan for cooking. 



W. B. Smith, of Syracuse, recommended the Early Har- 

 vest, Red Astrachan and Sweet Bough for cooking, and 

 the Primate and Summer Rose for the table. 



P. Baery considered all the summer apples that had 

 been named excellent, and well worthy of 

 general culture, except, perhaps, the Early 

 Joe, which is often very spotted, and the 

 tree a poor grower. The Early Strawberry 

 is a beautiful, excellent apple, of a peculiar 

 and delicious aroma, and the tree a good 

 grower. An excellent market apple; the 

 fruit sells at a high price as a summer apple. 

 Would name it as one of our best summer 

 varieties. It remains longer in perfection 

 than almost any other summer apple, ripen- 

 ing gradually and remaining ou the tree 

 longer than most others. Tree au erect 

 grower, with slender branches. 



Dr. Sylvester, of Lyons, thought very 

 highly of the Early Strawberry. The tree 

 is a handsome and erect grower. Fruit 

 ripens gradually for five weeks, For fami- 

 ly use, this peculiarity is valuable, but ob- 

 jectionable for market, as it is less trouble 

 to pick all the fruit of a variety at once. 

 Would place it among the four best. Dr. 

 S. could hardly confine himself to four va- 

 rieties. He wanted the Early Harvest for 

 all purposes, Sweet Bough for baking, Red 

 Astrachan for cooking, and Early Straw- 

 berry, Summer Rose aud Primate for table. 

 E. Moody, of Lockport, thought the Pri- 

 mate the best early apple. Ripe nearly as 

 early as the Early Harvest, and does not 

 spot, while the Early Harvest is subject to 

 it, and Mr. M. thought may have to be dis- 

 carded, for the difficulty is increasing, and varieties sub- 

 ject to it should be rejected. The Primate is entirely free, 

 and also the Red Astrachan. The Sweet Bough is a good 

 apple, and bears shipping well. Would like to retain the 

 Early Joe, although it does spot. Some gentlemen pres- 

 ent thought the Primate tree rather tender, and Mr. M. 

 said, in reply to inquiries, that it is as hardy as a Green- 

 ing, and very much like it in growth. It may be picked be- 

 fore it is ripe, aud improves as much as a Virgalieu pear. 

 L. B. Laxgworthy and H. E. Hooker thought four sum- 

 mer varieties were not enough, and prop ised that the 

 number be increased to six. This was agreed to. 



P. Barry thought the Golden Sweet a very desirable 

 summer sweet apple, though perhaps rather late to be 

 called a summer apple. It is an immense bearer, the tree 

 a rapid grower, and bears early; an excellent market ap- 

 ple, especially in New England. 



E. Moody agreed with the last speaker in his opinion of 

 the Golden Sweet. It is an excellent baking apple, but 

 not as good for the table as the Sweet Bough, and will 

 not bear carriage as well. Most of the Sweet Boughs of 

 Niagara county are purchased for the Boston market. 



L. B. Laxgworthy said Golden Sweet was the most 

 persistent bearer he knew — equal to the Baldwin. 



P. Barry said a line had been handed him, requesting 

 h;s opinion of the Jeffries apple — a beautiful, striped, very 

 superior dessert apple from Pennsylvania. It is an excel- 

 lent summer apple. 



James Vick was anxious this fine apple should be 

 brought to the notice of the meeting. It is excellent and 

 beautiful. 

 H. E. Hooker had the Jeffries iu bearing the last three 



