go 
fJmnfflffgkitl. 
STERILITY OF FRUITS. 
[We make the following extract from the very 
valuable Annual Address of Josiaii Hoopes, Presl- 
dent of the Pennsylvania Fruit Growers’ Society at 
Lancaster. Pa., January 19 and 20.] 
Among the many interesting subjects re¬ 
quiring our study and observation is that of 
barrenness in fruit trees. Wo must all have 
noticed of late years that many old varieties 
of merit are now only found as isolated 
specimens in a few orchards; that, however 
well they might have borne fruit years ago, 
their present reputation in this respect is, 
unfortunately, had. True, we have had “ line 
upon line and precept upon precept” all 
tending to show the true cause of this defect, 
and yet, strange to say, scarcely two of our 
teachers have attributed the cause to the 
same source. Among the many theories 
advanced have been “ sudden variation in 
temperature;” “increase of injurious in¬ 
sects;” “chilling rains;” “heavy sleets;” 
“deterioration of varieties and soils;” “cli¬ 
matic changes,” &c. Feeling satisfied for 
years that the true cause was in the organs 
of reproduction, I accordingly observed the 
blossoms very closely during the past spring 
months, and occasionally thereafter, as the 
embryo was swelling. 
The year 1809 has been one of almost un¬ 
exampled productiveness in the apple crop, 
as far as the eastern portion of our State was 
concerned; and my experiments, confined 
as they were exclusively to this particular 
fruit, show some curious facts. In the be¬ 
lief that the pollen was the root of the evil, 
I secured the grains of several prominent 
varieties, and subjected them to t he test of a 
powerful microscope, with gratifying results. 
Hut, previously to entering upon my own 
experiments, I desire to call your attention 
to the exceedingly interesting and instructive 
papers published by Prof. Guay, entitled 
“ Insect Fertilization.” His beautiful theory 
of the necessity of insects, &c., to produce 
cross fertilization, thereby preventing debil¬ 
ity in the vegetable world, as we know it 
does in the animal, was first advanced by 
Darwin, and opened up new channels of 
investigation, with satisfactory explanations 
of many previously disputed points. In 
fact, the curious arrangement in the essen¬ 
tial organs of the Plantarjo lauceolita , (Eng¬ 
lish Plantain,) and in various other plants, 
completely prevents the pollen from one 
spike of flowers fertilizing the same. Now, 
in the face of these facts, that most plants 
actually need the interposition of insects or 
other foreign agencies, during the fertiliza¬ 
tion period, we should feel under the neces¬ 
sity of arguing that the Bcllellour, Newtown 
Pippin, and similar varieties of noted shy¬ 
ness in setting fruit, would certainly he ft-r- 
tilized by other kinds having a profuse 
abundance of perfect pollen. Hut in prac¬ 
tice this is not. the case. We notice in large 
orchards a solitary tree of some one of these 
barren varieties, surrounded by others that 
are liberally loaded with fruit, and yet dur- 
ing the blossoming period there appeared no i 
apparen t difference. 
With all due deference to the Darwinian 
theory—and it ia entitled to the greatest 
amount of credit on many points—I was led 
to undertake my investigations on account 
of the foregoing discrepancies in the system. 
I can only account for it in this way; that 1 
as the blossoms of the apple are so very f 
abundant and so bountifully supplied with K 
lumey sacs, that the bees and other Insects 1 
are speedily laden with food, without being (1 
obliged to traverse many flowers for their ' 
supply, instead of flying from tree to free he- * 
fore becoming satisfied, thus conveying the \ 
pollen grains lrmn the fruitful lo the barren 
variety, they alight on one, become filled, f 
and start for the hive at once. Indeed, I 1 
have noticed this fact in many instances. 1 
Experiments with rollon. 
