90 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Feb. 



that yielded more than three hundred harrels of 

 fruit of best quality, the past season ; — and about 

 the same quantity in the season of 1850. The 

 ground about these trees has been kept in a per- 

 fectly pulverized state for a half a dozen years or 

 more, and manured like a garden. Can any one 

 doubt that the proprietor has found the reward of 

 his labor, in the abundance and quality of his 

 fruit? 



The benefits of such culture is particularly seen, 

 in relation to the Dancers Winter Sweet. When 

 fully cultivated, it yields fruit large, fair and 

 bright ; — when left with the grass growing under 

 and about the tree, the first is dwarfish, spotted, 

 and oftentimes knurly. The same is true, to a 

 great extent, in relation to the Baldwin, both of 

 which, I have often observed. p. 



Jan. 10, 1853. 



Remarks. — We fully agree with our intelligent 

 correspondent in what he says above. Some I'e- 

 marks which we have made on the subject of cul- 

 tivating orchards, were with the intention of cau- 

 tioning persons against entering their orchards 

 with large plows and heavy teams and tearing up 

 the earth and roots, as they would those in re- 

 claiming a meadow. 



Our own practice is to cultivate where the trees 

 are compact, and to dig around and manure those 

 standing in pastures, once or twice a year. 



ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. 



From Mr. Asa Clements, nurseryman, Dracut, 

 fine specimens of the Winter Green Sweeting, 

 Mother Apple, and Jewett's Fine Red. The first 

 is rather too dry — the other two apples of fine fla- 

 vor and well worth cultivation if they are good 

 bearers. 



Also, later, a box of fine apples from Mr. Clements, 

 of Dracut. With some good judges we have tast- 

 ed the fruit and do not think his recommendations 

 too high, and so stand aside and let him speak for 

 himself. He says, 



I send you six varieties of apples. No. 1. 

 Minister, a well known variety in Essex County ; 

 with me, it is nut strong and vigoi'ous in the nur- 

 sery, but is hardy in the tree, and produces enor- 

 mous crops of fair and good keeping fruit. 



No. 2. Presidrnt. — The original tree is now 

 standing on the farm of Capt. John White, (1 

 think it is John) in Salem, N. H. It was in a 

 bearing state, when Washington was inaugurated 

 President, and was named for him. I have seen 

 it full of showy fruit twice within a few years. 

 The tree now looks venerable and healthy, and as 

 though it might outlive the people of Pelham, and 

 a large portion of ''the rest of mankind." In the 

 nursery, rather vigorous. 



No. 3. Mother. — I'his variety I have once only, 

 fruited, and these specimens are a portion of the 

 crop. In my judgment it is one of the best apples 

 extant, and sliould think from appearances quite 

 prolific ; though on that point, the short experience 

 I have had will not enable me to determine with 

 accuracy. 



No. 4. Jewctt's Fine Red, or Nod-head. — This ap- 



ple, I have been informed is addicted to the naughty 

 (knotty) habit of growing unfair for two or three 

 years when it first begins to bear, and as far as ray 

 own experience will enable me to judge it sustains 

 that reputation to the fullest extent, albeit it is a 

 fine apple, and worthy of cultivation. Young trees 

 are tolerably vigorous and form beautiful heads, 

 well balanced, between the upright and horizon- 

 tal. 



No. 5. R^d Cheek. — A local name, scarcely known 

 out of Dracut ; matures immediately after the Por- 

 ter, Oct. and Nov., and fills a space that is almost 

 a vacuum hereabouts so flir as good apples are con- 

 cerned. I had about three bushels which wore the 

 most beautiful in appearance, and 1 had almost 

 said, in quality, of any apple on my fiirm. I cer- 

 tainly sold them better than any other, this sea- 

 son, except the Early Sweet Bough, which always 

 commands a good price on account of its good 

 qualities and early maturity. They grew on one 

 side of an old tree grafted four or five years ago, 

 with three other sorts, on other parts of the same 

 tree. It grows well, and bears ditto ; young trees 

 strong and vigorous, and I regret that through 

 negligence or some other cause, they have been 

 permitted to dwindle nearly out of the nursery. 

 They shall be renewed. » 



No. 6. Name unknown, a late fall apple ; my 

 father brought the scions from Vermont a few 

 years since. It was there called Red Cheek, which 

 name appears to be a misnomer, as there is seldom 

 any blush upon them, except on specimens much 

 exposed to the sun. Young tr^es hardy and pretty 

 fair growers, and in my estimatio it is deserving 

 a name and cultivation. Please make the best 

 use of the single specimen I send. 



AsA Clement. 



Dracut, Jan. 13, 1853. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 DEATH OF WM= G. LAKE, ESQ. 



Died in Topsfield, on the 10th inst., Mr. Wil- 

 liam G. Lake, aged 45 years. 



Mr. Lake was somewhat extensively known, aa 

 a horticulturist and dealer in nursery trees. He 

 had devoted his whole time and energies, for the 

 last fifteen years, to the cultivation of fruit and 

 fruit trees. lie had spared no pains or expense to 

 procure the best varieties for cultivation. He had 

 made himself practically acquainted with the grow- 

 ing of trees, and of performing the various nurse- 

 ry operations. 



For several years past, his tables at our agri- 

 cultural and horticultural shows have not been 

 surpassed by any otiier contributor. 



lie had, ibr several years, supplied the vicinity 

 with fruit trees, and sevei'al pares of the common- 

 wealth, the southern parts of New Hampshire, 

 and even the inhabitants of California will soon be 

 gathering fruit from trees sent out by iNIr Lake, 

 and which were raised on the soil of Topstield. 



JNIr. Lake lias sold trees from 25 cents to 25 dol- 

 lars apiece. He has left on his grounds, (ten 

 acres) between twenty and thirty thousand worked 

 fruit trees from one to four years old, on the bud, 

 for transplanting, besides leaving the grounds sup- 

 plied with standard trees, just beginning to bear 

 limit ; various ornamental trees have had a full 

 share of his attention. 



The town of Topsfield is indebted to Mr. Lake 



