Notes and Gleariings. I2I 



placed in the second or third rank ; some giving it an even inferior position in 

 the scale. I know of but one man who regards it as a first-rate apple ; and his 

 taste has not, perhaps, been properly educated. With my own knowledge of it, 

 and with strong prepossessions in its favor as a market-fruit, I confess it looks 

 like straining a point to call it a number two in quality. But let its true rank be 

 what it may, — and tastes will differ, — the query I wish to present is. Shall we 

 plant it in preference to the Bellflower and many other superior sorts .'' I have 

 no hesitation in taking the affirmative of the proposition. 



In some localities, the character of the Bellflower as a bearer is much better 

 than in others, but barely tolerable in any. Its general character throughout 

 the West is that of a very shy bearer, or no bearer at all under the age of fifteen 

 or twenty years. I know a row of trees of this variety, in a locality well adapted 

 to fruit generally, and in a not very strong soil, which have been eighteen years 

 transplanted, and are near a foot in diameter, which have never yet borne a 

 bushel of fruit each. The profit in growing such trees is hard to figure by any 

 common arithmetic. The Ben Davis, in the same locality and in the same kind 

 of soil, will pay for itself in seven or eight years from the nursery, and will 

 thenceforward give uniform good crops as often as any other sort known. The 

 question simply is, Shall we plant apples that will respond generously to our 

 exertions and care, even though the quality be none of the best ? or shall we con- 

 fine ourselves to the superior sorts only, and meet with continual disappoint- 

 ment .'' 



It is urged that we should strive to be leaders of public opinion, and educa- 

 tors of the tastes of the people ; and hence should place before them, and ask 

 them to use, only the best. True ; but shall we bid them discard beef, and 

 only advise the eating of meat when turkey and lamb are attainable .'' Shall we 

 have them discard Concords, and only partake of grapes when Muscats and 

 Black Hamburgs are to be had .'' Perhaps the time may come, as the millennium 

 approaches, when Muscats and Hamburgs, and turkey and lamb, will be as 

 plentiful as Concords and beef; but it is not likely to be in our day and genera- 

 tion ; and, until there be some sign of its approach, it would seem to be the 

 part of common prudence to plant with reference to the attainable. Morello 

 cherries, acid as they are, make much better pies and tarts than any quantity 

 of Eltons and Belle Magnifiques in prospect, and are more highly relished by 

 the inner man. 



I would therefore urge the planter of apples, as well as of all other fruits, to 

 make selection of such sorts as will soonest bring a compensating return. 

 Let the questions of quality, size, color, and shape, be subordinate ones. In- 

 stead of adopting this rule, very many planters make quality the first consider- 

 ation, holding aloof the questions of productiveness and adaptability. Hence 

 so many failures and so much disappointment in fruit-culture. They are told 

 that the Bellflower is a very fine apple ; that the Baldwin, Rhode-Island Green- 

 ing, and Roxbury Russet, are ditto (I write from a Western stand-point). These 

 statements are believed ; and they are true to the letter. But the whole truth 

 had not been told. They plant in the light of the knowledge they possess ; and 

 disappointment, vexation, and pecuniary loss, follow. Had I planted only Ben 