I commenced my observations with the a 
Smith’s Cider, a popular Pennsylvania fruit, 11 
and perhaps as productive as any other. It ? 
was bountifully supplied with medium sized 1! 
flowers, and of all kinds tested, was most " 
prolific in pollen-grains; in tact, the slightest 11 
touch would send the latter down in a per- cl 
feet shower. Under a strong lens we find e 
them almost entirely complete in form, fully 
developed in every way, and very translucent tl 
in color, furnishing ample evidence of their 11 
wonderful reproductive power, It. is almost ’’ 
needless to add that in the autumn the tree b 
was literally loaded with fruit. T 
The Smoke House, another choice variety 11 
originating in our State, has of later years 
failed to perfect a full crop. Here also was 
a great profusion of fine, large blossoms, with a 
a reasonable amount of pollen, of very small t 
size, yet mostly well shaped and handsome; d 
yet we still detect many imperfect grains, fi 
The crop this season was finer than it lias fi 
been for years, although much less in quan- b 
titv than the preceding fruit. c 
The Edlefieur, a variety that might now d 
be called in Pennsylvania a non-bearer, © 
opened out its large, showy flowers in great ti 
profusion; but the stamens in all that I ex- | gans of plants presents an interesting and I find all the natural functions performing 
amined were meagcrly supplied with this useful lesson; for without this knowledge we their duty in a corresponding proportion. I 
important requisition. Here T found the cannot devise means to counteract the many notice highly improved peach orchards per- 
pollen, as a general rule, of fair size, hut extraneous causes that combine to destroy fecting full crops, whilst neighboring planta- 
irregularly shaped, many of them being the life-giving power at the commencement lions arc entirely barren. I have seen old 
compressed, and others seemingly destitute 
y of the glutinous liquid; some again round 
j and almost opaque; and all, in fact, very 
unsatisfactory indeed. The result was a few 
- poor specimens of fruit in the following 
f autumn. 
2 The next variety examined 
3 was the Maiden’s Blush, which >2 
1 produces one oftlie most showy 
r blossoms in our orchards. A Jm ki 
, casual glance at this tree during mmm/llk 
, the flowering period would mjm Wm' 1 
} convey the impression that J W mlwlw 
1 nothing is wanting here, lo J|ff 
, perfect a full crop of fruit. Hut i _ 
• as we have missed our supply mp <. 
: of this variety for several years Iff*' 
i past, I fully expected to detect | i! . . 
i a poor display of pollen-grains. Mr , 
In this I was disappointed. On 1§M 
examination through a lens Wi • 
of high power, I found it very %' 
' plentiful and quite perfect, both % v \, . 
; in form and appearance, each , 
little grain as translucent and 
beautiful ns any I had ever 
seen. To my great satisfaction, 
we had the heaviest yield of 
fruit ever before gathered. 
The Belmont, with ns, is 
mostly a poor “ setter,” and I was anxious to 
test my theory on its blossoms; so after select¬ 
ing a few of the finest specimens and shaking 
out the moderate supply of pollen-grains, I 
found them unequal in size and form. They 
were also, as a rule, deficient in that perfect 
clearness which distinguishes the Smith’s 
Older. True to my expectations, the tree 
was very moderately supplied with fruit, ex¬ 
cepting on the further side, to that whence 
my specimens were selected. 
The Hay’s Winter or Wine, a popular old 
variety in this Statu,lias of latter years fallen 
below the standard of productiveness; so 
that 1 thought here at least will surely be 
imperfect pollen. The tree was completely 
clothed with blossoms, of small size, it is 
true, but nevertheless very beautiful. The 
pollen came out in the greatest profusion, as 
I gathered my specimens, and although 
equaling in quantity, was not so fine in 
quality as that standard of excellence, the 
Smith’s Cider. Our crop of fruit, was the 
largest we have gathered for ten years past. 
The Roman Stem, an old obsolete variety 
of great repute among orcliardists of former 
times, and which has never perfected a crop 
of fruit in our collection, was next, subjected 
to the microscope. I found the tree bounti¬ 
fully supplied with flowers, hut the pollen 
only moderately plentiful, and very poor in 
quality. Here was another confirmation of 
the “ imperfect pollen ” theory, for a meager 
crop of fruit was the result. 
The Roxbury Russett, I regretted to see, 
was supplied with exceedingly poor grains 
of pollen, and the supply very limited. The 
tree, nevertheless, presented a fine show of 
blossoms of fair size, and, to all outward 
appearances, giving evidence of an excellent 
return of fruit in the autumn. That season ] 
lias come and gone, and our fruit shelves ( 
have been almost destitute of this variety. 
