360 Notes and Gleanings. 



men in this age of rapid enterprise are deterred from embarking in this culture. 

 It is true that an abundant reward may be expected to follow a judicious culture 

 on land not held at high prices, even during the lifetime of the planter. Still it 

 is also true that he will get but a moiety of the crop, at the most : the best part 

 of his orchard, if properly cared for, will be left for the succeeding generation. 

 It is for this reason that it may be worthy of consideration whether the State 

 should in some way encourage the plantation of the apple, as it may also of 

 forest trees. Can there be a doubt, that it would result in public gain, if gener- 

 ous and permanent prizes should be offered by the State and by our societies 

 for extensive and well-kept apple-orchards, as well as for the products ? In this 

 connection it is to be remembered that the Paradise stock has done very much 

 in mitigation of this difficulty of time. The dwarf apple is indeed a great acqui- 

 sition for family use, performing the same office for this fruit as the quince does for 

 the pear. It will require the same care, the same regular and full supply of food, 

 constant watching lest the top should outgrow, overtax, and overload the root ; 

 but, with this reasonable care, it will give equally as satisfying and bountiful re- 

 sults. No sight in the fruit-garden can be more beautiful than a well-formed 

 and evenly-loaded dwarf Astrachan, or Williams ; the highest fruit being within 

 easy reach from the ground. While the standard apple, when in its prime, pro- 

 duces such immense quantities, and the price consequently rules low, we do not 

 attach the same importance to the dwarf apple that we do to the dwarf pear ; 

 still it is of far more value to small families than is generally supposed. It de- 

 velops early, within two or three years from planting ; it gives a moderate, a 

 family supply of each kind ; it occupies but little room in the garden ; and its 

 size renders it comparatively easy to protect it from disease. For all small gar- 

 dens, we would advise the planting of dwarf apples, at least of the early varie- 

 ties, for family use, until the winter kinds can be purchased in quantity at low 

 rates. 



" The first exhibition of apples was on the 8th of August, at which time there 

 was a good display of the early standard kinds, — the Harvest, River, Astrachan, 

 and Williams. From this time, throughout the season, and especially at the 

 annual exhibition, the display was extensive, and excellent in quality. Williams 

 was first for summer, Gravenstein was first for fall,'and Northern Spy was first 

 for winter. The excellence in quality, and the superior specimens of the Spy, 

 overcame its low point of unproductiveness and other undesirable habits for 

 general culture. Specimens of Grimes's Golden Pippin were exhibited Dec. 5, 

 which were of fine appearance, and the quality was very agreeable. We regard 

 it as promising. 



" The Grape — All will agree that the season has been extremely unpropitious 

 for this crop. Still we have had a fair exhibition of this fruit on our tables, and 

 many fields have yielded a moderate return from the more hardy varieties. 

 Some marked instances of success have been noticed. Messrs. Davis & Bates, 

 and also Mr. S. G. Damon, have exiiibited fine collections, including the more 

 tender and difficult varieties ; illustrating the advantage of close fences for pro- 

 tection. The grape does not flourish with that spontaneity that we notice on the 

 shores of Lake Erie, or the Ohio River. We do not propose to compete, when 



