50 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



sometimes almost covered with a handsome crimson. It at- 

 tains good size on younger trees, but on older trees, where, as 

 noted above, growth has become slow, the fruit is apt to run 

 small. This has to be overcome by severe pruning and high 

 fertilizing. The fruit also needs to be thinned to get the best 

 results. In any case the fruit runs very uniform both in size 

 and shaj)e, and for that reason it makes an excellent variety 

 for boxing. The flesh is tender and juicy, and requires care- 

 ful handling in order not to injure it. The season is Septem- 

 ber and October, slightly before the Mcintosh ; but it can be 

 kept until December in good storage. The fruit drops badly 

 from the tree, and the trees should be picked over two or three 

 times. It is at present being quite largely planted, more so 

 than many other varieties ; but, as already noted, its special 

 field is as a filler. 



Good points : — • 



1. Bears very early. 



2. Hardy tree. 



3. Good quaHty. 



4. Uniform grade. 



5. Good color. 



Wealthy. 



Bad points : — • 



1. Drops badly. 



2. Ripens unevenly. 



(5) Iluhhardston. — This is another variety which orig- 

 inated in Massachusetts, having been found at Hubbardstou, 

 Mass., very early in the history of the State. The tree is 

 vigorous, particularly when young, and comes into bearing 

 early, frequently giving a fair scattering of fruit from the 

 orchard at four years. The tree is only moderate in size, but 

 bears heavily, at least biennially and sometimes annually ; 

 it is therefore a good variety to be used as a filler. It is apt 

 to overbear in a productive year, and for this reason should 

 receive careful attention, to keep the soil in a good state of 

 fertility and the foliage free from fungous diseases or insects. 

 It will often be necessary, also, to thin the fruit, in order to 

 keep it up to the proper size. The tree is considerably subject 

 to canker where that disease is prevalent, and the fruit to the 

 railroad worm. Tlie fi'uit is of oxcolbnit quality, being finii, 

 fine-grained and rich, aud when well grown it is finely colored, 