The last kind on the list 
proved a perfect failure for my 
system. The Knowles, a little / 
summer apple, and always a / f 
prolific hearer, blooms very / / 
early in the season, and it was f f 
■with the greatest difficulty that / jf 
I succeeded in procuring a few / / 
pollen - grains lor my lens. 7 // 
These were vory irregular, [ / 
quite opaque, and presented a 
brownish tinge on the surface. n I 
In fact they were worse than 1 \\ 
any variety previously ex- \ \ 
amined. Vet truth compels \ \\ 
me to state the fruit was very \ 
abundant. Why this should he \ X 
is a mystery I cannot solve, \ 
unless, as I strongly suspect, \. 
the result might, have been very 
different had the flowers been 
examined a few days earlier. T 
1 was next led to examine critically both 1 
the stigma and style of several varieties, in i 
the expectation that, there might be some i 
imperfection in tliese very important organs; t 
but herein nothing was deficient. In all that ' 
T dissected the internal structure appeared l 
healthy and perfect ill all their parts. 1 
Essentia) Organ* of Plants. 1 
For the information of those who are un- ^ 
acquainted with the formation of 6 ecd, and 
the very important pai l that it plays in the t 
of its operation, nor can we assist nature in 
her efforts to impart a renewed vitality to 
these necessary organs. So that we may 
cordially unite with the poet WimrrEu in 
his beautiful invocation,— 
fecting full crops, whilst neighboring planta¬ 
tions are entirely barren. 1 have seen old 
worthless apple orchards, embracing so- 
called “ worn-out ” varieties, entirely regen¬ 
erated, and yielding once again bountiful 
returns, simply by highly fertilizing the soil, 
and cleansing every portion of the tree. It 
may he argued that this system of excessive 
cultivation will eventually prove injurious to 
the tree. True, to a certain extent, but I 
firmly believe that the hardier species of the 
apple may, in many instances, lie brought 
hack to usefulness by renewing its vigor. 
--♦♦♦-- 
THE DENNIS APPLE. 
This apple was shown at the September 
exhibition of the Pennsylvania Horticultural 
and American Homological Societies, as 
“ Petit’s Seedling from yellow Newtown Pip¬ 
pins.” Writing to David Petit. Salem, N. 
•T., lie says in reply, that “ it originated in 
- , • i i 1 1 1 .ly.IWi mmwB wiW' suuwu ai me oeptemoer -.- v uv> v.u, 
V 4 * ' 4 ’1^ exhibition of the Pennsylvania Horticultural clo!?e in the fall or winter, as the fruit sets 
, ;J| ' ,r; ; and American PomologicaJ Societies, as better for leaving plenty of wood. After 
!!“•*. . i'll. ‘7,1 .. (WiJIJBl? “Petit’S Seed ling from yellow Newtown Pip- tying up the canes in the spring, and when 
I , . w ’ M I^i WKKHhSM ' Ptas.” Writing to David Petit, Salem, N. ,l,e new growth has reached even four or 
M / if lip : mhmW mm be says in reply, that “ it originated in flvc fect > ' vc prune again, cutting out, what 
1§7 • • k W^wmmKuSSB 1,10 garden of Naomi Dennis, Salem, N. J.,” we deem necessary to sufficiently balance 
V , *- . 4 '#and, Mr. Pktit thinks, “must be a seedling ,hu vln .°- The ground is often literally cov- 
4 , ‘ ’of Fall Pippin, which It resembles in form cred with lopped branches, and some people 
^ 7 >v 7 and color, and is quite us good. Wliat think we are spoiling onr vines. We do not 
GRAPE GROWERS’ MEETING. 
Annual Meeting of tlie New York State 
drape (Growers’ Association at Rochester, 
Jan. IN, 1870. 
The President, E. B. Pottle, presiding. 
The preliminary business being disposed of, 
the first subject for discussion was taken up : 
Hlnntine and Pruning. 
President Pottle called for experience. 
He remarked that it was claimed that close 
planting destroys the natural balance be¬ 
tween the root and top of the vine, and 
induces disease. Wide planting conduces to 
the continued health of the vine. 
Mr. Hoag (Lockport) does not cut very 
close in the fall or winter, as the fruit sets 
better for leaving plenty of wood. After 
tying up the canes in the spring, and when 
the new growth lias reached even four or 
five feet, we prune again, cutting out, what 
Tin; DENNIS APPLE. 
“ O, Painter of the fruit* and flowers! 
