290 



GENESEE FARMER. 



Dec. 



Banking Fruit Trees. 



Mr. Editor : — I transplanted last November (15th,) ina 

 light sandy soil, with a northern and western aspect, about 

 130 fruit trees, (apples, pears, plums, and cherries.) Dug 

 the holes about four feet diameter and from fifteen to eight- 

 een inches deep ; deposited very old stable manure and 

 leached ashes, without giving the roots any water. In the 

 spring (last) the trees were late in exhibiting their leaves, 

 which I attributed to the banking remaining (until the 1st 

 May) a longer period than ought to have been allowed. I 

 lost one apple tree only, but the branches of eveiy apple 

 tree, without exception, were killed from one foot to three 

 or four feet in length. The trees sprouted again below 

 where they were killed, and are doing well. The cherries, 

 plums, and pears were not affected with the frost. 



I would inquire whether it is to be attributed to the fact 

 that after I had transplanted, only one shower of rain fell 

 before the earth was hard frozen — and that that rain could 

 not have penetrated more than an inch and a half in the 

 embankment, so that the roots were not moist enough ; or 

 was it owing to the effect, that the roots, (in consequence 

 of the banking,) being kept warm, caused too much life in 

 the branches when the severe frosts came ? 



About two weeks ago I observed five apple trees with 

 knobs around the stem at the surface of the earth, similar 

 to the black knot on the plum tree. If it is a disease, what 

 is the remedy ? 



One of the pear trees did not put forth any leaves in the 

 spring, but the bark continued green the whole season to 

 the present moment. In July and August I fastened a cloth 

 around it from top to root, and kept it moistened without 

 giving the roots any extra watering except the dripping 

 from the cloth. A few buds just appeared, but did not 

 shoot into leaves ; had I attended to it more carefully I have 

 no doubt it would have put forth leaves. I mention this 

 for the information of others, as well as to obtain further 

 information. I am, dear sir, yours, &c., 



Avon, Oct. 30, 1847. W. A. W. 



Remarks. — We do not consider that either 

 the absence of rain after planting, or the heat 

 maintained around the roots by the embankment, 

 would produce death in the tops of the branches. 

 If trees be transplanted early in the fall while 

 the ground is in a very dry state, and the young 

 wood of trees soft and immature, a lack of mois- 

 ture might cause the ends of the branches to 

 shrivel and die ; but this could hardly be the case 

 in the middle of November, in this latitude, as 

 we are then usually well supplied with rain. — 

 The embankment would have a tendency to pre- 

 vent, instead of cause, winter killing. 



The " knobs around the stem at the surface of 

 the earth," are not, we presume, the result or 

 symptoms of any disease, but merely granula- 

 tions of the sap, which often appear on root graft- 

 ed apple trees at the union of the stock and graft. 

 They are seldom seen, however, on thrifty, well 

 grown trees, with healthy roots. 



Your pear that had not vigor enough to devel- 

 ope its buds should have been cut back till with- 

 in a few buds of the base, and the roots should 

 have received a watering occasionally, and the 

 roots, if unsound, should have been cut back to 

 the sound wood, to enable them to emit new fibres. 



Apples to China. — One hundred barrels of 

 magnificent pippin apples, from the Pelham farm, 

 Ulster county, N. Y., were recently shipped 

 from Boston to China. This is the first shipment 

 ever made of this fruit to that part of the globe. 

 The trade may yet be equal to that with England. 



Acknowledgments. 



We are under obligations to E. A. McKay, Esq., of Na- 

 ples, for splendid specimens of sweet and sour apples, two 

 varieties new to us. They were somewhat past their 

 prime ; but judging from what flavor was left, and more 

 particularly from their large size and beautiful appearance, 

 they are well worthy of attention. 



— Some tmknown friend for a basket of specimen ap- 

 ples, as follows : No. 1, Baldwin ; No. 2 appears to be 

 Jonathan ; No. 3, White Spanish Reinette of Downing, 

 usuallj- grown here as Holland Pippin ; No. G, Autumn 

 Pearmain ; No. 7 appears to be the Alexander ; we are not 

 certain of this as it was partially decayed. No. 8. Don't 

 know ; No. 13, don't know — had become quite mealy. 



