7 
3 
THE RURAL 
■ 
“ Rochester ” and “ Monroe,” seedlings of 
Ellwanger and Barry, and of Mr. Ricketts’s 
“ Jefferson.” 
Discussion on grape rot showed that this 
disease had not prevailed very generally in 
Ohio the past season, owing, it is’supposed, to 
the dry summer ; though in some localities the 
disease was quite destructive. Several persons 
testified that it invariably made its appearance 
during hot and rainy or sultry weather, and 
that no system of culture or pruning seemed to 
will be published in our annual report of which 
20,000 copies are printed each year by the 
legislature, as an appendix of the State Agri¬ 
cultural Report, and 500 copies in pamphlet 
form for members of the Society. 
Palnesvllle, O. M. B. Batehah. 
-- 
The Fruit Interest on Lake Michigan. 
At the recent meeting of the Michigan Pomo- 
logical Society some instructive facts were re¬ 
vealed in regard to the fruit interest on the 
to last for ever, but should be counted as 
having about the same average duration as 
man—say 60 to 80 j'ears, under favorable cir¬ 
cumstances, and that on thin Roil with poor 
treatment a period of from 50 to 00 years was 
aB long as the trees could be expected to 
yield any profit. Hence it is full time that a 
large share of the orchards were cut dowu, 
as not worth the trouble and expense of re¬ 
novation. At any rate no time should be lost 
in planting new orchards where they are de¬ 
sired to take the places of the old ones, which 
should be cut away as soon as the young trees 
afford a home supply of fruit. Various meth¬ 
ods were suggested for renovating orchards, 
by plowing, fertilizing, pruning etc. 
Next was an able essay on the science and 
practice of pruning, by G. H. Miller, of Nor¬ 
wich. The next topic was, codling moths and 
canker worms—how to combat their ravages— 
Most of the speakers deemed the band method 
of trapping the moths too laborious or trou- 
lesome for large orchards, but thought they 
were the best where pasturing with hogs or 
sheep cannot be practised. Several spoke of 
the efficacy of the latter method, and urged 
all farmers to adopt it, as a cheap and easy 
way of seem ing fair and mechantable apples. 
Complaint was made that sheep are apt to in¬ 
jure the trees by eating off the bark, and it 
was replied that this can be easily prevented 
by washing the bark with Btrong soap-suds in 
which a 6inall quantity of carbolic acid lias 
been stirred—say an ounce of the crude, or 
half an ouuce of pure acid to a pailful of soap¬ 
suds. It will not need to be applied more 
than once in two mouths, or twice in a sea¬ 
son. The same wash will prevent the attacks 
of borers, and the gnawing of rabbits and 
mice. 
Methods of Evaporating Fruit*. 
An essay On evaporting fruits by the use of 
the “American Fruit Drier,” by Jas. Edgerton, 
was next read. His apparatus was of small 
capacity, costing only about $60, and designed 
for farm nse. He regarded it as the best con¬ 
trivance of its kind, and a good instrument for 
orchardists who are distant from market, or 
liable to have a surplus of fruit, especially such 
as have children or eftn hire suitable help for 
paring and handling the fruit. The quality of 
the dried fruit is the same as of that dried by the 
Alden process, and vastly better than that of 
ordinary dried fruit. He found it pays better 
to dry Black Cap raspberries by this method 
than to ship them in a fresh state. 
Mr. S. B. Maim, Mich., was preseut as dele¬ 
gate from the Michigan Bornological Society, 
and, by request, gave ai v - aceouut of a very 
large establishment of which he is manager, 
for evaporating fruits by the Alden method, 
using throe large machines, which, with the 
buildings and appliauces, cost $10,000, and, 
when in full operation, uses at the rate of 400 
bushels of apples per day. It was started five 
or six years ago as a stock company, by a 
number of farmers having orchards, and, after 
heavy losses by fire and other causes, most of 
the owners were discouraged, and sold their 
interests to the present company, who revived 
the business and have ruu it for several years 
with fair profit to themselves and much benefit 
to the farmers around. The market is also 
improving for tbe evaporated fruit, both for 
export and use in this country, so that theyare 
confident tbe business will pay better in the 
future than it lias in the past. Mr. Mann, on 
being asked about the use of sulphur for 
bleaching the fruit ami improving its keeping 
quality, said his firm had adopted that 
method, hut the question as to payiug any pat- 
eut royalty had not yet beeu fully settled. Re¬ 
marks tbeu followed about the dispute that is 
going on in regard to this patent question, be¬ 
tween the fruit-driers of Western New York 
aud the Ohio mau who claims to have a patent 
for the sulphur process, by which it a peaml 
that the validity of the patent is likely soon to 
he tested iu the courts. 
Grape Culture. New Varieties. Disenses. 