Wo thunk Thee for thy wise design. 
Whereby tliese human hands ol’ ours, 
In nature’s garden, work with Thine.” 
The remarks tint I intend making on the 
reproductive parts of plants, are intended to 
apply to such of our fruits as belong to the 
natural order fb>sacm, embracing the apple, 
pear, quince, clu-rry, plum, apricot, peach, 
almond, strawberry, raspberry, Ac. 
All flow ering plants have two essential or¬ 
gans, tlic stamenx and pistils. The former of 
these, in the order of plants now being dis¬ 
cussed, consists of a JUament and anther. 
The filament is merely a little stem support¬ 
ing the. anther, aud in some plants is entirely 
absent. The anther is a cap-like projection, 
on which is deposited the dust-like atoms, 
known as the 'iiolkn. Pistils in all members 
oftlie Iiosacew, comprise an ovary with rudi¬ 
mentary seeds; and a stigma borne upon the 
summit of the style or stem-like support. 
When tlie flower arrives at maturity, the 
anthers buret open and discharge their con¬ 
tents in a clomff. Tln»e little pollen grains 
consist of a glutinous liquid, inclosed in a 
very delicate, thin covering, which is sur¬ 
rounded by an outer skin, of a thicker and 
more durable texture, hut nevertheless easily 
ruptured. When this grain falls upon the 
viscid coating of the stigma, Us delicate in¬ 
ner covering gradually elongates into a slen¬ 
der thread, and works its way down through 
the tissues of the style to the ovary, where its 
contents are deposited, and the seed com¬ 
mences to develop. 
Such arc among the very beautiful provis¬ 
ions of nature, made manifest through tne 
instrumentality of the microscope. In the 
case of some plants the foregoing operation 
may be performed artificially, but 1 have not 
been successful in my experiments with the 
apple. The pollen of the common James¬ 
town weed (Datura stramonium,) furnishes a 
of Fail Pippin, which it resembles in form cn;d w ’ t!l lopped branches, and some people 
and color, and is quite as good. What ll,ink wc are spoiling onr vines. We do not 
adds to its value is, it is said to be a good sIlol ' ten in > 1)1,1 remove the entire shoot, fruit 
bearer, while the Fall Pippin is not, with an<1 a,1 > tl,at w0 to «ch. All varieties we cui¬ 
us. Judging from the appearance of the 1 'vate are treated by the same system, and 
tree, it is much more of an upright grow er ^ e judge of the amount of pruning necessary 
than the Fall Pippin, although this may in b > T tlie apparent strength of the vine, 
part he owing to the crowded position in F - R - Elliott supposed it was against 
which it stands." good, received theory to prune out thegrow- 
Wc have our doubts of this apple being of in S shoots. They have connection with the 
great value outside of its own locality of ori- roo * s - 
gin, hut as it is being sent out we do our President Pottle remarked at consider- 
duty by giving figure and a brief description, ablu length on t he method of pruning which 
as follows-Fruit medium, roundish, dull l,as > substantially, long been practiced at 
green with dots or specks of a dark, blackish N:l l )las > ,)Ut which lately has obtained 
green; calyx with short segments, set in a P rom inence before tijepublic under the name 
deep furrowed basin; stem slender, set in a °‘ r Bvi noton’s System. Its main features 
very deep funnel shaped cavity; flesh whitish, are1st - Growing t he fruit on long canes; 
crisp, juicy, tender, sharp sub acid. Season,' 2(1 • Eight winter pruning; 3d. Pruning 
October, November. after the fruit 1 ms set; 4th. Taking out, at 
-++«._ that time, entire shoots, and sometimes canes, 
A New Cherry from iVn|in City, California.— i and thinning the clusters, if necessary, on 
W W. .Smith, Napa City, California, writes that wlmt is left ; 5th. No shortening or “ pinch- 
«»*•>•«• «•« - •<* 
he ever saw. it possesses characteristics of t he ll,e v,nes 80 as 10 fdlow them to run over the 
Dlack Tartarian, and Is probably a scttlling- of it, t»P of the trellis, instead of clipping them ; 
but in fruit It is far superior." Mr. Smith says 7th. Wide planting, or thick planting at first 
all varieties of the cherry <lo well wit h him .mil , . ... , . 
the past season lie shipped six tons of the fruit !UU ' a l >ar1, ul llic vlUe8 as lll<; Vlne * 
to San Francisco. yard acquires age. 
