NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



17 



GRAVENSTEIN APPLE. 



This is one of the handsomsst and best apples 

 cultivated in this country, and one of the very few 

 foreign kinds that are worthy of general cultivation. 

 The Gravenstein originated in Holstein, Germany, 

 and it received its name from the castle in which it 

 was found. It is regarded as the finest apple in 

 its native country, it is also very popular in Eng- 

 land. It flourishes well in nearly all parts of this 

 country, where the apple is cultivated. 



The Gravenstein is an early fall apple in this 

 section, bul in tlie North it is a late fall and early 

 winter fruit, and it seems admirably adapted to the 

 North. Colonel Henry Little, of Bangor, Me., 

 well known foi his zeal and intelligence as a po- 

 mologist, informed us, that he grafted a tree to this 

 kind, and in ten years it produced twenty bushels 

 of excellent fruit, that kept till early winter. 



This variety is a very good grower, and it forms 

 a large handsome tree, it is also very productive. 

 The fruit comes in at the same time as the Porter, 

 a very popular apple in this market, and like that 

 variety, it combines properties both for the dessert 

 and kitchen. But it has some advantages over the 

 Porter. It is abetter grower, and although it ripens 

 about as early, it keeps longer, and it is not likely 

 to assume a bad appearance from bruising like the 

 Porter. 



The Gravenstein is large; flattish-round; the skin 

 verv smooth and fair, of a white yellow ground, 

 mostly covered with brilliant red, generally in 



stripes; stem short, rather stout, in a deep, rather 

 broad, and somewhat uneven cavity; calyx, large, 

 open, in a wide, deep uneven basin; flesh whitish, 

 very juicy, crisp, of a high sprightly, vinous 

 flavor; rather acid early in the season, but when 

 fully ripe and mellow, it becomes mild and plea.s- 

 ant. It is excellent both for tlie table and for cook- 

 ing. In use during September and October, in 

 this region. 



CARE OF HORSES. 



To go fully into this subject, would require a 

 whole volume, yet a few hints may be useful to 

 some of our readers. Those persons who are con- 

 stantly taking care of horses, are generally faithful 

 and intelligent, and manage well. The horse is 

 most neglected by the farmer who, in the winter, 

 has but little for him to do, and spends but little 

 time — often too little — in taking care of him. 



The standing of the horse is too much neglected, 

 or this subject is not judiciously managed either by 

 the professed groom or the former. The horse is 

 often allowed to stand in the stable, on a hard floor, 

 with his fore feet considerably higher than his hind 

 ones, constantly straining his muscles. The floor 

 on which horses stand, should only slant one or one 

 and a half inches in eight or nine feet, barely 

 enough to conduct off the liquid manure. 



Some farmers turn their horses into a pen, and 

 let them stand as they please. This is a good ar. 



