NOTES ON SUMMER APPLES. 
BY CHARLES DOWNING. 
[Continued from ptijrn 300, last No.] 
Prolific BIiihIi. 
Raised by E. JI Cacki.in, Bhepherdstown, 
Pa. Tree rather a slow grower, with stout 
dark shoots; comes early 
into hearing, is very pro- 
duetlve, ami, although not 
of the first quality tor the f 
table, is a valuable variety / 
for culinary purposes. 13e- / 
ing handsome, it commands j 
a good price in market, i 
Fruit of medium size, ob- j 
late; skin white, almost J 
waxen, 
blush 
tacky in that year. The apple has been 
known and called by that name for over 
seventy years, and has been disseminated 
throughout the northeast of Kentucky, In¬ 
diana, and Missouri. In Illinois, about 
Quincy, it is known as McAfee’s lied Large 
Striped Pearmaiu, is the same apple, having 
received the above name from Col. Allen 
of Holly Spring Nursery, in Nelson Co., 
Kentucky, about the year 1840. Allen got 
it of John Ligiitfoot, and Lightfoot got 
bright red, where exposed \ 
to the sun; flesh very white, '. 
quite firm, crisp, juicy, brisk, \ 
subacid. Ripens from the \ 
last of August to the middle \ 
of September, 
All Hummer, 
Specimens of this ex¬ 
cellent, summer apple wore 
received from Engle & Brother, Ma¬ 
rietta, Pa,; also from Lorens Pierce, 
Goatsville, Pa. The limit is nearly of me¬ 
dium size, roundish oblate, smooth and regu¬ 
lar; skill pale whitish yellow, almost waxen, 
rarely with a shade of pale red ; flesh white, 
fine grained, very tender, juicy pleasant sub¬ 
acid and vinous: quality very good; ripens 
the last of July and during the month of 
August, it is said to have originated in 
Lancaster Co,, Pa. Tree moderately vigor¬ 
ous, spreading, and well formed; an annual, 
early, and abundant bearer, and is valued, 
where known, as one of the most desirable 
of its season. 
Cons. 
A nice little apple received from Engle & 
Brother, who inform me that it has long 
been known in Lancaster and York Co., Pa., 
but do not know its origin and have not seen 
it elsewhere; although of good quality and a 
pleasant fruit it is too small for general culti¬ 
vation. Tree moderately vigorous, rather 
upright, with slender branches and a profuse 
bearer. Fruit, small, roundish, whitish, 
striped and mottled with dull red; flesh 
white, moderately juicy, tender, pleasant 
subacid. Quality very good. Ripens the 
hist of July and through the month of 
August. 
Poller’ll Early. 
This little early apple was sent me by O. 
T. Hours, Randolph, Crawford Co., Pa., 
wlio writes me that it originated on the farm 
of Forres Potter, Cusscwago township, 
Pa. “The growth of the free is slow, dwarf¬ 
ish, compact, an early bearer, and produces 
abundantly alternate years; ripens early, 
ami continues in use a longer time than any 
other early apple I know of, and is of better 
quality; but, on account of its small size, 
not adapt'ed for market.” 
Fruit quite small, roundish oblate; skin 
yellow, shaded, striped and mottled nearly 
over the whole surface. Flesh white, ten¬ 
der, juicy, very pleasant, mild subacid. Qual¬ 
ity very good. Ripens the Inst of July and 
til rough August.—| Concluded next week. 
-*-*-♦- 
POMOLOGICAL GOSSIP. 
Goldon TIioi-iiIcmk v*. Dlinncsoia Raspberry. 
Mr. A. M. Penny writes us that he has 
the Golden Thornless and Minnesota grow¬ 
ing side by side, “ Having obtained the lat¬ 
ter from tile original disseminator- THOMP¬ 
SON of Missouri. They are wry distinct. 