_ — i ■ . i ■■ In the first vineyard planted at Naples— 
McKay’s— the vines were set one rod apart 
ruff' eacl * wa ^‘ T,1(: y wt>re highly manured, Mr. 
V? * McKay being aide to procure a large mim- 
- , ^ _ __ her of the carcasses of entile which had died 
____ . _ ~ __ of some disease, and these were placed under 
PROPAGATI NG T HE QUINCE. t j ie roo t 8 0 f the vines when planted. For a 
Geo. Sheareh is informed that the quince few / ears the ll,rif \ aml l n ' oduce ,,f llie vi, ie- 
is propagated by layers and cuttings. If by ^ im " t rc ex, riiordinary. Over six ions of 
layers, the young shoots are bent down in ,hllt ,Jlki:n from U, ° a< ; , ‘ e 1,1 a 8 in K ,e 
spring and buried so as to leave n few buds -Y '",; *? VIIHS W(ire ,ramed ,im lonn - a,ul 
d the extremity above ground. When the ,h, ' ir ^ owlh cftUfied l! ‘ < m 
.uds on these layers are well started all but t(> inte, lock > anci summer P ru,,ln ff w “ P»nch- 
he best are rubbed off or cut away, The lug ’ was ' ,r!U:licc(1 to strain the growth, 
juried portions will throw out roots by I)iscafi(! ( ' UHU(m1 0n two roW8 every other 
lutumn, when they may be removed from viue wus then remove d> a, H> the space given 
die parent tree and set out in rows. Those n P 10 llloH< ' fenmining. In two years I lie 
which do not strike root the first year may tr(illi8( “ s wcre fi,led wiUl bcari,l K vvood ' vl,ich 
jc left until the second. If the ground is borc 01,(3 b,,ndml P 0U,K,B (,r «xccllent, well- 
•ich, and they are kept well cultivated and rl P ened fruit to Lllt ; vim ‘- T1,t! remaining 
staked, the trees resulting will be ready for l * 1 " 8 were still diseased, and the fruit 
emoval to the orchard in two or three years. slou £ bed o11 - 1 * 1(, y dld 1101 carry five 
If you desire to propagate by cuttings, tlie P ,)Unds 10 vbl< -‘- In his own garden. Mr 
mttlnga should be made in autumn, and ^ ‘ bad ex P cllcnced similar results, in view 
Jl.ould he ten inches or a foot long, and of 8Uch flicls he l,clieved in wlde P laDtin € lo 
ihould he planted out the same autumn or ftl,ow thc vinc HOl,, ^Juog like its normal 
irery early the following spring. They should S 10 " 1 * 1 ’ and n<)t 1,(3 obb f? cd t° cheek the 
ie set in compact soil, the tops projecting S rowtl » of the shoots. His own vineyard is 
m inch or two above the surface, and the P lant( ’ d twelve feet apart in the row, and it 
larth doselv Dressed about them. Thev nevci iuilocl in bearing a good crop hut once 
Arboriculture. 
PROPAGATING THE QUINCE. 
Geo. SnEAitEU is informed that the quince 
Is propagated by layers and cuttings. If by 
layers, the young shoots are bent down in 
spring and buried so as to leave n levy buds 
at the extremity above ground. When tin; 
buds on these layers are well started all hut 
t he best are rubbed off or cut away. The 
buried portions will throw out roots by 
autumn, when they may be removed from 
the parent tree and set out in rows. Those 
which do not strike root the first year may 
he left until the second. If the ground is 
rich, and they arc kept well cultivated and 
staked, the trees resulting will be ready for 
removal to the orchard in two or three years. 
If you desire to propagate by cuttings, the 
cuttings should be made in autumn, and 
should he ten inches or a foot long, and 
should lie planted out the same autumn or 
very early the following spring. They should 
beset in compact, soil, the tops projecting 
an inch or two above the surface, and the 
earth closely pressed about them. They 
1 a 
mml 
V 
r. 
THE DENNIS APPLE—OUTLINE. 
beautiful example. By immersing the grains 
in a weak solution of sulphuric acid, the in¬ 
ner coating can be seen gradually elongating 
through the pores of the exterior membrane. 