Mr. G. W. Campbell, who is our standard 
authority ou varieties of Grapes, read an essay 
on the new Grapes as observed the past sea- 
sou, speaking especially of thoaeX'xhibiled at 
the show at Rochester, aud some he had seen 
elsewhere. The writer of this also gave his 
.mpressions of a number of new Grapes, espe¬ 
cially tliose examined by him at the Roches¬ 
ter exhibition und in gardens about that city. 
Mr. High, of Middle Bass Islands, gave the re¬ 
sults of his experience with the Brighton and 
several other new Grapes. Specimens of the 
Prentiss Grape, sent by Mr. Hubbard, of Fre- 
donia, were exhibited at the meeting, and made 
a favorable impression as to its appearance, 
flavor aud keeping quality, the only doubt 
being as to the vigor of the vine, and its 
ability to withstand disease in this climate. 
All who had tried the Brighton, or seen it fair¬ 
ly tested, spoke well of it ; much confidence 
was also expressed that the Niagara and Pock- 
liugtou would prove valuable iu Ohio; perhaps 
also the Duchess aud Lady Washington,at least 
for amateur culture, their fine quality render¬ 
ing them worthy of careful trial, and, if neces¬ 
sary, the use of sulphur to prevent mildew. 
Favorable mention was also made of the 
have any effect in its prevention, unless the 
vines or clusters of fruit were sheltered from 
the weather, as by a coping of boards over the 
trellis, training against buildings or inclosing 
the clusters in paper bags. My abstract of the 
discussion on this subject at the Rochester 
meeting, as published in the Rural New-Yor¬ 
ker of Nov. 3D was read, and tbe facts aud in¬ 
ferences met a general assent. 
Fsnays By mid For flic Ladles. 
One of the surest signs of progress in our 
State and County Societies, is the interest 
taken in the meetings and proceedings by la¬ 
dies. The second evening of this meeting was 
especially the ladies’ benefit, and quite a iium- 
ber of those of the city, as well as from the 
country were present. First was the reading 
of an essay by Mrs. Helen V. Austin, delegate 
from the Indiana State Horticultural Society, 
entitled “ Wbraen as Horticulturists." It was 
of considerable length, and marked ability^ 
containing many good hints and points which 
elicited frequent applause. Mrs. Austin, in 
advocating the rights aud privileges of women 
and their fitness for the pleasures and employ¬ 
ments ot horticulture, showed np in strong 
terms the conduct of very many farmers iu 
denying to their wives and children this natural 
and cheap source of recreation and enjoyment. 
Next was an essay by Mrs. J. K. Niosz, wife 
of the president of the County Society, on the 
influence of Horticulture on Rural Life. This 
also was quite timely aud good. Then followed 
an excellent and practical paper by Mr. M. 
Milton, of Youngstown, O., who is a well 
educated florist aud a good writer, on Window 
Gardening and the care of Winter-Blooming 
Plants. 
1 find that space will not permit me to glance 
at the practical topics of our third day’s dis¬ 
cussions ; such as raspberries, strawberries, 
new peaches, plum culture, curculio, black 
knot. These, with the essays and speeches, 
Lake Shore. Last winter the Legislature of 
Michigan passed a law for the suppression of 
yellows in the Peacb, by directing the prompt 
destruction of all diseased trees. It was 
shown that in South Ilaven and the surround¬ 
ing country, where the fruit-growers bad 
rigidly enforced this law, there wore but 
three aud-a-balf per cent- of diseased trees 
for the season, and men in that viciuity are 
confident that if the supposition that the yel- 
ows spread only by contagion is eorrec l, the 
prompt extermination of all affected trees will 
reduce the annual loss to about three per cent. 
An interesting point was also brought forward 
concerning the value of local Horticultural 
Societies. The best fruit was marketed from 
joints throughout the State where live Soci¬ 
eties were at work, while in localities where 
there were no Societies, mostly second-class 
fruit was marketed. Many of the fruit-growers 
present acknowledged that they, in great part, 
owed their success to the hints and encourage¬ 
ment they had received from the Societies. 
It is found almost impossible to enforce the 
yellows law in districts where there are no 
Societies through which people may co-operate 
in their work, and bv discussions on the sub¬ 
ject. learn that it is for their benefit. People, 
however, are gaining faith in their ability to 
hold the disease within bounds, and the present 
indications seem to show that in a few years all 
the high land bordering on the lake shore and 
extending back from 10 to 20 miles will be 
planted with Peaches and various other kinds 
of fruit. Western Michigan fruit-growers, 
who formerly shipped ouly to Chicago, are 
commencing to send direct to cities further 
west and north. The probabilities are that the 
western fruit trade will he greatly developed, 
in which case there will, most likely, be no lo¬ 
cality in the country that can offer better in¬ 
ducements to fruit-growers than western 
Michigan. p. a. g. 
t 
THE CRANBERRY PIPPIN. 