The Minnesota is a strong rampant grower, 
quite strong, mid bears a light, straw-colored 
berry, while the Golden Thornless is quite a 
spindling grower, scarcely any thorns, and 
yields the longest crops of raspberries of 
any of the black-caps I am growing; its 
fruit very dark golden color. Some three or 
four years ago I received, in exchange, a 
few plants from a party in Blue Earth Co., 
who claimed it as extremely hardy and 
very productive. I lave taken this respon¬ 
sibility (after lining encouraged to do so by 
a number of leading horticulturists who saw 
if on my grounds last summer,) to name it 
“ Golden Thornless.” As I gave the name 
“Golden-Cap" to the old variety some ten 
years ago, 1 simply know it to he entirely 
distinct from it in every respect except in 
its habit of increasing by layering the tips.” 
McAfee’s Nonsuch Apple. 
We find the following in the May number 
of the Gardener’s Monthly’’.-—Dr. Horsley 
of Leavenworth, Kansas, in a note to Mr. 
Pikemx, says:—■“ Yours of the 10th, inquir¬ 
ing what. I know of McAfee’s Nonsuch Ap¬ 
ple, Large Striped Pearmnin, Winter Pear- 
main, Park and Missouri Pippin is at hand. 
Li reply, would say, that McAfee’s Nonsuch 
was raised from seed sown iu 1773, at Mc¬ 
Afee’s Station, in Mercer Co., Kentucky, on 
the banks of Salt River, some five or six 
miles from Harrodsburg, by the McAfee 
Company, ivho came from Virginia to Kcn- 
THE PROLIFIC BLUSH. 
it ill the McAfee neighborhood. Col. Alt.en 
thought, however, the Large Striped Pear- 
main was more descriptive of the apple than 
any other name, lienee he called it that. 
These facts J had from Col. Allen himself 
in his lifetime. Winter Pearmaiu is the 
same, and the name under which 1 first got 
it ol Col. Allen, in 1836. Park is also the 
same, having been introduced here from Ken¬ 
tucky. The Missouri Pippin is an tipple 
with which I lave but little acquaintance; 
I saw it in hearing last fall for the first, time. 
Will send you a lew cions of it soon to give 
you a start. When 1 shall have obtained all 
the historical lacts necessary in regard to 
McAfee’s Nonsuch, I intend to publish them 
in some of the periodicals, thereby suppress¬ 
ing ten to twelve spurious synonyms.” 
Leni’ii Liiily Apple 
Is a seedling from Dr. Leaf, Philadelphia, 
the fruit of which, the Gardener's Monthly 
says, is rather larger than the well-known 
Lady’s Apple, some of the specimens taking 
an ovate instead of the regular depressed 
globose form. The color is not. so deep a 
red, and the yellow on the shaded side is 
interspersed with stripes and splashes of 
red. The stem is double the length of the 
Lady Apple, projecting beyond the cavity 
considerably. The fiesli is yellow and sweet 
and was iu excellent eating condition April 
20th. 
Haiti* s Early Pencil for Forcing. 
Mr. T. J. Pullen of New Jersey, writes 
the Gardener’s Monthly that “the Bale’s 
Early is a most excellent variety for orchard 
house culture. I prefer it over all other vn 
ricties which I have tested.” Mr. Pullen 
expected to have peaches of this variety ripe 
the first of May. 
Cymtilann Grape for Knl Wine, 
Geo. Htjsmann is reported as saying that 
the Cynlhiana “is the best grape we have 
for red wine; any one can distinguish its 
wine from that of the Norton, though the 
fruits are very much alike in appearance. 
II is very productive and hardy; have not. 
seen a rotten berry on it; think it will super¬ 
sede all others for red wines. It is very dif¬ 
ficult to propagate, hence plants are scarce 
and high priced. Dr. Spalding and Air. 
Mason indorse the above views regarding 
the quality of the wine and the distinction 
between the two grapes, and think the Cyn- 
thiaua a valuable acquisition. 
THE CONS APPLE. 
Grapes for I lie South. 
A correspondent of the South Land 
recommends the Concord, Warren, and 
Scuppernong as reliable and profitable 
grapes for the South, especially for the Pine 
Wood regions of the Gulf States. “ These 
varieties have stood the teat of six or eight 
years, and have proved profitable both for 
market and for wine.” 
aioxir-nu Ever-bearing Strawberry. 
