PRICE FIVE CENTS, 
32.00 PER YEAR. 
VOL. XXXVIII. No. 33 
WHOLE No. 1341. 
[Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1879, by the Rural Publishing Company, in the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. — Entered at the Post-Office at New York City. N. Y., as second-class matter.] 
ter, yet too austere or immature for either 
dessert or culinary uses. 
The line is so closely drawn and the vaiia- 
tion is so great with change of climate or lati¬ 
tude, or both, that even Maideu’s Blush, a 
summer apple iu parts of Ohio, Southern 
Michigan aud similar latitudes, goes into the 
cellars of Northern Michigan iu November, 
coming out, in April or May. in fine condition; 
while Fall Pippin, Fameuse, Shiawassee Beauty, 
Melon, Rambo and others, properly speaking 
late autumn apples in the latitude of Southern 
Michigan, yet supply much of the staple for 
home use till the winter is considerably ad¬ 
vanced. 
It is, however, among the long keepers, 
properly so called, or what might appropri¬ 
ately be designated as spring apples, that we 
shall fiud the most valuable varieties, whether 
estimated from the standpoint of the producer, 
or from that of the consumer. Among these 
we shall find Rhode Island Greening, which 
goes from Northern Michigan to the Chicago 
markets iu June as firm as if jnst taken from 
the trees; also the Baldwiu, Golden Rnsset, 
Roxbury Russet and Red Cauada, which last 
remains iu the markets and upon the fruit- 
stands of Chicago aud Detroit till actually 
crowded aside by shipments of the next sea¬ 
son's crop from the South. 
The opening to us of a European market, by 
means of steam trausit across the ocean, must, 
iu the nature of the case, tend strongly to in¬ 
crease lihe value of this class of apples, from 
which jiu-tst ilouhlless come the bulk of the 
supply of this newly-created demand : while 
Western growers may confidently anticipate 
that a few years only will, with the constantly 
increasing demand for such facilities, open to 
them the advantages of direct shipment from 
our lake ports to the seaboard markets of 
Europe. 
It Is by no means a surprising fact that 
southern varieties should, in our more northern 
climate, lose something of their quality. This 
might naturally have been anticipated, and 
such proves to be the fact, but there is yet an¬ 
other fact, which we have pretty effectually 
demonstrated by the testing here of nearly or 
quite one hundred of these Southern sorts, that 
while many varieties of Eastern origin prove 
more or less tender In the climate of Michigan, 
as well as in their Eastern homes, uot a single 
variety originating south of the Ohio river has 
proved otherwise than entirely hardy in the 
Peninsular State. This, to us. is a surprising 
paradox—one the reason of which we are ut¬ 
terly unable to conceive, and we speak of it 
here with the hope that among the savants 
aud apostles of Pomology some oue may be 
able to offer us a rational explanation. 
fore read or heard. 1 will premise by saying 
of Mr. T. to those who do uot know him, that 
he is oue of our best posted men in thescieuees 
of pomology and horticulture. Old enough to 
have made many experiments and to have 
noted tlicir results, he needs here no backer to 
his word or his uote. He claims to have noticed 
as early as 184!) great differences in the flavor, 
size aud color of several of the popular varie¬ 
ties of apples grown upon different trees. This 
led him to notice carefully the departure from 
the normal type of those top-grafted upon 
trees that hud already borne fruit the character 
of which he Hud known, aud he fonnd, in most 
or all cases, that, though the fruit of the graft 
did not lose its identity, still there was more or 
less departure from the true type either in the 
form, flavor, size, color, contour or keeping 
qualities. 
He also placed on exhibition at the above 
uieetiug Baldwiu apples from thiee different 
trees, one of the common shape and ilesli, one 
grafted by himself from a perfect Baldwin 
upon a seedling that had borne a smallish, sour, 
high-colored apple, with often a red tinge 
through its flesh; oblate iu form aud keeping 
very late. The apples from this graft, though 
still Baldwins, us reluctantly decided by the 
best experts after cutting and tasting, partook 
largely of the form and habits of the natural 
fruit of the tree, and as late as the 34th of July, 
instant, I saw them at his house iu good keep¬ 
ing condition, showing the inside tinge aud the 
pther peculiarities of the natural fruit. 
The third specimen exhibited was from cions 
from the same tree as the last, set upon a tree 
that had borne sweet apples, and though the 
side, but unmistakably a Talrnau Sweet, and 
what was still further remarkable of this tree, 
though not bearing on this question, the tree 
was forked iu two main branches of equal 
size, one bearing oue year and the other the 
next. I know nothing of the history of the 
tree except that, during the ten years that I 
owned and watched it, it never bore an apple 
on either branch except on these alternate 
years, and then never failed. Pedigree iu 
grains has already become a prominent aud in¬ 
teresting subject, and there is no question in 
my niiud hut thut pedigree in fruits is of equal 
importance aud practicability. It is to me 
quite evident that in the general method of 
raising fruit trees, especially the apple, there 
is ft fault that is having a deteriorating influence 
in their fruitfulness aud iu the changing of the 
quality of their fruit. 
This is not a uew subject to me, but is 
simply freshly brought to mind by the exhibi¬ 
tion mentioned, aud if this is thought worthy 
of insertion iu the Ruual, I may have more to 
sav in the matter.—[Please do so—Eds.] 
®Ir. Tyler closes his essay as follows: ‘‘I 
will sum up my conclusions by premising that 
for success iu attaiuiug and holding a desired 
point of excellence in the growth of fruit, the 
stock must be kuown to be healthy, hardy and 
productive, and of a kind, either sweet or sour, 
adapted to the maintenance aud perpetuity of 
those qualities of the kind which is sought to 
be maintained, lleuce, my position develops 
the tanJf^hat promiscuous root or top-grafting 
—unaided by design toeoutinue all of the good 
qualities of the kind, but operated for the pur¬ 
pose of rapidly multiplying trees for the mar¬ 
OUR PORTRAITS CONTINUED, 
CHARLES DOWNING 
BY SAMUEL U. BAUSONS. 
