1861. 



XEW EXGLAND FARMER. 



257 



THE RED ASTRACHAN APPLE. 



We have not cultivated this delicious apple, 

 and therefore prefer to give the reader an account 

 of it given by Downing, in his Fruits and Fruit 

 Trees of America. 



A fruit of extraordinary beauty, first imported 

 into England with the White Astrachan, from 

 Sweden, in 1816. It bears abundantly with us, 

 and its singular richness of color is heightened 

 by an exquisite bloom on the surface of the fruit, 

 like that of a plum. It is one of the handsomest 

 dessert fruits, and its quality is good, but if not 

 taken from the tree as soon as ripe, it is liable to 

 become mealy. Ripens from the last of July to 

 the middle of August. 



Fruit pretty large, rather above the middle size, 

 and very smooth and fair, roundish, a little nar- 

 rowed towards the eye. Skin almost entirely 

 covered with deep crimson, with sometimes a lit- 

 tle greenish yellow in the shade, and occasionally 

 a little russet near the stalk, and covered with a 

 pale white bloom. Stalk rather short and deeply 

 inserted. Calyx set in a slight basin, which is 

 sometimes a little irregular. Flesh quite white, 

 crisp, moderately juicy, with an agreeable, rich, 

 acid flavor. 



A "Scare Crow." — The following is said to 

 be a remedy against the depredations of the crow 

 and blackbird, in the cornfield : — Take fine plump 



seed corn — a quantity of it — string each kernel 

 on a horse hair — white is best — tying a knot in 

 it to prevent its slipping off. Scatter it over the 

 field in spots where the birds will see it and 

 alight. They will eat but one kernel of it, and 

 will not trouble that field (or any other) again. 

 The two ends of a horse hair sticking out of their 

 mouths well anchored in their craws by a fine 

 kernel of corn, is by no means a pleasure to them. 



A Bad Custom. — In no pursuit or profession, 

 is there required so great an exercise of judgment, 

 experience, observation, and of science also, as in 

 the proper treatment of the great variety of soils 

 with which the cultivator has to deal. The rule 

 is ; make professional men of your smart boys — 

 leave the dolts to till the soil. It should be ; de- 

 vote the best talent to the cultivation of the soil 

 where the highest degree of judgment and skill is 

 required ; and let the lower grades of intellect be 

 sent into the routine of professional life. — Amer. 

 Agriculturist. 



What a glorious world this would be if all its 

 inhabitants could say, with Shakspcare's shep- 

 herd : "Sir, I am a true laborer ; I earn that I 

 wear ; owe no man hate ; envy no man's happi- 

 ness ; glad of other men's good ; content with my 

 farm." 