B. Hathaway, Prairie Rondo, Mich.,says 
ol this berry; — “As tested on my own 
grounds, il is to all intents and purposes, as 
worthless as tlie Autumnal Gnlande, Stafford, 
and others, claimed to be distinct varieties, 
but to all appearance it is making a distinc¬ 
tion where no difference exists.” 
flnmnltirr*. 
THE HELIOTROPE. 
Few tropical flowers are so dear to ama¬ 
teur florists as this pet of window and sum¬ 
mer gardens. Like the mignonette, it boasts 
of little beauty; its flowers, though in large 
clusters, arc insignificant, and vary from a 
dark purple to white; but its delicious fra¬ 
grance is unequaled. It is not of a cloying 
sweetness, like the hyacinth and lilac, but 
its odors are refreshing, and a room perfumed 
with them is very agreeable. It has a fra¬ 
grance resembling vanilla. 
The Heliotrope was introduced into Eng¬ 
land in 1757; it was brought from Peru. 
Yost thickets of it grow wild on the Him¬ 
alaya Mountains. The wild varieties are 
white, or lavender colored; and the kind 
first introduced into favor is still called 
IhUotropinm Peruvianum. Florists have 
succeeded in deepening the shades, but no 
new colors have, been produced. This plant 
is an universal favorite. 
By careful pruning it can be trained into 
a fine standard—that is, a single stem, from 
two to live feel, high, with a bushy head 
filled with clusters of flowers. Again it is 
trained to run like a vine, and walls or trel¬ 
lises are adorned with its long branches and 
lovely flowers. Band, in bis “ Flowers for 
the Parlor," says:—“ \Vehave seen them in 
parlors in large tubs on wheels, and from 
eight to ten feet high. Such plants are in 
themselves bouquets of beauty, being al¬ 
ways covered with flowers. Train the main 
stems of a plant to a trellis, and let the 
branches droop naturally, as they will grace¬ 
fully. The plant bears the knife well and 
breaks freely, so it can be trained into auy 
shape;” 
ml 
ITEt.rOTROPrUM. 
The heliotrope loves the sun, and ns its 
name denotes, turns to it adoringly. The 
least frost blackens and destroys it, but il 
will flower well in a temperature of 60°. 
The green fly or scaly bug never approaches 
its leaves; but that minute pest, the red spi¬ 
der, will hide under them, and feed upon 
their juices. Frequent showeringa and a 
damp atmosphere will rout him. Red pep¬ 
per freely dusted over the leaves will destroy 
him. The plants are easily propagated. 
Cuttings strike quickly, cither in sand or 
water, and a large bed of them in a garden 
or lawn are indispensable for summer bou¬ 
quets and vases. If several varieties are 
grouped together, a very good effect is ob¬ 
tained. The darkest species is “ Mr. Keifler,” 
and it blooms abundantly in the ground. 
“Miul. Parker” is a fine dark variety. “ Co- 
rymbola” has a light flower; “Mad. Ren- 
dallcr" is of a very compact habit; flowers 
light lavender. “Heine de Heliotrope" is 
also fine. 
Some varieties arc quite dwarf, like the 
“Tom Thumb” Geraniums, as the “Jersey 
Belle,” which is desirable for the outside row 
of a circle of these plants. “Triomphe dc 
Beige” is of a very robust, habit, growing 
quite tall, and producing immense trusses of 
flowers; but they are not so plentiful as the 
other species, and arc a little less odorous. 
Any rich potting soil will grow this plant 
to perfection; turfy loam, with a little sand, 
is good for it; it likes liquid manures and a 
rich top dressing.—s. o. .r. 
- 4 -*+- 
FLORICULTURAL NOTES. 
Wigandin Caracasana 
We give an illustration of this beautiful 
ornamental large leaved plant,which, planted 
in groups, or as single specimens on lawns 
[ or in flower borders, produces a beautiful 
effect. The foliage is large and interesting, 
and the plants grow several feet in height. 
In the North they require to he taken up and 
kept in the green-house during the winter. 
They* may be obtained of any first-class 
plantsman. For illustration see page 317. 
The Camellia n* it Window Plant. 
