1864.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
35 
Notes from the Fruit Growers' Meetings. 
These meetings are regularly held nt Die Agriculturist 
office on Thursday at 1 o'clock, P. H. It Is each month 
u matter of regret, that our space does not allow more 
than % mere abstract ol the conversations. 
E. Williams presented the t;ioui Morceau pear, which 
whs generally oonoeded (o be one of the best winter 
pears ; docs better as a standard Hum dwarfed Oil quince. 
w. s. Carpenter was totally opposed to planting dwarfs, 
and considered that their Introduction had done much lo 
deter persons from cultivating pears. lie now plants 
Standards only, nnd had fruit as early, and In greater 
abundance than those who set out dwarfs.— Knew of a 
large plantation of pears on quince, set out a few years 
ngo, and not a single tree remained. 
T. W. Field was not devoted to the culture of dwarfs 
to tho exclusion of others, but claimed that they had 
great merits, and that certain varieties like the Duchess, 
and others, were much improved and lost their grossness 
when grown on quince roots. The Louise Bonne did not 
make a good junction with the quince root, and tne tree 
was apt to break off" at the point of union. 
W. S. Carpenter remarked that tlie quince stock should 
be budded low, and when transplanted, the junction 
should be two or three inches below the surface : if the 
trees have long quince shanks, don't try to set deep, He 
saw an orchard of long-shanked trees set 15 years ago, 
and not one is alive now. Regarding the forwarding of 
trees by budding on quince, his own, on pear roots, bore 
too soon, and too abundantly, and he gives a decided pre- 
ference to pear roots In all cases ; thinks thousands of 
pear trees would now be growing where there are hun- 
dreds, had it not been for the quince stock. He planted 
120 trees 3 years ago (Barlletts, B. D'Anjou, Paradise 
D'Automne, Fulton, B. Clairge&u, Lawrence and How- 
el!) and had 300 to 500 specimens last season. — He saw an 
orchard of J 000 standard trees last full, mostlv Flemish 
Beauty and BufTum, 6 years planted, where the owner 
had not lost 5 trees, and had 25 barrelsof fruit lastseason, 
with a promise of 100 barrels this year. We can get 
fruit In quantity sooner on pear than on quince roots. 
Mr, Williams removes the earth from quince stock and 
buds low down ; they always root near the surface. If a 
furrow is thrown against a quince tree roots push out 
into the fresh soil. 
T. W. Field summed up In favor of the quince or dwarf 
pear tree : More trees can be grown on a small space ; 
we get fruit sooner ; the fruit is of finer quality ; it hangs 
on better, and being nearer the ground is not liable to be 
blown off; a larger per cent of dwarf than of standard 
trees survive transplanting — he would not expect to lose 
more than 10 out of 1000 Duchess trees on quince, while 
50 per cent is about the proportion of Bartletts on pear 
roots which would be alive 5 years after planting. 
Dr. Trimble said that 20 to 30 years r.go it was not un- 
common to see large and healthy peach trees bearing full 
crops every year; now three crops was all that peach 
trees would average and the same soil would bear only 
one crop of healthy trees. The most successful growers 
buy a new farm for each crop of trees. Yellows Is an 
Inherent disease, as much so as the scrofula in the human 
system, and the promiscuous planting of pits from un- 
healthy trees perpetuates it, though some soils, and some 
methods of treatment may keep it dormant, while oth- 
ers hasten its appearance. The best cultivators pre- 
fer a soil of only moderate richness. Obtain pits from 
Missouri, California, and parts of Europe where there is 
no disease, and we may still have healthy trees. 
Rev. Mr. Van Doren of Morris Co. N. J. said his father 
carried choice peach buds from Morris Co. N. J. lo Or- 
ange Co. N. Y. in 1812, which grew finely 7 years and 
then began lo turn yellow, but were revived by a large 
shovelful of dry ashes put about the trunk of each tree. 
They grew another 7 years, and again showed the same 
disease, from which they were recovered by a double" 
dose of ashes, and grew and bore 7 years longer. 
Dr. Ward found ashes very beneficial to the peach and 
other fruit trees. They are probably benefited by the al- 
kali of the ashes. He finds powdered charcoal heaped 
up around the trunks a good preventive against the borer. 
Mr. Van Doren prefers a whalebone probe for killing the 
worms in the tree— the knife mutilates. 
W. S. Carpenter attributes the yellows to worms, 
starvation, etc : he does not believe it an inherent disease. 
The discussion here turned on the influence of the ori- 
ginal soil on the future growth of the tree, with special 
reference to transplanting from a sandy to a clayey soil 
and vice versa. The conclusions arrived at were, that it 
was essential that the tree be provided with fibrous roots, 
and show a healthy vigorous growth, no matter what 
soil it is taken from; a medium, or lightish loam is best 
for furnishing such roots. 