When the rudimentary seeds are unfertilized 
by tlie pollen they never arrive at perfection, 
hence we find early in the season vast quan¬ 
tities of fruit, in their earlier stages, turning 
yellow and falling from the tree. 
In examining the productive, as well as 
the unproductive, orchards in different sec- 
developmcnt and maturity of all kinds of tions of our country, with a view to confirm 
fruits, 1 have thought it advisable to add a the theory of imperfect pollen, I am led to be- 
fevv remarks upon the subject, hoping there- lieve that a systematic course of high cultiva- 
by to elicit a more general inquiry into the tion in many ways will remedy the disease 
cause of thc failure of our crops; and on- t0 a certain extent. We must bear in mind 
deavor to show the position it is destined to that, as in the animal creation, there is always 
command (luring the searching inquiry after more vitality in a thrifty subject than in one 
truth. The morphology ol the essential or- I that is poor aud stunted, we may expect to 
should be covered with an inch or two of ('* * s 01ie of liie bl [ st I dunled at Naples,) and 
fine fresh manure. Those which take root ,but n as bccai,BC b l >rodlu<>d ^ 0lir lons l )er 
and grow should be taken up the following a( lc 1b(J Preceding year, when two tons are 
autumn, heeled in and covered, ready for ab an - v v >neyard should lie allowed to hear, 
planting in nursery rows in spring. Air. Pottle prunes lightly in the tall or 
______ winter, and when it is apparent that tlie 
Tlie White Spruce for Hie Pralrlen.-Hon. M. wood bas Wintered well, primes again. If 
L. Dunlap, Clmmpaig'n, III,, in a recent letter, too much fruit sets, that, is thinned by re¬ 
says of White Spruce“ As an ornamental tree moving the whole shoot on which it is. 
they lire much superior to the Norway, atul onr gome fruit may he removed from the shoots 
nurserymen would do well to jrlve them more ... , , ‘ , , , 
attention. It is the most valuable for thc lawn l!1 a,(! ' 1 )n )e Sa °0t Is not shortened, 
of all the hardy American conifers, and I will Vineyards in Naples that were primed on 
here predict that in ten years the European the short spur system, and pinched hack ill 
Norway will he comparatively neglected for it. summer had the rot and mildew, and the 
The latter makes the Juirgrest tree, and for forest P . . . , , ...... 
plan tin# will iilways be the most rtoisi ruble; but sloughed. Otheis, m their vicinity, 
the srmeeful, compact form of the Norway will treated on tlie system lie had described were 
make it monarch of the lawn.” healthy and bore well. When tlie system 
*** was changed on the diseased vineyards they 
White WiHow for Fence,-A correspondent recovered and fruited again, 
asks us il the white willow is “a lastinir wood.” n , 
Wo do not know by experience, but we were I OTTLB described ail experiment 
once informed by a Pennsylvanian that the made by Mr. ByinGTON to prove that sun- 
Whito Willow made durable and lasting fence light on the grape clnster was not important, 
rails. He sahl he knew fences the rails ol which When the berries were about thc size, of 
wore over a quarter of a century old, and were , , . . , . , , 
White Willow. buckshot some clusters were enclosed so as 
--- to be iu complete darkness, and they ripened 
Hooting In Cherry Trees.—c. A., Macon, 111.— and colored equally well with others on tlie 
Tt would have been just us well if tlie tops had v i m , fully exposed to tlie sunshine. 
not been covered. The roots should have been V,. ., n , t . 
covered deeply. At the time of planting—when , • R- Ui.Moi I At Detroit I saw trclllBCS 
the frost is out of the ground, reduce the tops to eight feet high loaded with Hartford Pro- 
oorrespond with the system of roots. lilies. Thought the grapes could not possibly 
*+* ripen, but was informed that the owner had 
Sugar Maple Orehard.-O. P. S., Almoml La- buried ftbont , Uie vinea tlie cnrc;iss0s of ft 
peer Co., Mich.—We should plant maples witlun 
six to ten feet of each ot.linr for a su#ar orchard— gicat many b(»eves, and tlint tlie grapes did 
or even a less distance —and then thin out as wo ripen. Tlie phosphates are the right thing. ^ 
found it desirable to do so, I think the Byington system has substan- v 