A Michigan lady asks if the Camellia can 
be grown successfully as a window plant, 
what kind of culture, and if it is worth while 
to buy plants With buds. We never grew 
camellias in windows, but wc have seen 
them growing and blooming successfully 
there. One trouble with camellias iu sitting- 
rooms is that the atmosphere is generally 
too hot and dry. The best, atmosphere is 
from 40° at. night to GO or 65 in the day 
time. The soil in which they are planted 
should he one part clear sand, one part leaf 
mold, one part well rotted manure, (from okl 
hot-beds is best,) one part peat and two parts 
turf mold. Plenty of light, (not a burning 
sun,) careful (not too profuse) watering, a 
moist, atmosphere, moderate temperature, (as 
given above,) washing the foliage occasion- 
the all summer apple. 
ally, will secure healthy plants and blossoms. 
We should not care to buy plants with buds 
on them if we were going to purchase, un¬ 
less we wanted the blossoms for an especial 
purpose. In spring the pots should be 
plunged in a shady border and the plants 
watered sparingly. Doubtless many of the 
lady readers of the Rural can give informa¬ 
tion based upon experience. 
- - .-»«♦- 
Floral Inquiries.—Mrs. K.E.J. hasa VOrlegtitCU 
leaved geranium, whoso leaves fall oil' nearly as 
soon as matured. What is the reason and the 
remedy, she asks. A ns ,—Wo suspect t he reason 
is the rod spider, and the x*emedy more moisture 
in the atmosphere and a warm bath for the 
plants occasionally. — Nellie 8. Heats asks 
where Coleus truly be obtained, and at what 
price. Mrs. 8. It, SANDFORb asks what kind of 
treatment Peonies should receive. She never 
f--ots blossoms from them. Soil sandy, but en¬ 
riched every spring* wilh burn-yard manure.— 
M i s. H. Cotton asks some Rural reader to give 
a sure remedy for mildew on roses, and tell how 
to exterminate the red spider. 
lie Oincijaitr. 
ID 
VINEYARD ITEMS. 
The Scuppernonir Grape from CiittiiiR*. 
A correspondent of the Rural Caro¬ 
linian, laving stated that this grape will not 
grow from cuttings, another correspondent 
writes:—“My experience with it is that it 
will. T have never had one die. Dig an ob¬ 
long hole Fill one end of it full of dirt, 
allowing some to reach the entire length of 
the hole. The bottom of the hole will then 
be an inclined plane. Lay your cutting on it, 
and cover it with clean mellow soil, tramping 
it, with your feet very hard, and leaving not 
more than half an inch of the cutting above 
ground. 1 put all cuttings in the ground at 
an angle of from thirty to forty degress, so as 
to admit of hard tramping. Do not stir the 
ground deep about them the first year.” 
Area in Grapes. 
For two or three years past, the statement 
has been frequently made, that there are two 
millions of acres planted and cultivated in 
grapes in Ibis country. I am inclined to 
doubt the data, (if indeed there ever were 
any,) upon which this assertion is founded. 
Having made this a subject of inquiry for 
POTTER’S EARLY' APPLE. 
several years I fully believe that there are 
not 800,000 acres planted in grapes iu all the 
Slates.—w. s. w. 
-- 
Inquiries for Vlneyardlsls.—T. B. asks “if there 
is any way to counteract the tendency of grape 
vines to ripen tlieir fruit unevenly? My lines 
are healthy and prolific, but unfortunately In 
fruiting, the bunches arc full of ripe and green 
grapes at the same time, and consequently unfit 
for market." We believe It peculiar to certain 
varieties, though our correspondent does not 
name his. If'experienced grape growers can 
answer, let t hem.—AV. G. asks if we would “ re¬ 
commend propagating from cuttings of unripe 
wood.” No. 
-- 
Grapes In Hniith Illinois.— A correspondent at 
Mound City, 111., writes:—“Two young men 
bought a pieeeof timber land in our county, and 
in three years from the stump sold $1,400 worth 
of trranes." 
Arboricwltwrc. 
% _ _ 
OSAGE ORANGE FOR HEDGE. 
There has been a great deal written about 
this most valuable plant. Most writers tiro 
iu favor of it. But few understand it as yet, 
as they should, iu order to make a good 
fence. There are thousands of good fences, 
and tens of thousands that are not good, 
and why? is it any fault of the plant 
in itself? No; it is because those 
) rearing it do not understand how to 
manage it, or have neglected it. If 
properly managed, it makes the best, 
cheapest, and most durable fence, that 
can be made, (especially in the West 
and Southwestern portions of the 
United States.) 
