702 Culture of the Newtown Pippin. 



Art. XXIV. On the Culture of the Newtown Pippin Apple. 

 By Mr. James Brient. 



Sir, 

 I take trie liberty of submitting to you the subjoined hints 

 on the culture of that celebrated American apple called the 

 Newtown Pippin, which as yet, unfortunately, has but slightly 

 shared that portion of attention which so strongly characterises 

 the age. Little short of three years ago, my attention had 

 been much engaged respecting its culture. It then occurred 

 to me, that the chief part of North American soils was a 

 mixture of a part decomposed peat and vegetable leaf mould, 

 which induced me to try the following imitation : one part 

 peat earth, one part decayed vegetable leaf mould, and half 

 a part loam. To each tree were applied four barrowloads of 

 the above mixture ; the holes for the trees were previously 

 opened, and the old standing soil dispersed ; the bottom of 

 each allotment was well drained, and the trees planted as 

 above. The annual growth made by the trees far surpasses 

 any thing of the sort I have ever witnessed ; nor has their 

 vigour prevented their bearing fruit the second year, much 

 finer and larger than ever before perceived by me : which 

 fruit bears a strong affinity to the Ortley apple described by 

 Mr. Michael Foy of New York ( See Trans. Hort. Soc., vol. vi. 

 part iv. p. 409.), and probably is the same fruit as the Newtown 

 Pippin ; which latter is very different in size and colour when 

 grown in our common soils. At all events, it is sufficient to 

 remark, that not only the other American apples, but the fine 

 long-decaying varieties so nearly extinct, will be found ulteriorly 

 to revive in the above mixture ; which would, if triennially 

 applied around the exterior roots, enable the trees to continue 

 vigorous ; and, moreover, do away with the adhesive companions 

 the canker and blight ; more especially, the A v phis lanatus 

 would seek for its abode a more salutary habitation. As a 

 farther testimonial for it, the above assertions may be person- 

 ally proved by seeing the objects, which surpass the eulogy 

 bestowed on them in this paper. 



I am, Sir, yours, &c. 

 May Place Gardens, Sept. 1829. James Brient. 



Art. XXV. Notice of a Citron Tree in the Gardens of Castle 

 Semple. By John Hay, Esq. 



Sir, 

 The gardener at Castle Semple observing that specimens of 

 particular fruits were acceptable to you, proposed to Major 



