1847. 



GENESEE FARMER. 



49 



times, promoting a regular fermentation ; thus 

 it is made to retain its heat a long time, otherwise 

 it would burn and dry up, and become useless. 



Those who wish to force cucumbers, radishes, 

 salad, &c., should begin, if the weather be favor- 

 able, about the latter end of February, For 

 raising plants it is time enough to begin in 

 March. In forcing cucumbers, Bridgeman says: 



"The substance of dung from the bottom of the bed 

 should be from three to four feet, according to the season 

 of planting, and the mould should be laid on as soon as the 

 bed is settled, and has a lively, regular-tempered heat. Lay 

 the earth evenly over the dung, about six inches deep ; af- 

 ter it has lain a few days examine it, and if no traces of a 

 burning eft'ect are discovered, by the mould turning of a 

 whitish color and caking, it will befit to receive the plants; 

 bat if the earth appears burned, or has a rank smell, some 

 fresh sweet mould should be provided for the hills, and pla- 

 ced in the frame to get warm; at the same time vacancies 

 should be made to give vent to the steam, by running down 

 stakes 



After the situation of the bed has been ascertained, and 

 the heat regulated, the hole should be closed, and the earth 

 formed into hills; raise one hill in the centre under each 

 sash, so that the earth is brought to within nine inches of 

 the glass; in these hills plant three seedhngs, or turn out 

 such as may be in pots, with the balls of earth about their 

 roots, and thus insert one patch of three plants in the mid- 

 dle of each hill. The plants should be immediately water- 

 ed with water heated to the temperature of the bed, and 

 kept shaded till they have taken root. 



The temperature should be kept up to 60o, and may rise 

 to 80q without injury, provided the rank steam be allowed 

 to pass off; therefore, as the heat begins to decline, timely 

 linings of well prepared dung must be applied all round the 

 frame. Begin by lining the back part first; cut away the 

 old dung perpendicularly to the frame, and form a bank two 

 feet broad, to the height of a foot, against the back of the 

 frames ; as it sinks, add more; renew the linings round the 

 remainder of the bed as it becomes necessary, and be care- 

 ful to let off the steam, and give air to the plants at all op- 

 portunities. 



Give necessary waterings, mostly in the morning of a 

 mild day, in early forcing; and in the afternoon, in the ad- 

 vanced season of hot sunny weather. Some use water im- 

 pregnated with sheep or pigeon dung. As the roots begin 

 to spread, and the vines to run, the hills should be enlarged 

 by gathering up the earth around them, for which purpose 

 a supply of good mould should be kept ready at hand, to be 

 used as required. 



When the plants have made one or two joints, stop them, 

 by pinching off the tops, after which they generally put 

 forth two shoots, each of which let run till they have made 

 one or two clear joints, and then stop them also; and after- 

 terward continue throughout the season to stop at every 

 joint; this will strengthen the plants, and promote their per- 

 fecting the fruit early." 



Radishes, Lettuce, &c., maybe forced in beds 

 similar to that described for cucumbers, and the 

 earth in the dung bed should be a foot deep. — 

 They do not require so much heat. The plants 

 require to be well thinned out, air to be regular- 

 ly admitted, and water gently and regularly sup- 

 plied. In admitting air to hot beds, a mat should 

 be thrown over the opening to prevent the plants 

 from being chilled. 



Earth for hot bed plants should, in all cases, 

 be good rich friable loam, mixed with a third of 

 well rotted manure, and some coarse sand to 

 make it porous. We will add some further re- 

 marks in our next, and hope that the brief and 

 necessarily imperfect hints here given will stim- 

 ulate some, at least, to action. We have had 

 several inquiries as to what work is best calcula- 

 ted to aid beginners in the general operations of 



gardening. We may say here that, on the whole, 

 Bridgeman's "Young Gardener's Assistant" is 

 the best we know of. The latest edition, 1845, 

 is quite complete, and may be had at the seed- 

 stores or bookstores. Price $1.-50. 



Northern Spy Apple. 



We publish the following, with pleasure, from 

 Ml-. Watts, who is one of the most tasteful am- 

 ateurs in our city. He has a fine garden, well 

 filled with fruits and flowers ; and amid all the 

 cares of an active business life, finds it a source 

 of much pleasure. Long may he live to enjoy 

 it. The fruit growing world are indebted to him 

 for his earnest efforts in bringing to notice and 

 disseminating fine fruits. 



Mr. Barry : — In the February number of the Farmer, 

 1845, you gave the public an interesting account of the 

 "Spy" Apple. As that paper may not be seen by all who 

 wish to cultivate the fruit and have it, I wish you to join me 

 in noticing the apple and tree again. I have what follows 

 from Mr. O. C. Chapin, of East Bloomfield, N. Y., who 

 kindly furnished the particulars. 



He says that the seeds were brought from Connecticut*, m 

 the year 1800, and planted by a Mr. Elisha Taylor. (It 

 would be interesting to know if an apple bearing a resem- 

 blance to it is now known in Connecticut.) The original 

 tree was set in an orchard by Mr. Hem an Chapin, and some 

 sprouts from it were transplanted by a Mr. Roswell 

 Humphrey, and by him the first fruit was raised, as the orig- 

 inal tree, from some cause, died. East Bloomfield has, then, 

 the honor of producing the first fruit in this region. It 

 would be gratifying could we know why Mr. Himphrey 

 or Mr. Chapin gave it the name Northern Spy. (I hope 

 Mr. Chapin, when he sees this, will try to learn the reason.) 



In your article you mention the tree as being thrifty, raiJ- 

 id, and upright. Mr. Chapin confirms it, and says, "it 

 bears well every season, and that a portion of the apples are 

 as good as any they have there, and under favorable circum- 

 stances the apples will keep until June." What a valua- 

 ble property this is : and to be so fresh at that season. 



He adds, " There is but one objection to it. A large pro- 

 portion of the fruit is small and scrubby, and of little value." 

 This we are sorry to learn ; nevertheless what good fruit 

 there is, is saperior in size, beauty, flavor, and general ap- 

 pearance, and will keep. Many inquiries have been made 

 about it, and the numerous calls I have had to purchase and 

 see samples of it, show what an interest is taken in it. I 

 trust that if the trees bear but few, that more, on that ac- 

 count, will be planted, to make up, in that way, for Us 

 scarcity, as well as by grafting. 



I am, very truly, yours, 



Rochester, Jan. 2.5, 1847. James H. Watts. 



N. B. In the debates at Albany, at the meeting of the 

 State Society, I see most honorable mention is made of the 

 " Spy." The pleasure I have had the past season in dis- 

 tributing them (some 6.5 barrels, sent all over the country,) 

 is much added to by finding them so well appreciated. 



Yours, J. H. W. 



To Correspondent.s. 



E. R. Porter, Platisl>wg.—\Ve are much obliged for your 

 communication on "Transplanting Evergreens." It will 

 appear next month— it will then be just in season. We 

 will be glad to hear from you in future. 



Laying out gro7i7tds.—^e\eTa.\ inquiries on this subject are 

 on hand— they will be attended to in season. We have in 

 preparation a design for a country dwelling, and will accom- 

 pany that with some hints on this subject. 



Never engage in more business than wliat 

 you are morally certain you can execute with 

 pleasure and punctuality. 