I will endeavor to give a few direc¬ 
tions, which if followed cannot fail to 
make a good hedge fence anywhere 
in Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, or Ne¬ 
braska. 
Ascertain exactly where you wish 
to put your fence, (for the hedge cannot 
be moved, as a rail or plank fence,) 
then prepare ihe ground early in the 
spring in a thorough farmer-like manner. 
Set the plants six inches apart and no 
ftirther; some say plant from eight to 
ten inches apart; but six inches makes 
the best fence. Cultivate it well for three 
years; and during those three years, never, 
never, cut o(T a single branch ; let it 
grow as large as it will the first three years 
after planting; (and if the hedge has not 
grown as well as it should let it grow still 
another year) then very early in the spring 
of the fourth year after planting, commence 
at one end of the fence—for it is a fence by 
that time if properly cultivated—and cut the 
first plant nearly half off — or just near 
enough off for it to bend down. Bend it on 
a line with the fence, bending from the 
standing plant of course. It should be cut 
as near the ground as it can he cut; and it 
does better if cut only enough to bend it—as 
the object is to have the bent part live. 
As I said, commence at one end of the 
fence and cut and bend the first plant on a 
line with the hedge, serving the next and the 
next in the same way, until the entire line is 
cut and bent; then if any limbs are above 
the desired height of the fence, they can be 
easily cut off The hedge should then be 
cut at least once a year, at the height desired 
for the fence — say four or four and a-balf 
feet high. The best mode of cutting hedge 
(after it once gets to be a fence) is to cut it 
twice a year, say in June, and again about 
the time the first frosts come in the full. It 
takes less work to cut it twice a year than 
once. There arc no brush in the way if cut 
twice a yeal*; if cut only once a year, never 
let the brush fall and lay on the fence, but 
pile and burn it. If left on the hedge 
wherever it may fall when cut, it will shade 
and smother the small limbs which are very 
essential in a good hedge. Nor should trees 
be planted or allowed to grow near enough 
to shade the fence, as the Osage Orange will 
not flourish when shaded. 
Some people advocate cutting off near 
the ground the first or second year to make 
the hedge thick. But the only way a good, 
tight, hog-proof fence can be made is to land 
the plants, and if done in the proper man¬ 
ner, it Yvill make a fence that will turn any 
and all kinds of stock. Wm. T. Talbott. 
--— 
ARBORICULTURAL NOTES. 
Growing Foul Timber. 
lb, of Pompey, N. Y., asks: — “ How can 
I start a cedar grove on moist land where 
other timber is dying? 1 want the cedar for 
fence posts, &C. Is there any other timber 
I can grow, either on wet or dry land, that 
will make posts quicker or better than cedar? 
if so, what, and how started?” A ns. —On 
the wet land the American Larch will make 
posts quicker than cedar; and, we ll seasoned, 
they last well. They can be purchased at 
nurseries cheap anti transplanted. On up¬ 
land both Black Locust and Chestnut (which 
make good posts) may be grown sooner than 
any variety of cedar we know of. 
The Aftb-Liruved Maple or Box Elder. 
Tile sugar producing qualities of this tree, 
Negundo aceroides, are well known in some 
portions of the West, and it is highly recom¬ 
mended for planting on the prairies. Tlio 
Freeport Journal says:—“ We lately saw a 
sample of Negundo sugar, made by Dr. En- 
nis, from the common box elder, which 
grows luxuriantly iu our climate. Front five 
gallons of sap, one quart nice granulated 
white sugar was obtained, or about five per 
cent. At Chatsworth the sugar beet yields 
about six per cent., with very expensive ma¬ 
chinery. It will easily be seen that it will 
pay to plant and grow the box elder for its 
sugar producing qualities.” This tree was, 
some years since, recommended highly by 
Illinois arboriculturists, on account of its 
beauty as a shade tree, and more especially 
because of its sugar-producing qualities. It 
was claimed to excel the sugar maple iu the 
latter respect. 