There are few men who, at the end of a long 
life, can look back and see the result of their 
labors, can feel that the world is better for the 
graces and pleasures which they may have 
given it. It ofteu happens that the value of 
such a course is not visible to others until it 
has passed away aud the mystery of death 
gives a true estimate of life. Especially is it 
the case where natural modesty prevents the 
push with which some men thrust themselves 
before the world and achieve an ephemeral 
greatness. Ephemeral such greatness always 
is, for in the long ruu truth tells and character 
makes its true impression on the world. 
There are, however, some men whose char¬ 
acters make at .onco this impression and the 
years, as they pass, only strengthen it. Of 
that class is the subject of this sketch, whose 
face we have before us. 
Born in 1802. and working with his father 
arnoug trees and flowers uutil twenty years of 
age, he then succeeded him and commenced 
that series of experiments with fruits, which 
makes him now the most trustworthy pomol- 
ogist iu America. From 188C to 18S8 he was 
in partnership with his brother who afterward 
commenced his literary work and dlled the 
niche which was then open. A. J. Downing 
held a spirited and graphic pen aud his breezy 
articles, when editor of the Horticulturist, were 
the uatural outgrowth of his taste and love for 
horticulture. Iu the preparation of ids book 
of fruits, however, he was much indebted to 
his brother Charles, whose long experience 
gave him accurate knowledge, and who had 
fruited aud compared many thousand varieties. 
After the death of A. J. Downing this book 
passed through several editions, each greatly 
eulurged by Clias. Downing uutil the present edi¬ 
tion is the bust Pomologieal book iu the world 
and made so maiuly by the labors of the subject 
of this sketch. It was uot until after 1840 that 
1 kuow either of them, aud while admiring the 
striking qualities of his brother, 1 was always 
impressed with the quiet obsei vatiou, the great 
accuracy, and the unobtrusive modesty of 
Charles Downiug. He never sought apprecia¬ 
tion, but always received it from those who 
truly knew him. While writing of his atten¬ 
tion to fruits, I should not forget his love for 
ornamental plants and his knowledge of them. 
Hie old place was much changed iu 1808 by 
the running of streets aud the destruction of 
many of his trees. He still indulges his taste, 
however, and his memory does uot fail him. 
Any one desiring information on fruits cau rely 
upon its correctness, if received from Charles 
Downing. When thinking of the usefulness of 
such a life,oue cannot help wishing for the old 
days of Methuselah when man’s life was not 
limited to fourscore years, 
Iu the career of the two brothers is a valua¬ 
ble lesson. Oue gave his life to save life—the 
other has spent his yeurs iu labor for meu. 
Sacrifice and labor are two pivots ou which the 
moral world revolves. Happy is the mau who 
has his share of each. 
MICHIGAN STATE POMOLOGICAL SOC IETY 
This Pomologieal Society calls attention to 
the following facts about the fair of 1879 : 
1 st —Our hall is to be greatly enlarged. 
2 d.—The arraugemeut of fruit aud flowers 
will enable an observer to take iu the entire 
exhibit at a single glance. 
3d.—Our pluica are pearl-white aud thus add 
to the appearance of the fruit. 
4th.—We have, at much expense, secured, 
brass clasps to be attached to the plates, which 
will hold card labels well above the fruit. 
5 th.—Our cards will have uames of all prouii- 
ueut fruits priuted thereon iu clear, bold type. 
Do uot neglect us this season. Apples are 
scarce but other fruits plenty. Our premium 
list, which has been seut you, offers better in¬ 
ducements than last year. It will expedite 
matters and prevent a great rush at the open¬ 
ing of the fair if all those who are to make a 
number of entries in the department of Fruit 
and Flower a, will make out a list of the entries 
before faU-week. All that desire blauk entry 
lists, please drop me a card giving full name 
and address ; I will forward them at ouec. If 
lists of entries are made ant before September 
CHARLES DOWNING.-FROM A LATE PHOTOGRAPH 
kets—will always prove disastrous to the best 
interests of the orchardist, and carry with it 
more or less disappointment, loss of time and 
money, instead of profit and pleasure.” 
Muskegon Co., Mich. 
departure from the parent stock was less 
marked than in the case of the other, still it 
was sufficient to create strong doubts of its 
origin. These three trees were all growing 
near together on the same soil and under the 
same culture. 
The exhibition of these apples reminded me 
of several peculiarities that I had formerly 
noticed in the products of different apple trees 
of the same variety. In two cases of five trees 
each of the same variety, bought aud planted 
at the same time and skowiug no marked dif¬ 
ference in appearance, oue of each kiud bore 
fruit three or four years before the others. In 
another ease a tree of Talman Sweet bore 
apples regularly every alternate year, but of 
inferior size with generally a blush upon one 
ABOUT WINTER APPLES 
THE INFLUENCE OF THE STOCK UPON 
THE GRAFT. 
T. T. LYON, 
This simple title has come to be recoguized 
as including any aud all apples that retain 
their qualities long enough to warrant the 
grower in gathering and placing them iu the 
cellar or fruit house, although some of them 
may be iu use in late autumn ; aud again, 
others may be found, even at the close of wia- 
At the June meeting of the Slate Pomologi- 
cal Society of Michigan at Muskegon, an essay 
with the above title was read by H. S. Tyler, 
of Dalton, Michigan, which comes more 
directly to the point than anything I have be¬ 