Ttits very beautiful apple, of which we here 
give illustrations, originated on a farm near 
Hudson, N. Y. It does not appear to be widely 
known, comparatively few being found in the 
market. The specimen here presented we 
bought one. day while strolling througli Wash¬ 
ington Market, in this city, where this variety 
readily sold for $5 a barrel. We cannot affirm 
as to tbe suitability of the tree to all sections 
of the country, for, as far as we are aware, It 
is as yet, cultivated only in the East, and there 
to a limited extent; but the tree is said to be a 
vigorous grower and very productive. The 
size and beautiful appearance of the fruit 
make it very attractive, and therefore excel¬ 
lent for market. It is medium to large, round¬ 
ish-oblate and regular. The skin is thin, very 
smooth, of a light yellow, with a bright scar¬ 
let cheek, the red flush sometimes spreading 
over the greater part of the apple. In point 
of flavor it is not a first-class apple, though 
for cooking purposes it is unsurpassed. The 
flesh is white, tender, pleasant, suhacid and 
quite juicy. It is in nse from November to 
the beginning of March. It is worth trying in 
all localities where fruit will thrive. Wherever 
it does well, it will rank among the best as a 
market apple. 
-»♦ * 
ORCHARDS IN ILLINOIS. 
A. C. WILLIAMS. 
That there are so many farmers to whom it 
has never occurred to put out an orchard, ia 
indeed strange—and farmers, too, who have 
supplied themselves and families with almost 
every other comfort. Even in the great State 
of Illinois there are entire neighborhoods in 
which there ia not one good orchard. Espe¬ 
cially is this the case in many prairie districts. 
I have seen several such places within the last 
fortnight: farmer-like residences on either 
side of the highway, manifestly built years 
ago; mammoth barns, aud tasty out-houses 
in keeping with well kept farms; miles of well 
grown hedges; meadows dotted with stacks; 
fat cattle roaming upon the verdure of a 
“ thousand hills” iu township-like pastures, 
but no orchard to furnish fruit for the family, 
Iu timbered districts such farms are not so 
common. We may account for the absence of 
orchards in the prairie districts, however, by 
reasons other than sheer neglect; but I will not 
undertake to do so here, since negligence is 
the main trouble. Certainly tliose farmers do 
not let their families do without fmit, so that 
the money expended for it, any year, would 
quite equal the cost of trees and planting. 
At this day, with the priceless advantages of 
the agricultural press, pomological books, aud 
societies, common sense is all that is requisite, 
for one not only to put out an orchard, bat to 
do it well, and know, or find out, exactly what 
to plant iu his particular locality, climate and 
soil. For Illinois, till something first-rate in 
quality is found, nothing is better than Ben 
Davis in the way of apples for winter, Hub- 
bardston Nonsuch, Snow (Famense), Maiden’s 
Blush, Rambo, or Porter for autumn and early 
winter, and Asirachau, Duchessof Oldeuburgh, 
Primate, or Red June for summer. Of course, 
there are many others that du well in Central 
Illiuois, but this list is intouded for begiuners 
who would probably set out a plain and unpre¬ 
tending orchard, if they only knew a few sorts 
that would be eertaiu to succeed with half a 
chance—orchards in Illiuois seldom get a whole 
chance. 
Most families, however.would want for winter 
more than one sort, aud I might add Winesap, 
Westfield Seek-No-Further, or Jannet, aud for 
a sweet apple, Talman Sweet. There are scores 
of other sorts deservedly popular, a few of 
which I cannot refrain from naming and 
pointing out eertaiu defects they are subject to 
when grown here. The Eastern man who 
comes West expecting to grow Baldwins, Spys 
and Roxbury Russels, aud enjoy them in their 
perfection, as he has from boyhood, will gen¬ 
erally be sorely vexed aud disappointed, since 
they are almost always unreliable here. The 
first-named, as I have seen them, are imperfect, 
ripen prematurely, and are damaged badly by 
dry, rotten specks, while ou the tree. Spys 
come to perfection, aud suck perfection, but 
are ripe and must be used long before cold 
weather. Such has been my observation, no 
matter what the care aud treatment have been. 
Roxbury Russet is open to the same objections 
as the Baldwin, except, perhaps, that it may 
not rot on the tree so badly. 
Of Cherries, I have experimented with 
Dukes, Hearts, Bigarreaus and Morellos, and 
here in Illinois, especially in the central por¬ 
tions, I would advise the inexperienced to hope 
for fruit from the Dukes only, and of them the 
“Early May” (May Duke as we call it), is the 
best; still any of the various sorts belonging to 
the Duke family is not likely to disappoint ihe 
planter. 
It is a very common practice to set cherry 
trees in the yard, here, and if Dukes, worked 
on Mahaleb stock, were used, it would not be 
bad, but nearly always the worst old scrubby 
Beedliug Morello stock iu the country, is used 
CRANBERRY PIPPIN.—EROM LIFE.—FIG. 7. 
