1871 



THE WESTERN POMOLOGIST. 



59 



Dr. Stewart — Dear Sir : A neighbor, Rev 

 Ridgely, wishes to put iu print the experience of 

 some enterprising and successful fruit-grower of 

 the peninsula. Mr. Allison tells me you are one 

 of t/w peach men of your section. We will regard 

 it a great favor if you will give us the figures in 

 reference to your operations, also of any others 

 within your certain knowledge. The age and num- 

 lier of trees, first cost of land, tlic produce, &c. 



J. F. M, Eulf/dy, M(l. Dee. 19, 1870. 



Remarks. — The foregoing inquiry should have 

 preceded the rei)ly of Dr. Stewart on page 4C, but 

 was overlooked in making-up. 



About Oregon. — Ed. Pomoloyisl : This day (Dec. 

 31) is the last of 1870, and the weather is mild and 

 pleasant. Stock roams in the pastures, fat. If dis- 

 posed, or were it necessary, we might now plow, 

 sow, and plant trees. In looking over my sale book 

 of trees for tlie last year or more, 1 find that from 

 the 15th of October, 18G9, to the 10th of April, 1870, 

 I dug and soUl trees from the nursery every week. 

 What other section of our great country can boast 

 of a finer climate than this? The time was, when 

 everything we had to export had to go by way of 

 California, and she got the credit of our splendid 

 wheat, flour and bacon. But things have changed. 

 We now have direct communication with China 

 and other parts of the world, and we have wheat, 

 flour, lumber and other products to export. Some 

 of tlie Northern Pacific Railroad men are now here 

 making arragements to commence work upon this 

 end of the line. 



At another time I may tell you something about 

 fruit here. H. Hanson, Portland, Oregon. 



Pear Blight — Another Theory. — A corres- 

 pondent of the Rural New Yorker says : "There 

 may be something in my views relative to the neces- 

 sity of pruning away all second or late autumn 

 grown slioots on the pear or apple. Judging from 

 many years of observation, I know there can be no 

 harm in the practice, and I strongl}' believe there is 

 benefit, if indeed, it be not in itself safeguard, in 

 the prevention of one class of blight. 



My view is that the late autumn growth never, or 

 rarely fully ripens to perfection ; and that the frosts 

 ot winter bursts and destroys more or less of the 

 natural tissue and channels of circulation, leaving 

 the sap poisoned by slow decay ; and as soon as 

 vegetation comes in spring, and the leaf is grown, 

 so tliat a return of sap toward the root is formed, 

 with tliat flows more or less poisonous sap, many 

 times leaving traces on its way, tliat soon increase 

 with warmth and circulation until they exhibit 

 fully to the common obscrvor in blackened branch 

 and browned foliage." 



About Pear Seeds. — Ed. Pomologist: Being a 

 reader of the Pomologist, I wish to know, through 

 its columns, what is the proper way to treat pear 

 seed to have success, as I have tried it and cannot 

 get them to grow. I put them in sand and froze 

 them as apple seed. Also, the Stayman's Summer 

 Apple. Can I get a half dozen cions? I wish to~^ 

 try them. Is not the Wagner more apt to be dam- 

 aged by the borer than the trees of other varieties ? 

 It is thought so by some people obout here. 



H. G"., Springmlle, Iowa. 



Remarks. — Pear seeds should receive the same 

 treatment given to apple seeds. We soak the seed 

 ten to twenty-four hours, mix with saw-dust or 

 loam — in bulk about two parts of dust or loam to 

 one of seed. Then freeze, and keep so till planting 

 time. Send to Dr. Stayman for scions. We have a 

 large number of Wagner trees in our orchard. Do 

 not see as the borer is partial to them. 



Ed. Pomglgist : We are having a very fine win- 

 ter as usual. About two weeks of December the 

 weatlier was cold and clear. January so far has 

 been perfect spring. Tree planting is going on 

 briskly and the farmers are putting in spring grain. 

 I have some fear that the warm weather will swell 

 the fruit buds and expose them to frost that we 

 may have in March. Your journal is liked by 

 every one I show it to. Success to it. 



N A. B. Roberts. 



Walla Walla, WasJdngton T. Jan. 25, 1871. 



The Soulard Crab. — Ed. Pomologist: Permit me 

 through your journal to say a word in favor of the 

 Soulard Crab. Though decidedly a poor apple to eat 

 from the hand, as a culinary fruit it has but few if 

 any equals, and is worthy a place in all gardens. 

 The fruit I deem equal to the quince, and in use 

 from November till May. The tree a strong grower, 

 bears young, and good yearly crops. Every family 

 should have a tree or two. Peter M. Gideon. 



Eredsior, Minn. 



Calieornia Figs. — The Calaveras Chronicle 

 says Victor Partroon of the Esperanza ranch has 

 shipped to San Francisco, this fall, 1,500 pounds of 

 dried figs of a superior quality, which brought 

 from 15 to 18 cents per pound. Also two tons of 

 dried plums, which sold readily for 30 cents — all 

 by himself. This result shows^what a little energy 

 may do, in utilizing the surplus products of our 

 orchards and .small fruit nurseries. 



Asparagus prom Seed. — The Gardener's 

 Monthly says : "It has been argued that asparagus 

 will not come true from seed, but, like rhubarb, it 

 can be propagated true oniy by division of the 

 roots. There is no reason why varieties of aspara- 

 gus may not do as well from seed as peas or beans." 



