444 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Oct: 



never known an orchard to flourish that was con- 

 tinually in grass, no matter what the other circum- 

 stances were. Perhaps excessive top-dressing 

 might make it thrifty, — we have never tried it, — 

 but it would certainly greatly promote the growth 

 of the grass. On the other hand, orchard land 

 continually cultivated for many years, and annu- 

 ally manured, will so force the trees as to make 

 them tender and liable to disease, and produce 

 such a surplus of wood as to prevent their fruit- 

 ing- 



Far the New England Farmer. 



HORTICULTUilAIi NOTES. 



D. Waldo Lincoln's Garden, Worcester — Its Ornamental and 

 Fruit Trees — Fire Blight — Aspect of Worcester. 



In a visit to Worcester, lately, I had the pleas- 

 ure of examining the garden of D. Waldo Lin- 

 coln, Esq. It has been planted from fifteen to 

 twenty years, and comprises most everything of 

 interest in the fruit and ornamental tree depart- 

 ments, with the exception of apples, of which he 

 has but a comparatively small number. Its area 

 is about 15 acres, and is tastefully divided into 

 lawn, pear orchard (and smaller fruits,) and sites for 

 a cold grapery, two houses and a stable. With the 

 out-door culture of grapes he is not much encour- 

 aged, as the frosts are earlier and moi'e severe in 

 his locality than in the vicinity of Boston. The 

 highway or northern boundary of his enclosure 

 has a beautiful and thrifty belt of evergreens — 

 pines, Norway spruce, &c., — 15 to 20 feet high, 

 and the pear orchard is still further screened from 

 the north wind by an internal or special belting of 

 the same, and that which lines the avenue leading 

 to the house also answers the same purpose. 

 These lofty hedges are elegant in summer, and 

 useful and beautiful in the winter. The matter of 

 evergreens, in fact, can hardly be overdone. Some 

 question has been raised Avhether the Norway 

 spruce would bear the shears and thicken up well 

 in the character of a hedge ; but it must be set at 

 rest, for Mr. Lincoln has a thick and very hand- 

 somely trimmed hedge of these evergreens about 

 12 feet high. He has also a large collection of 

 shrubbery and ornamental trees in general, em- 

 bracing many rare specimens. 



The number and variety of the proprietor's pears 

 are extensive, and most of the trees are thrifty 

 and in bearing order, showing at present an ex- 

 cellent crop. Particularly noticed were several 

 lieavily-ladened Rostiezer trees, five or six inches 

 in diameter. This excellent variety is a rampant 

 grower, throwing out branches like a rocket ; but 

 age gives the tree a tolerably well-balanced and 

 compact head. Ilis Flemish Beauties were also 

 very attractive, with their large, brown fruit, free 

 from cracks, struggling to hold uj) their branches. 

 The Fulton Pear was also noticed ; and although 

 the trees were not so attractive as some others, 

 Mr. L. regards it as one of the best — superior to 

 the BufTum, another small, native, hardy fruit. 

 Very good specimens of the Beurre Clairgeau, and 

 also of the Maria Louise, were seen. The latter 

 were on large standards, and the proprietor re- 

 gards the variety as one of the best. lie has also 

 many of the new sorts of pears, not yet in bearing. 



■lUt i* n""' nqiiifiil to jioticp tVio lio--'-." ■<vhii-'l-. tlie 



fire blight was making among Mr. Lincoln's pear 

 trees — many large branches of medium-sized trees 

 being black with it. It would seem that Ave have 

 no remedy for this evil, although it is recommend- 

 ed that the affected parts be immediately cut away, 

 some inches below the disease, and burnt. For 

 appearance, at least, this should be done. 



Fire blight is supposed to be a disease of the 

 circulation, caused by hot and damp weather. And 

 it is thought that trees of rapid growth, or of a 

 plethoric habit, are more liable than others to the 

 attack. Hence it has been recommended to plant 

 in soil of moderate richness, or to avoid high cul- 

 ture. But rather than be annoyed by slow growth 

 most cultivators would take the risk of the blight, 

 even if it might kill some of their trees outright. 



But I am inclined to question the theory of 

 "plethora," the superabundance of sap, or of rap- 

 id growth. From my own observation, newly- 

 grafted trees, throwing out a large head of very 

 luxuriant and sappy wood, are no more liable (if 

 so much so,) than large and matured trees. If such 

 were the fact, I have several trees that are mira- 

 cles of escape. Indeed, in this region, I have not 

 noticed the blight. Whether east winds or the 

 spray of the ocean have any favorable influence, 

 may be worthy of inquiry. 



Taking a broad view of the laws of nature, how- 

 ever, disease and decay are the normal condition 

 of vegetation, as well as of men ; and hence we 

 shall be very likely to be foiled in the preservation 

 of all of our trees — whatever our skill — and taught 

 to submit stoically to necessity. 



Worcester is a beautiful inland city, noted for 

 its thrift and cleanliness, and conspicuous for its 

 many handsome residences, with their tasty en- 

 closures of flowers, fruit and shrubbery. It also 

 has a large share of handsome public buildings, 

 and much attention is here given to education. 

 Several railroads terminate or form connections 

 here, also — the well-conducted and well-paying 

 "Boston and Worcester" undoubtedly adding as 

 much as (if not more than) any other to its pros- 

 peritv. D. w. L. 



West Medford, Aug., 1862. 



The Natural Wonders of Kentucky. — The 

 geological formation of the country is singular. 

 Ponds, with no visible inlet or outlet are very fre- 

 quent. Holes in the ground, called "sink holes," 

 are very common, and some of these lead to the 

 great caves which abound in this region. Boys 

 pick up load-stone from the ground at most any 

 point. Surveyors are often ti-oul)led from this 

 cause. "Sink holes" extend into the earth from 

 ten to three hundred feet, with sometimes a spring 

 or small stream at the bottom. Two of these near 

 Munfordsville excite a good deal of curiosity. 

 One, on an eminence called the Frenchman's 

 Knob, has been descended two hundred and sev- 

 enty-five feet, without discovering any indications 

 of a bottom. Another, near the town, is some 

 seventy-five feet in diameter at the top, inclines 

 like a funnel to the depth cf thirty feet. At this 

 point is an aperture twelve feet in diameter, lead- 

 ing to unknown depths below. A stone or rock 

 cast in, returns no sound indicative of having 

 found bottom. Near the same place is a spring 

 that rises twelve inches at noon, every day, with 

 as o-i-oit rott'ulnn^i' ■■'4 tb'^ t^'i'i "asses the zenith. 