— S. W. Cole, Esq., of the Boston Cultivator, for a box 

 of specimens, which we shall speak of next month. 



— C. Goodrich, Esq., Burlington, Vt., for a copy of the . 

 report of the Annual Cattle Show and Fair of the Chitten- 

 den Co. Ag. Society ; with the address of J. W. May, Esq., 

 delivered on the occasion. We have been in the habit of 

 looking to that region as unfavorable for fruit culture ; but 

 whatever difficulties may be presented by climate or soil 

 seems about to be surmounted by zeal and perseverance. 



The report says — " Of Fruits the show was magnificent. 

 Many were present who had lately seen the splendid col- 

 lection of fruits at Saratoga, and we heard but one opinion 

 expressed of the comparative merits of the two exhibitions, 

 which was that the show of Apples, Pears, Plums, and 

 even Grapes and Peaches at Burlington excelled that at 

 Saratoga, — showing conclusively that at least in all the 

 more valuable fruits the Valley of Lake Champlain can 

 compete successfully with any part of the world. 



" Of Garden Vegetables the show was extensive, and as 

 to quality it is only necessary to say, that at a sale held at 

 the close of the Fair, squashes sold at $1.00, and water-mel- 

 ons at $3.00 each." 



Mr. Goodrich carries off a large share of the premiums 

 for fruit. He receives a premium for the greatest variety 

 of fruitgrown by one individual, viz ; 55 sorts of apples, 11 

 of pears, 11 of plums, 6 of grapes, and 3 of peaches. He 

 also receives a premium for the 5 best fall apples — Porter, 

 Gravenstein, Scarlet Nonpareil, Fameuse, and new Baking 

 Sweet. Also for the 5 best winter apples — Hubbardson 

 Nonsuch, Baldwin, Danvers Winter Sweet, Roxbury Rus- 

 set, and R. 1. Greening. 



Jmo. N. Pomeroy was awarded the premium for the best 

 5 fall pears — Bartlett, St. Michael's White Doyenne, Gan- 

 sell Bergamot, Seckel, and VanNess. Fondante d'Autome, 

 or Belle Lucrative, was awarded the premium as the best 

 new fall pear ; and Gravenstein as the best ?iew fall apple. 



— F. S. Rew, Esq., for a Legislative document containing 

 the Report of the State Library Committee, Message of the 

 Governor, communication of the trustees of the State Li- 

 brary Com., and other documents relative to the system of 

 international exchanges, projected and conducted by the 

 eminent Vattemare. This is one of the most noble of all 

 modern projects, calculated, in an eminent degree, to pro- 

 mote the advancement of the arts and sciences, the cultiva- 

 tion of literature, and indeed the mental and moral improve- 

 ment of natioiis — forming them, as it were, into an immense 

 intellectual brotherhood. The zeal and energy with which 

 Mr. Vattemare has for years, unaided and at his own ex- 

 expense, carried forward this philanthropic scheme has 

 justly attracted universal admiration, and we view his labors 

 as eminently calculated to promote union, peace, and good 

 will among men-. 



In this document we find " instructions" on the best mode 

 of collecting, preserving and forwarding objects of natural 

 history, which we shall refer to at another time. 



— S. Harris, of Canandaigua, for an excellent commu- 

 nication, — which will be attended to next month. 



Our next Volume. — We have just room enough, before 

 adding finis to volume 8, to remark that we shall endeavor 

 to improve the Horticultural Department next year. The 

 Publisher promises us "ample room and verge enough," 

 with superior illustrations, &c., which will enable us to 

 make this department more interesting and acceptable. — 

 Meantime we trust our horticultural friends will lend a por- 

 tion of their influence to increase our subscription list ui 

 their respective localities, — a matter quite essential to the 

 publisher, whose expenses are necessarily heavy. 



