Apples. 1 5 



Some fruit-growers place soft hay under their trees for the fruit to fall 

 on : such is a very good method to adopt, if they will pick up the fallen 

 fruit often, so that they will not fall on each other, and bruise ; for the one 

 on the hay will bruise just as much as the falling one that hits it. 



The tree makes wood slowly after it commences bearing fruit, is a 

 constant bearer, has but few leaves, and is often quite deficient in the 

 roots : therefore it must have good feed. High manuring is indispensable; 

 as barrenness follows, if neglected. 



As a table-fruit, it stands alone in the market, in its season \ and with the 

 Red Astrachan for a cooking-apple, both ripening at the same time, they 

 may be alone the two most popular varieties, of their season, of sub-acid 

 fiuit. 



Red Astrachan. — Origin supposed to be in the realm of the Russian 

 czar. Fruit large, flattish-round, bright crimson in the sun, dark yellow 

 in the shade, and covered with a pale-white bloom ; stalk four-tenths of an 

 inch long, set in a deep cavity ; tree vigorous, very hardy, a prodigious 

 bearer ; adapts itself to any soil or climate, but a good rich soil will make 

 larger and better fruit : sometimes it overbears, and the fruit rots on the 

 tree. The fruit must be ripened on the tree^ or else it will soon rot. If 

 picked before the bloom is fully matured, it will decay before it mellows ; 

 and, even before its decay, the flavor will be deficient. Its ripeness may be 

 ascertained correctly by the finished ripeness of the bloom. 



In harvesting, the fruit should be selected by hand, or the limbs may be 

 jarred, that the ripe fruit may fall on soft hay placed under the trees. The 

 fruit for cooking is unsurpassed : its spicy flavor does not dissipate in cook- 

 ing. The addition of tropical spices only deteriorates its real richness. 

 It needs only to be tried without foreign spices to be appreciated. 



Sweet Bough. — Highly valued as a table-fruit. In the market, possesses 

 a high reputation. 1 have seen many other varieties sold in our markets 

 for Sweet Boughs- In New York, when Sweet Boughs commanded ten 

 shillings per basket of three pecks, other kinds were often sold for four 

 shillings per basket, and called Sweet Boughs ; the purchaser thinking he 

 had got the genuine article. 



Fruit large ; form conical ; color straw when fully ripe ; flesh white, very 

 tender and crisp, possessing a sweet, sprightly flavor ; tree moderately vig- 