Mr. Carpenter had received and planted trees from 
nearly all parts of the world, and did not care whether 
grown on clay or sanrl if only thrifty In appearance and 
well provided with fibrous roots. 
A. S. Fuller thinks plenty of barn-yard manure will 
make any tree vigorous regardless of the soil ; don't be- 
lieve In special fertilizers— the tree will find sufficient 
pnbulum In ordinury barn or stable manure, though a 
sandy soil would bo benefited by a good coating of muck. 
Barn-yard manure should bo well rotted— don't believe 
In heavy manuring for /run? ; belter not Induce the growth 
than have to cut It off" afterward. Undecomposed ma- 
nure, spread on at lime of fruiting, Imparts a disagreea- 
ble flavor to fruit, especially grapes, besides tending to 
burn the lower leaves. We want just enough vine and 
leavrs to perfect the desired amount of fruit. 
E. W. Matllson of this city, presented 6 pears, raised in 
California by R. G. Moody, of San Jose. The 5 weighed 
13',' lbs; the heaviest specimen was originally 3# lbs. 
The size was the only thing remarkable, they being coarse 
and flavorless. The variety was not recognized. 
Dr. tWard showed a model of his famous Duchess 
pear, raised in Newark, N. J., a few years ago, and be- 
lieved to be the largest pear grown in the Atlantic States , 
weight when plucked, 35% ounces. 
Solon Robinson read a letter from Indiana, objecting to 
leaving naked trunks to fruit trees, six to eight feet high. 
In that vicinity a disease attacks the south west side of 
nearly all fruit trees, and cultivators are planting with 
low trunks to remedy the disease. Others allow sprouts 
from the roots to grow up and shade the trunk. The 
writer thinks a man should be satisfied with a crop of 
fruit without taxing the soil for a crop of grain besides. 
Dr. Ward had noticed that cherry trees, especially 
when on the south side of buildings where there was 
not a free circulation of ajr, were frequently killed ; he 
thinks low branched trees might remedy this. 
W. M. Doty said trees were troubled at the West with 
this disease, which he attributed to sudden changes of 
temperature from warm sunshine to freezing ; thinks the 
trunk must be shaded or sheltered by something besides 
branches, winch in winter afford very little protection. 
A western pomologist present thought low heads pre- 
ferable for prairie regions, and that thorough mulcning 
was better than cultivating the ground. 
A. Parrish would not plant apple trees for cattle to 
browse, hence if cattle are to have the range of the 
orchard, the trees should be trimmed high up, though the 
practice was all wrong. There is a difference with sorts : 
18 inches was high enough for the trunk of a Northern 
Spy, while some drooping sorts should be trimmed 6 feet. 
Mr. Field would as soon turn cattle into a cabbage or 
corn field as into an orchard.— Approves of low branching 
trees for three-reasons : the tree bears much sooner ; the 
lower branches are those which usually bear first, and if 
cut off, more time is needed for others to acquire a bear- 
ing age ; fruit can more readily be thinned and gathered 
from low heads. Wind touches low trees more lightly, 
and if fruit does blow off, it does not fall so far. 
Solon Robinson remarked that the disease or decay of 
the south-west side of fruit trees was the principal thing 
the southern fruit grower had to contend against. It 
was attributed to sudden changes of temperature. 
Fruit I\'otc*4 front Connecticut. — E. 
T. Bull, N. Haven Co., Conn., says that the Pawpaw 
grows and fruits in that place and he thinks nurserymen 
should introduce it. Mr. B. thinks that the Flemish 
Beauty is the best standard pear for a light warm soil, nnd 
observes that the Baldwin apple if grown on heavily ma- 
nured and cultivated ground, becomes so sour and coarse- 
grained as to be nearly worthless. 
Farm Help from Newly Arrived Immi- 
grants—Facts for Western Farmers. 
An average of 3,000 people per week arrive at tills 
port— 156,000 during 1863. The majority are good farm 
help, and ready to settle in any part of the country. 
Some time ago the Commissioners of Emigration, who 
have a care for all these people when they first arrive, 
undertook to send farm help, men and women, to the West 
on condition of receiving from responsible parties, money 
enough to buy tickets through to their destination. The 
result was, that only about one-fourth reached those who 
pre-paid their fare, and not even one-half left the State 
of New York. Entire ignorance of distances and cus- 
toms in this country, credulity and stupidity combined, 
led the immigrant to consent to leave his route, with 
companions who stopped on the way, or to hire himself 
lo another party. This practice was therefore given up. 
