122 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



ORCHARDS AND FRUITS.— APPLES. 



ESSEX. 



From the Report of the Committee. 



Perhaps the most noticeable apple upon the tables was the 

 Hubbardston Nonesuch, which has of late years been growing 

 more and more in favor ; and this year it excels all others, both 

 in size of fruit and productiveness of the tree. This is probably 

 now the best apple of its season, while the Baldwin, Russet and 

 Greening still continue to be the best long-keeping varieties. 

 Among earlier apples, the Gravenstein is looking remarkably 

 well ; while its companion, the Porter, is generally, this season, 

 small and inferior. We believe the apple, more than almost 

 any other fruit, is local in its character, and that those varieties 

 which originated in this vicinity, and have proved superior here, 

 have generally, for a term of years, been the most profitable and 

 best suited to our soil and climate. There are some exceptions, 

 certainly, but we would caution those who are planting or graft- 

 ing trees not to be misled by the high-sounding names and 

 praises of many of the New York and Western apples. 



We would respectfully suggest to this society, that in our 

 opinion some of the varieties upon its list are not worthy of cul- 

 tivation ; and your Committee believe, judging from their obser- 

 vation from year to year, that no really good specimens are or 

 can be brought to the exhibition of such varieties as Seaver's 

 Sweet, Ramsdell's Red Sweet, Jonathan, Fallawater, &c., and 

 we have thought it best not to award premiums to them. 



We would advise planters to confine themselves to a few vari- 

 eties, and those of the highest excellence. But in dealing with 

 facts, we admit that apples do not flourish as they formerly did ; 

 that the trees, as a general thing, look badly ; many are dead, 

 many more are half dead, while others look green and vigorous. 

 These last are usually found where they have been planted in a 

 congenial soil, have been properly trimmed, and in most cases 

 cultivated, and above all, have been protected from the canker- 

 worms where the scourge has visited them. 



Many of the pomological writers of the present day are re- 

 gretting the failure of the apple crop, attributing it to a lack of 



