14-6 The Western Pomologist and Gardener. 1872 



Fralt In Nebraska«Eaect9 of the Last ^Vinter. 



Br RoBr. W. i^uRNis, BiiowNsv[LLE, Neb. 



Ed. Pomologist akd Gardener: I have often, this Spring thought of dropping you 

 a line as tj our fruit prospects this year, but as our spring has been so backward, every 

 minute almost, has been otherwise employed. The past winter was a remarkably hard 

 one here, as almost everywhere else in the west, and as stated the spring more backward 

 than for the past sixteen years. Many trees and vines suffered severely last winter, in 

 fact were killed out-right. In my own orchard, I have noted results closely. One Peach 

 orchard of near three thousand native seedling trees, only six trees are injured or 

 killed. In another of one thousand trees, budded varieties from New Jersey, only three 

 trees were killed. Another of two thousand trees obtained from Pennsylvania, over three 

 hundred trees are killed. The Seedlings were five years old, the budded varieties four 

 years old. The Warfield and St. Lawrence apple trees three years old in nursery rows 

 were badly damaged. Catawba and Isabella gr:ipe vines, four years old, without protec- 

 tion were killed to the ground. The same with Rogers 15 and 19, and Salem, and Walter. 

 The lona and Israella were somewhat touched but not badly. Other Rogers, Eumelan, 

 Martha, Croton, Senasgua were killed outright. Young Pear trees were injured badly this 

 spring after the tender leaves had put out, by south winds, which by-the-way are more 

 destructive with us than "north-westers." > 



Notwithstanding the hard winter our fruit prospects were never more glorious. Apples, 

 Pears, Peaches, Plums, Apricots and Grapes in greatest abundance. 



Our State Horticultural Society will hold its exhibition in connection with the State 

 Fair at Lincoln, September 3d, 4th, 5th and 6th, and we intend to have one of the finest 

 fruit shows ever held in the west. Our Legislature having made liberal provisions in 

 behalf of both the Horticultural Society and State Board of Agriculture, we will be on 

 hand at other State Horticultural and Pomological gatherings. 



"What has become of the Western American Pomological talked of Organization? Can't 

 we have a fruit exhibition of that character this fall ? Let us have a conference of Mis- 

 souri, Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska Societies in relation to the enterprise. 



Keeping Qualities of Concord Wine. — George Husman, in the Rural World of 

 March 23d, says of some Concord wine made in 1865 and bottled in 1866: "All the Jiot- 

 tles which had been well corked were In splendid condition. The wine had lost the 

 offensive foxiness of the Concord, and also much of its color, being of a brilliant red color, 

 when bottled, which had now changed to a brownish yellow, very bright and clear, and 

 had acquired a decided Maderia flavor. It was very smooth, agreeable and mellow, and 

 was pronounced excellent light winn by four gentlemen, besides ourselves, who tried it." 



Preservation of Raspberries Without Hbat. — It is said that these berries can be 

 preserved with all their native freshness for ice creams or c ikes, or for tarts without boil- 

 ing. They should be picked when the fruit is dry and put at once into a deep bowl or 

 pan, and bruise gently. Mix with an equal weight of best "sifted" sugar, and put imme- 

 diately into wide necked bottles; cork these firmly without delay and tie bladders over 

 the tops. Keep in a cool place or the fruit will ferment. This mixture should be stirred 

 softly, and onlyjust sufficient to blend the sugar and the fruit. The bottles must be per- 

 fectly dry, and the bladders after having been cleaned in the usual way and allowed to 

 become nearly dry, should be moistened with a little whisky or alcohol on the side next 

 the cork. 



New Wine Grapes. — Frederick Muench, the veteran Missouri wine grower, in the 

 Rural World, of March 33d, says : "The wine of the Cynthiana surpasses that of theNor- 

 ton in delicacy ; that of the Neosho comes nearer to the genuine Maderia than any I 

 know of. This vine quite lately taken out of the primitive forests near Neosho, in South- 

 west Missouri, by Mr. Jaeger, and first grafted by me, is one of the hardiest and at the 

 same time most productive of all we have ; superlatively promising, yet one of the latest 

 in maturing its fruit, which is just what I want for a wine grape. It belongs to the cesli- 

 vaiis class, but is strictly distinguished from the Norton and Cynthiana." 



