38 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



I refer to a number of specimens and varieties (unnamed) of natural 

 seedlings, some of which I should judge at the time of eating would 

 be very tine. These seedlings, as described to me, were the pro- 

 duct of natural seed, and to my mind convinced me of the theory 

 I have long held. F. K. Phccnix of Bloomingdale, 111., is, I tliinii, 

 one of the strong advocates of this theor\' and plan. I i>elieve in 

 taking seed from large, good-grown, natural fruit, both apple and 

 pear, to obtain hardy, strong fruit trees, and when a cluuice seed- 

 ling shows itself it is generally a good one. It takes strong varieties 

 to produce strong varieties, and this, I believe, is the only way to 

 create strong sorts both as relates to hardihood and quality. Nearly 

 all of our older noted varieties of fruit are chance seedlings, and 

 grew natural and produced natural results. We have an account of 

 about all of the hybrids and fancy fertilized varieties (Wealthy in- 

 cluded) and not one of tliem ranks with our older varieties such as 

 Baldwin, Northern Spy, Ilubbardston and many others we all could 

 mention ; and these we can well aflirm received no other attention 

 than what they received from the natural gifts of the storehouse of 

 mother earth. This is a lesson that will admit of greater study than 

 it generall}' receives. 



Trees coming from the hot-bed nurseries of New York and else- 

 where as geuerally grown are not the trees for Maine men and orchard- 

 ists to set out. I have heard men say in years past that they have 

 orchards that are fine, and I also have seen tliem growing, but to-day 

 many of them are showing signs of disease and decay. "Owing to 

 what?" some will ask. I answer, owing to high feeding at the start, 

 and being too quickl}' grown. This tells the whole story, and still 

 farmers persist in buying and setting out these trees to meet with 

 disappointment and failure. If I were to set a New York tree, 

 crown grafted, I would not set any variety other than Northern Sp3' 

 and Talman's Sweet to secure hardiness. The Spys I would re-graft 

 on setting with bearing scions of the same variety. I do not claim 

 that at this day a Northern Spy is a tardy bearer, but I think a man 

 would be likely to die two deaths before a New York or a commercial- 

 grown Northern Sp3' would bear, owing to being grafted with side 

 shoots. The advantages are : grow stock from natural seed of good 

 and large fruit at home for home orchards, graft well up with good 

 bearing scions. The disadvantages are : plant trees sent hundreds 

 of miles with roots mutilated and exposed, of tender and unknown 