Still, however, the Commissioners wish to assist the im- 
migrant to find his way westward, and to help Western 
farmers to secure good help. It must be done as suggest- 
ed on page 47. Farmers in the same district should select 
one or two good men, give them credentials from respon- 
sible and well known parlies, as a guarantee to the Com- 
missioners that they are honorable men, and that the im- 
migrants will be well cared for. These agents should 
come to New York, select desirable single persons of J 
either MX, or families, and then go with them all the way 
back. Superintendent Cusserley says tills Is the only 
way, and that correspondence with the Commissioners 
will elicit no farther Information, They are strict In 
allowing none but persona of thoroughly responsible and 
honorable character to communicate at all with the im- 
mlgranU, If they can help it. Them U always consider- 
able choice among those continually arriving. Five lines 
of steamers besides numerous sailing .ships arc constantly 
lauding their living freight at Castle Garden. Tnoeffecti 
of the derangement of (he system of labor In the "Dordcr 
Slates," are already Influencing a great diversion thither 
of emigrants who have hitherto gone westward. The 
South Is soon to compete with the West, for the flood oi 
Immigration which is likely to increase In view of the 
probable settlement of our own difficulties and the very 
unsettled state of Europe. It therefore shows a very 
great want of sagacity on the part of those who manage 
the railroad interests of the West, that just at this time 
they should raise the fare on emigrant trains. The West 
should remember that the South offers an old country, a 
very genial climate, great variety of productions, and no 
slavery to degrade labor. Almost the only advantage In 
favor ot the West, clearly apparent to the emigrant, lr. 
facility of transportation, which ought not lo be decreased 
Producing Animals of either Sex at 
Will— Important Experiments, 
Every animal and plant grows up from a single, simple 
cell, produced by Ihe female. — This is called in plants an 
ovule, and in animals an egg. (For some account of cells 
see page 48). Independent vitality and organization ii 
Imparted to this cell, by contact with a product of the mail 
plant or animal. This is called impregnation. In all, ex 
cept some of the lower forms of animal life, the male. 
and females are distinct individuals. They are equaili 
distinct in many plants.— Perhaps no power is more de 
sired by breeders of farm stock than the ability to cause 
the production of either sex at will. Some time ago Prof. 
Tinny of Geneva made some very important investi- 
gations and arrived at conclusions, which if demonstra- 
ted, will be recognized as of immense importance. He 
submitted his views to the Academy of Sciences, and a 
commission was appointed to verify them. So far as we 
know this commission has not yet reported — but J. A. 
Banal, the well-known agricultural writer and editor has 
published a statement which we find translated in part in 
the Country Gentleman. From this we learn, that Prof. 
Tliury asserts that the sex of the future animal (or plant) 
is settled by the maturity of the cell (ovule or egg) at the 
time of impregnation — a very mature cell producing male, 
and one less mature producing female offspring* Thus, 
when an animal comes in heat, the egg, though mature, 
Is much '.ess mature than toward the close of this period. 
In accordance with this theory he advises, that when heifer 
calves are desired, the very earliest period of a cow's 
coming in heat should be taken advantage of— and if a 
bull calf is wanted, the latest practicable moment. A 
series of experiments are cited, made by a son of the pre- 
sident of the Ag'l. Society of Southern Switzerland, in 
Canion Vaud. This farmer had a herd of Swiss cows, 
and used a Durham Short-horn bull. He obtained heifer 
calves In 22 successive cases. Wishing to raise 3 yokes 
of steers, he selected cows of similar color and form, and 
bred with tins object in view. The result was, six bull 
calves, well mated for working cattle. His own words 
are: "I have made in all 29 experiments by the new 
system, and all have given the product sought, male or 
female, without a single instance of failure. These ex- 
periments were all made by myself, and I regard the 
system as perfectly correct and sure." We commend It 
to the readers of the American Agriculturist for experi- 
ment, and hope to have reports or its success or failure. 
*-* mam — *-* 
Notice to Certain Agricul tnral 
Editors,— It is said that a certain devout member of the 
Friends' Society, was several limes misused by a bluff 
neighbor, but he carried out his principles of non-resis- 
tance, until " forbearance ceased to be a virtue." Finally 
the assailant met him one day, struck him on one cheek, 
and bantered him,to turn the other. The Quaker did so, 
and received a second blow. " Now" said he, "I have 
fulfilled the law, and I shall give thee a thrashing,"— which 
he did. We should be tempted to take the same course 
with certain jealous contemporaries who indulge in all 
sorts of unmannerly hints and false Innuendoes ; but the 
fact is, our time and space can be put to belter use. The 
engineer of a mammoth rail-road train filled with live 
passengers, cannot " whistle down the brakes," and have 
a set-to with every snarling whiffet, nor even with the 
rural mastiff, that chooses to bark at the passing cars. 
Our rule Is, to seek pre-eminence by earnest atten- 
tion to the pages of our own paper, and not attempt to 
rise by trying to pull others down. 
