14 



THE WESTERN POMOLOGIST. 



1811 



For the Western PomologUt. 



Randoiu Thoughts. Hale'* Early aii<1 

 Other Peaches 



By F. R. Elliott, Cleveland, Ohio. 



Friend Miller : Upon the receipt of each 

 number of the Western Pomologist, I threaten 

 to write a few words, for eacli number brings out 

 some new thought or association of ideas, to which 

 I feel like adding; but mj'.time has been so fully 

 occupied with completing absolute demands that I 

 have had to forego my own wishes and wait a more 

 convenient season. 



Just now I am in receipt of your closing number 

 for 1870, and the little paragz-aph on the Hale's 

 Early Peach, reminds me that M. B. Bateham Esq., 

 at the meeting of tlie Ohio State Horticultural 

 Society a short time since, stated that with him 

 trees growing on poor, thin land, did not rot their 

 fruit, while trees only a short distance away, but 

 on land that gave to the tree vigorous growth, the 

 fruit decayed so fast that it was difficult to get it 

 to market ere it was spoiled. I have a number of 

 trees of this variety on poor, clay soil, and the fruit 

 has decayed persistently for the past three years. 

 Nor have I, in visiting hundreds of trees in varied 

 soils and locations, as yet met an ■ instance of entire 

 freedom from decay. I am pretty much of the 

 opinion that the variety is like lona grape, adapted 

 only to certain locations. 



In answer to a question of T. D. Hick's, about 

 the hardiiiood of the peach, I would suggest to 

 him the Abncotef — known in some nurserymen's 

 catalogues as the Onoige, and in others as Yellow 

 Admirable. I have not grown it for several years, 

 because it is quality is not quite the best, but years 

 since when I did grow it, I had peaches from the 

 trees every year. 



In your remarks to "J.vsper," I must saj- I differ 

 with you, and believe you will find the cherry gen- 

 erally sold in the western markets to be the old 

 Flemish and cinile distinct IVoni the true Early 

 Richmond. 



4 ^ * 



For the Western Pomologist. 



Oregon Horticultural Notes— No. 2. 



By a. E. Siiipi.EV, OswEiiO, O. T., Nov. -38. 



Mr. Mark Mn.i.KR : Have been planting grape 

 vines and cuttings to-day. Weather warm and de- 

 lightful. Ground in tine order for working. Grape 

 vines still hold their foliage in one of our vine- 

 yards. Have seen no ice yet ; can j'ou say so much 

 in Iowa, — 250 miles soutli of us ? Our weather 

 prophets have been predicting a very hard winter ; 

 I don't believe they know much about it. We have 

 had just enough rain to put the grmind in order for 

 the plow, and now all over this magnificent valley 

 the plow is speeding merrily. The autumn business 



of the nurserymen is at its height, and tree plant- 

 ing is brisk. Late in the fall is the proper time to 

 plant trees and vines in Oregon. The roots heal 

 over and commence to grow a little during the 

 winter, and when the warm weather of spring 

 comes they are all ready to start into vigorous 

 growth. In making up the record of the seas6n, I 

 will commence with the Strawberry. 



This delicious berry was very abundant and 

 fine, commencing to ripen the last of May, and 

 continuing a long time. During the early part of 

 the season they brought fair prices, say from one 

 dollar down to eight cents per pound ; but the 

 raspberry and cherry coming in before the straw- 

 berries were all gone, manj' of the latter were sold 

 at rates which did not pay cost of production. The 

 wild strawberry in many varieties grows all over 

 this valley. In man}' places tliey are large aiid fine 

 flavored, while in otlier places they grow small and 

 right on the ground. On our place they are plentiful 

 and very fine. The cultivated strawberries mostly 

 grown here are Longworth, Agriculturist, Pea- 

 body, Triomphe De Gand and Wilson. The newer 

 varieties are being introduced. I shall have seven- 

 teen kinds in bearing next season and will endeavor 

 to report their success. The hill method of culture 

 is the only one that is successful here, and is uni- 

 versally adopted. The distance varies according to 

 the fancy or judgment of the cultivator. My own 

 method is to plow and harrow the ground thor- 

 oughly, then furrow it out in rows three and one- 

 half feet apart and set the plants eighteen or twenty 

 inches apart in the row, cultivate well and keep the 

 runners clii)ped. Treated in this way a bed will 

 last six or eight j'cars. It needs no winter protec- 

 tion. Before the strawberries arc all gone we begin 

 to regale ourselves with tliat other lusciotis fruit, 

 the Raspberry. 



The Raspberry succeeds admirably in Oregon, 

 bearing abundantly and needing no protection in 

 winter. The crop brought this season eight to ten 

 cents per pound. We grow mostly the Fastoll" 

 Franconia, Doolittle, and the native Black Cap, 

 which bears a large and sweet berry not so highly 

 flavored as the Doolittle. Will test many new 

 kinds next season. 



With the raspberry comes that peerless fruit, the 

 Cherry, which grows here in the utmo.st perfec- 

 ti(5n ; all kinds do equally well. The crop never 

 faik entirely, and generally we have abundant crops 

 of fruit that is absolutely unapproachable in size 

 and quality. The trees, like all other fruit trees 

 in Oregon, commence to bear very young and con- 

 tinue to bear enormous crops year after year. We 

 have all the varieties of any note known in the 

 Eastern States, besides many Oregon seedlings. The 

 varieties most in favor are Kentish, May Duke, 

 Knight's Early Black, Black Eagle, Black Tartarian, 



