SJf. The. Western Pomologist and Gardener. 1872 



claimed and as we supposed. Downing, in " Fruits and Fkuit Trees of America," 

 describes Cogswell as being rich yellow, with red stripes, while the Walbridge, as you will 

 see by the samples I send you, is greenish white with bright red stripes. He also says 

 young shoots are down}', while, if anything is positive, it is the fact that the Walbridge 

 shoots are very downy, as you may see from the two little cut? I send with the apples. Mr. 

 J. S. Stickney, President of the Wisconsin Horticultural Society, writes us that he has 

 sample leaves and twigs of Cogswell Irom Ellwanger & Barry, Rochester, New York, and 

 thinks that they are not Identical. 



Mr. Greenman, of Greenman, McGiaw & Day, Whitewater, Wisconsin, was here yester- 

 day and says he has sample apples of Cogswell, from Hooker of Rochester, New York, 

 and he says it is not the same as our Walbridge. Trees of the Walbridge, first set in Sauk 

 county, Wisconsin, are valued at $100 each, being reliable and satisfactory annual bearers. 

 You will find the samples I send you rather green yet. They will be best in May. 



As a nursery tree the Walbridge is all that can be desired — being the admiration of all 

 who see it. As to hardiness the test it has had ought to satisfy all. The cions I send you 

 have been exposed to 30 ^ below zero — cold that has killed our Flemish Beauty Pears. > 

 Yet our Walbridge are as bright as ever. — A. L. Hatch, Ithaca, Wisconsin, Dec. X'ith, 1871. 



Remarks. — We find the Walbridge a very handsome apple, and from its condition now 

 (February 10th) think it must be one of the best of keepers. The specimens are appa- 

 rently as plump and sound to-day as when taken from the trees. When in eating condi- 

 tion we shall try it and say what we think of it. 



How Sball I Prune ? 



Ed. Pomologist and Gardener.— I have but little experience in fruit culture. In 

 dwarf fruit none ; but have confidence in your judgment. In the spring of 1870 I planted 

 apple and cherry trees. In the summer of 1870 they made but little growth. This last 

 summer, all made rapid growth, say two feet and upward. I hoe them as I do my garden 

 vegetables, free from weeds. What treatment shall I give them by way of cutting back, 

 and when ? Or shall I give them none at all ? I have no advice on the subject, only hear 

 it said, they must bo cut back. Any advice you may give through the Pomologist and 

 Gardener, or otherwise, will be very thankfully received. N. Bates, Fontanelle, Iowa. 



Remarks. — By some mishap the foregoing was mi-slaid, and has just turned up. It is 

 about as diflicult to give anything like specific directions for pruning a tree without seeing 

 it, as it would be for a physician to prescribe understandingly for a patient of whose case 

 he knew nothing but the simple fact of illness. We believe in pruning more or less» 

 We cannot grow a tree exactly to our taste without, nor have we ever found two trees that j 

 required like treatment in all respects. We avoid heading back as far as possible ; aim to j 

 make no more extent of growth than needful for a good tree, which may be regulated to j 

 a very great extent by the right kind of management. If there is a surplus growth, we I 

 prefer to take it out clean to the stem. As to the time for pruning, it should be done with 

 reference to the best time for healing over the wound made by amputation. We prefer 

 the latter part of May, on through the month of June — a time when the tree is making itsj 

 most vigorous growth of the season. We have pruned in every month, and kiww froB 

 many years' close observation, that a wound made at the season mentioned, will healove^ 

 quicker and sounder than if made at any other time in the whole year. Try it and see. 



Tlie Best ^Vay to malie an Osage Hedge. 



Ed. p. & G. — From an occasional article I see copied from western papers, I infer Ihati 

 a very great interest is felt among your prairie farmers on the subject of fences. I se^ 

 that various methods are practiced in making Osage Hedge, but among all none so good 

 as the plan adopted in some parts of this State, and though published in some of our 

 agricultural journals, will no doubt be new and of good service to very many of your 

 prairie farmers. I see that plashing, that is, cutting the plants partlj' off when three or 

 four years old and interweaving them is recommended in the West. To such treatment 



