1850. 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



267 



THE NORTHERN SPY APPLE. 



A FEW days ago we were invited to ride out to Mr. 

 Hand's, of Mendon, in tliis county, to see liis North- 

 ern Spy apple trees before the crops were gathered, 

 and we can safely say that we have never been more 

 gratified with any thing in the way of bearing fruit 

 trees. A great deal has been said about the peculiar 

 tendency of this variety to produce a large proportion 

 of small, inferior, or unmarketable fruit, and we only 

 wish that those wlio entertain such an opinion of it, 

 could have been with us and seen Mr. Hand's, trees. 

 A more abundant, uniform, and perfect crop, we have 

 never seen, of any variety. Twenty-four trees, we 

 believe, in one row, some sixteen years old, with 

 straight trunks sixteen feet high and perhaps a foot 

 in diameter, with lofty symmetrical heads loaded in 

 every part, the boughs bending almost to the ground, 

 with large and beautiful crimson fruit, is surely a 

 pleasing -sight. Of small, unmarketable fruit we 

 could see none. Mr. Hand has probably one hund- 

 red and fifty barrels, and has sold most of them at 

 $•2.50 per barrel, while other varieties sell for $1.25 

 to $1.50. 



It has been said that the Northern Spy requires 

 free pruning and high culture ; and there is no doubt 

 that it will be much better with such treatment, than 

 if neglected. So will all other varieties, and espe- 

 cially those that mature so late in the season. We 

 notice that Mr. Hand's trees are in excellent condi- 

 tion. He has pruned out the centre, so that it is 

 quite open, tlms giving the sunlight free access to 

 all parts of the trees ; but the trees stand too close 

 — the lower branches of the adjoining trees are 

 already meeting and con.ing in contact witli each 

 other, so that the fruit on them are considerably 

 shaded, and consequent' y less highly colored than 

 those on the top brand es, and they will not be so 

 finely flavored. Mr. H \nd pointed out a tree that 

 stood in an open space, and on this every specimen 

 was highly colored. It is false economy to plant 

 apple trees too closely. We allude to this fruit now, 

 for tlie benefit of distant cultivators who remain in 

 doubt as to its value as an orchard variety. 



ACK> OWLEDGEMENTS. 



We have tlie pleasure ol aknovvledging the receipt of the 

 following articles : 



— From Jesse Storks, Esq., of Marathon, N. Y., a basket 

 of the Mtatson Sweet apple — very beautil'ul and fine. VVe 

 sliall take an early opportunity of saying something of the 

 merits of this fruit. 



— From A. IMackie, Esq., of Clyde, N. Y., fine specimens 

 of his Clyde Beauty apple, and other varieties. 



— From Jas. H. Watts, Esq., specimens of the Father 

 apple, with an account of its origin, &.C., from S. H. Ains- 

 woRTH, Esq., of West Bloomlield. N. Y. This is a most 

 delicious fruit, but small and indifl'erent in appearance. — 

 Also, Swanks Orange pear. 



— From M. A. Norton, Esq., of Victor, N. Y., for speci- 

 mens of tlie *' Honey Sweet" apple, ripening from Sept. to 

 Nov., and a most profuse bearer. A fair showy apple, but of 

 inferior flavor. This is not the Honey Sweet of the east. 



• — From W. B. Pratt, of Prattsburgh, N. Y., specimens 

 of tlie Dyer, or Pomme Royal apple, under the name of 

 "Pratt's Fall apple." This we consider decidedly </ie 6ei« 

 apple of its season. Sept. 



— From Jesse Wilbur, of Avon, White Doyenne pears, 

 and several varieties of apples. 



— From Thomas Roe, Gates, a small seedling russet ap- 

 ple of fair quality; and a large, showy, redapple, also said to 

 be a seedling — rather inferior in flavor. 



EXHIBITION OF WINTER FRUITS. 



It is the intention of the Genesee Valley Hort. Soci- 

 ety to hold a grand exibition of winter fruits, in the 

 month of December or January next, of which due 

 notice will be given in the next number of the Par- 

 mer. We now request fruit-growers, amateurs, nur- 

 serymen, &c., to prepare specimens of apples, pears, 

 grapes, fee, for presentation. Our autumn shows 

 afford little opportunity for comparing the merits of 

 winter fruits, and this show may be of great value to 

 all engaged more or less in fruit culture. If cultiva- 

 tors would take the trouble to accompany their speci- 

 mens with notes respecting the soil and situation of 

 the ground on which the fruits have been grown, it 

 would greatly enhance the value of the exhibition ; 

 for every day's experience teaches us that in certain 

 soils some varieties will attain their highest perfec- 

 tion, while others will fail entirely. Facts on such 

 points as these must be industriously collected. 



The 13bason. — The first frost that left its black- 

 ening marks on vegetation, occurred here on the 

 night of the 8th of October, and then only the most 

 tender leaves were killed in low situations. On high 

 grounds, our dahlias are yet (Oct. 14) in perfection, 

 and roses in bloom have not been aft'ected in any part 

 of our grounds ; but the weather has been cool enough 

 since the middle of September, to arrest vegetation, 

 so that we have been able to transplant trees since 

 the 6th of October. 



We are happy to note a growing disposition, in the 

 community generally, to take advantage of our fine 

 autumns for forwarding the improvements in their 

 gardens and grounds. We have glorious a ttumns 

 here, when it is pleasant to be out of doors ; and labor 

 then is much more abundant and cheap than in spring. 



Plants derive all their sustenance from the earth 

 and the air, on the spot where they are placed ; and 

 for this reason arc not provided, like animals, with a 

 set of moveable levers or bones with muscles attached 

 thereto, to carry them from place to place in search 

 of food. And yet there are some plants, familiarly 

 called ru7iners, as the strawberry for instance, which 

 seem fairly entitled to the character of locomotive or 

 migratory. If a person were to plant the orchis or 

 deviVs-bit in his garden, and search for it in the same 

 place six or eight years after, he would probably find 

 it several hundred yards from the spot where he had 

 planted it. Such plants grow from a new bulb or 

 radicle while the old root dies away. Thus we may 

 conclude the living principle has quitted an old, 

 ruined, and decayed mansion, and taken possession 

 of a new one. 



The fluid that circulates in the vessels of a tree, 

 or the sap, is the blood of plants, and is like that of 

 animals, of an extremely compound character. In 

 both instances, from this common current of vitality 

 are secreted a variety of substances of diflerent and 

 often opposite powers and qualities — substances 

 nutritive, medicinal, or destructive. The flesh of 

 the viper is healthful, while his poison is deadly; the 

 leaves of the Indian cassara are poisonous, but its 

 root is eaten as ordinary food. Every one is familiar 

 with the fact that some of our domesticated animals 

 eat with impunity vegetables that would be poisonous 

 to others. F. 



