Editorial Miscdlany. 241 



grown upon a young tree forced into bearing by high cultivatiou, 

 and bore the past season its first crop. The soil of our orchard is 

 gravelly loam. We have enumerated these particulars to call at- 

 tention to the facts. January and February will be the best, and 

 with many the only time to make observations as to the extent of 

 the deterioration. As far as our information extends, the fruit 

 growers in some sections of the northeastern and western por- 

 tions of the State, make the same complaint. 



Apples have already become a staple of Michigan, and if the 

 thousands of trees now growing, supposed to be the latest keep- 

 ers, prove only to be medium, our markets will be nearly destitute 

 of apples by the first of March, unless different varieties are 

 grown. With us, the Newtown pippin has not proved itself what 

 it is recommended to be in other locations ; it is, three years out 

 of four, scrubby, and of a diminutive size. 



We do not wish to condemn it. We only'' advise caution, so 

 that orchardists may not set too freely until it is proved to be 

 adapted to our climate. It may be well calculated for some loca- 

 tions and soils. We advise the same as to the Northern Spy. 

 We consider it in flavor not equal to the Esopus Spitzenburgh, 

 Westfield Seek-no-further, and some other sorts, and if it does not 

 prove with others a later keeper than with us, it is tmworthy of 

 cultivation, because we have better varieties at maturity at the 

 same time. The apple crop is of more importance than all our 

 other fruits combined, therefore attention ought to be paid to it in 

 proportion to its value. 



(The only reason that we can surmise as conducing to this de- 

 cline in the keeping qualities of apples in western regions, is the 

 unnatural distension of the fruit, induced by extraordinary fer- 

 tility of soil. This excessive growth entirely changes the cha- 

 racter of the fruit, in many instances, to such a degree, that emi- 

 nent pomologists have been puzzled to distinguish some well 

 known varieties. The Eoxbury Eusset was so altered by its in- 

 troduction to Ohio soil that it received a new name — a fresh 

 claimant for the honor of its origin. If the character of a fruit 

 is thus altered exteriorily, there must be a similar change in its 

 interior economy. Everything in both animal and vegetable na- 

 ture becomes coarse by excessive stimulation. The conducting 

 power is for a time greatly increased ; decaying influences have 

 an easy access ; and, lastly, the over excitement, the unnatural 



