October, 1890. 
179 
ORCHRRD 
y'/VWW'IVA/C 
GARDEN 
latter are very soon killed by it, while the 
^ Yellow Transparent lives and bears heavy 
crops for a dozen years or more. 
WOOLLY LEAVED APPLES. 
The Siberian crabs have thin, smooth 
leaves, with no down beneath, yet against 
mere cold they prove very hardy far north. 
But most of them, and of their hybrids 
with the common apple, are peculiarly 
subject to blight, so as to practically pro- 
hibit their growth for profit in the North- 
west. But it has been noticed that among 
the long list of Russian apples under trial 
many of the hardiest and best have leaves 
which are thick, and very downy, or 
“woolly” on the under side. The Longfield, 
the Golden White (White Russet), the 
ZolotorefF, and the Autumn Streaked are 
particularly noticeable in an orchard for 
this peculiarity — especially in a brisk 
^ breeze, when the trees present an appear- 
ance resembling that of the silver leaved 
poplar. These apples are also among the best 
in quality, and the trees are productive, as 
well as excellent growers. 
LEAVES AND FRUIT. 
An old neighbor of mine, a Yankee 
farmer of the old type, has an orchard of 
some hundred or more seedling apple trees, 
picked up in the fence corners, and quite 
remarkable for the number of large kinds 
among them. He explains this by saying 
that in selecting his seedlings he gave pre- 
ference to those having the largest leaves. 
Now as botanists, in explaining the way 
this fruit is formed, aver that each apple is 
composed of fine leaves folded together, upon 
the inner surfaces of which is developed the 
pulp and core of the fruit, it would seem 
that this illiterate old man really detected 
a genuine relation between the size of the 
leaf and the size of the fruit, which is of 
considerable practical value, especially in 
out-of-the-way places, and on the farms of 
men of small means who want only a few 
trees for home use. But the size of the leaf 
is no guide as to the quality of the fruit. 
RUSSIAN PLUMS. 
I am very much pleased with the two 
varieties of Russian plums sent to me 
several years since by my greatly valued 
friend, Prof. Budd of Iowa. They have 
both fruited with me this year, and their 
size and goodness assure me that we have 
now at least two European plums, of fair 
size and quality, that can be grown success- 
fully in northern New England. They 
appear to be considerably hardier than 
Moore’s Arctic, from which we can occas- 
ionally get a fair crop, only to lose the tree 
which bore it — for it does not seem to have 
vitality enough left, after bearing a crop, 
to survive the following winter. The 
nomenclature of these plums is as yet a 
little mixed, but of one variety there is no 
doubt, on account of its form and color, 
that lam justified in calling it the “Early 
Red.” It is (here) an August plum, of 
rather more than medium size. A speci- 
men before me measures four and three- 
fourths inches around, and an inch and a 
half in length. It is prune-shaped (i. e. 
pear-shaped,) with a stem % inch long. 
Its color is at first greenish-yellow, with a 
carmine cheek. At this stage it is ripe 
enough to gather, and will bear transport- 
ation well — ripening up in four to six days 
to a dark red, like a red apple, with a blue 
bloom. The flesh is moderately soft and 
juicy, not high flavored or very sweet, but 
quite pleasant for eating out of hand. It 
is a handsome plum and ought to be 
popular in market. The other variety I 
have in fruit is probably White Nicholas. 
Both were received by Prof. Budd from Dr 
Regel of St. Petersburgh, in the winter of 
1881-82. At this writing (Sept. 1st) it is 
beginning to turn from green to yellow. 
It is a handsome oval plum, of about the 
same size as the Arab. The trees are quite 
distinct, the Arab being low and spreading, 
while the Nicholas is very upright. — T. H. 
Hoskins. 
The Apple Crop. 
In this season of almost unrivaled scarcity 
of apples it is pleasant to be able to record 
the fact that in our section there is a fine 
crop of winter fruit. Our summer circuit 
of Farmer’s Institutes led us through the 
magnificent mountain country west and 
southwest of Asheville. In these beautiful 
valleys the apple attains its highest excel- 
lence, and w it I i a little more of energy on 
the part of the fermers this region ought to 
supply the entire South with winter apples. 
