216 [Assembly 



Mr. Meigs also spoke of the benefits the country might derive from 

 the distribution of grafts or scions of the best fruits ; that he had 

 himself, within three or four years, distributed 30,000 for the Farm- 

 ers' Club. 



The Hon. Hugh Maxwell remarked, that he came here to learn — 

 to obtain information from practical men who had assembled from 

 yarious parts of the country. He wished for a general discussion, to 

 avail himself of the experience of this body. 



THE CULTURE AND MANAGEMENT OF FRUITS. 



James H. Watts, of Rochester, N. Y., presented the follo^^'ing 

 communication relative to the JVorthem Spy apple : 



Rochester, Monroe Co., JV. Y. 

 To the President of the Pomological Convention at JVeio-York : 



In presenting the " Northern Spy " apple amongst so great a variety 

 of apples as are here before us, I feel that facts regarding its origin, 

 the growth of the tree and its fruitfulness, will not be amiss. 



Like every new thing now-a-days, to establish its character has 

 been no small task. It is enough to say, that I find it has friends 

 now wherever known. 



It has been repeatedly published, that from seeds brought from 

 Connecticut forty years ago, (which were planted by the late Oliver 

 Chapin, in East Bloomfield, New-York,) the first tree was produced, 

 and from the tree suckers were taken and planted, the original having 

 died. The trees from which the apples were taken, now presented, 

 are growing in Mendon, N. Y., and I can truly say, I have never seen 

 a more beautiful sight than the fruit with which they were loaded. 



I went fifteen miles to see them, that I could tell the Convention 

 that an estimate was made that from the twenty-three trees one hun- 

 dred and fifty barrels of the apples would be secured, one hundred of 

 which were selected fruit ; and the crop sold for three hundred dol- 

 lars, and this in a region of country where other choice apples sell at 

 one dollar per barrel. 



The tree grows upright, and needs thorough pruning to give the 

 fruit color as well as flavor. 