In Haywood, Macon, and Cherokee, there 
is this year a fine crop, and in other counties 
a fair one. But most of the farmers know 
so little about packing and shipping apples 
their fruit generally gets to market in poor 
condition. If those who are interested in 
the apple trade would visit that section this 
fall, they could not only make it profitable, 
but could be of lasting service to the farmers 
by showing them how to handle their fruit. 
We made strong efforts to do this in our 
Institute work, but one season’s experience 
with dealers who know how to handle them 
would do more good than any number of 
lectures. — W. F. Massey, Raleigh, N. C. 
The Peach Orchard. 
Although peaches are not so sure a crop 
as apples, and the fruit does not last so long 
after it reaches maturity, it is very luscious 
and enjoyable, and by planting varieties 
ripening at different times the season may 
be prolonged for several months. Then 
this fruit is so easily canned that, with a 
little care and attention, it may be had up- 
on our tables at all seasons almost as delic- 
ious as when first picked. For market the 
peach is profitable both in the green or fresh 
state, and dried. No owner of a home in a 
suitable locality should hesitate a moment 
as to planting peach trees. 
In planting peaches care should be taken 
to give the orchard every advantage. The 
best situation is an elevated one, as there is 
then less danger of frost. The best soil is 
one of a warm , quick nature ; it should be 
naturally rich, or made so by manuring. 
The peach tree requires richer soil than the 
apple, a soil with a large share of potash in 
it is one of the best. It is better to plant 
peach trees on a hillside, even though the soil 
may not be so good ; it can probably be 
enriched easily. The land should slope to 
the north rather than the south, the brow of 
the hill being a better location than a steep 
northern or southern slope. When on a 
southern exposure a few warm days may 
bring out the fruit buds, and they be 
killed by a cold snap. I have observed that 
orchards on high northern slopes seldom 
fail. Some may claim to have richer fruit 
from southern aspects, but the orchards on 
the north do not fail to have fruit of good 
quality also. 
The culture of the peach is quite simple, 
but it must be thorough and constant ; 
neither grass or grain should be allowed to 
grow among them. Garden crops may be 
grown in the orchard even with benefit, as 
they are heavily manured and well worked. 
The best peach orchard and finest fruit I 
ever saw was planted on a rich, warm soil, 
cultivated and manured every year the same 
as the corn crop, and kept well pruned. 
In selecting trees I much prefer a small tree 
to a large one. I have known some growers 
to select the largest, thinking thereby to get 
fruit earlier, but I believe such persons 
make a serious mistake in so doing. A 
small tree has smaller roots which will take 
to the soil quicker, and not receive such a 
check from transplanting. The tree should 
be kept headed in, thinned, and well 
balanced over the trunk. 
So far as I know, there is no disease here 
known as the “yellows.” I often see trees 
have the yellows, however, from starvation 
and poor culture. The borers are very bad, 
and their work is often laid to the “yellows” 
or some other disease. Trees should be 
washed twice a year with a soft soap solu- 
tion. We find the early varieties the most 
profitable for market. — Thos. D. Baird. 
Kentucky. 
A Good Tree Label. 
Mr. A. H. Griesa, the well-known Kansas 
nurseryman, tells us of an excellent mode 
of fastening the ordinary zinc label to the 
trees. He says ; “It has always been with 
us a matter of much study to get a tree 
label without objectionable features, but 
we have finally adopted the zinc label and 
copper wire, secured to the tree after this 
style. Pass the wire through the hole at 
the end of an ordinary oblong, zinc label, 
and secure it ; at the other end of the wire, 
which should be about four inches long, 
make a small loop or eyelet by winding the 
wire two or three times around a nail, then 
fasten it to the stem of the tree by a tack 
driven through the eyelet hole. Here it will 
remain for years without danger of girdling 
the tree ; being hung upon the stem, the 
leaves will not wear off the name, it is in 
plain sight and does no injury to the tree.” 
It is well to remember that zinc for labels 
must be exposed to the air for a short time 
before written upon with pencil. 
