54 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
January 28 
poor quality of pine; the covers are made of first- 
quality pine; the sides of basswood, the handles and 
narrow strips at top and bottom of beech or elm. 
The beech logs come from Pennsylvania by car-loads, 
almost train-loads. The logs are cut into four-foot 
lengths, and placed in a huge vat where they are 
soaked and steamed for hours. Then they are put 
into a veneering machine which is a cross between an 
old-fashioned apple-paring machine and a turning 
lathe, which works up the log into the thin stuff of 
which are made the sides of the basket. 
After the material is ready, comes the building of 
the basket. There is a machine for putting the basket 
together, which is the invention of a Yates County 
man. It uses fine wire staples instead of nails, but 
few, if any, of the factories in this vicinity use it. I 
never saw one, so cannot describe it. A good many 
machine-made baskets come from Ohio, and are sold 
here for $12 or $13 per 1,000 ; but most growers prefer 
a better-made basket, and are willing to pay a little 
more for it. The best grade of handmade baskets 
costs $15 per 1,000. The factories buy the small nails 
and tacks with which the basket is put together, by 
the ton. K. C. GILLKTT. 
(To he continued.) 
THE GRAND OLD BALDWIN APPLE. 
On page 865, H. E. "Van Deman says: “ Baldwin 
never was high in quality, although some who never 
have eaten really choice apples may think it good.” 
Why, then, is it so largely grown, and so much in ex¬ 
cess of any other variety ? Among others, three prin¬ 
cipal reasons may be given : 1. It is a large and hand¬ 
some apple. 2. It is a good keeper. 3. The trees 
excel in produc- 
tiveness. The 
American Borno¬ 
logical Society 
gives the quality 
of the Baldwin as 
“ good to very 
good.” The same 
authority pro¬ 
nounces the Hub- 
bardston “very 
good to best,” and 
the Ben Davis 
“poor to good.’ 
While the flavor of 
the Baldwin is not 
so spicy and aro¬ 
matic as that of 
the Spitzenberg, 
the R. I. Greening 
or the Roxbury 
Russet, the best 
type of Baldwin 
would, perhaps, 
better please the 
popular taste. I 
have noticed more 
variation i n the 
quality of the 
Baldwin when 
grown in different latitudes than in that of any other 
sort. In Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and 
farther west in the same latitude, the Baldwin seems 
to be at its best. In Massachusetts (near Boston, at 
least), its character is changed ; it becomes a darker 
red, and is much inferior in quality. It is quite ex¬ 
tensively grown near Boston, where I have seen as 
handsome specimens as ever grew, but as lacking in 
flavor as a raw turnip, especially when grown on 
moist, low ground. In Connecticut, I have found it 
somewhat better in quality, but still much inferior to 
the Baldwin of northern New England. 
Sixty years ago, my father, then living four miles 
from Dartmouth College, Hanover, N. H., was much 
Interested in apple culture. Grafted fruit at that 
time was little known, and when he sold his hand¬ 
some handpicked Baldwins to the college faculty for 
$1.50 per bushel, some of his envious neighbors were 
shocked. They wondered how a professing, orthodox 
Christian could reconcile such a price with his con¬ 
science. 
It can be no marvel that an apple which has been 
so largely and widely grown as the Baldwin, should 
have deteriorated in some localities. Still, in spite of 
neglect, careless culture, unfavorable soil, propagation 
of weak or diseased stock, the century just closing 
shows the Baldwin unrivaled as a commercial apple, 
and with few superiors as a table or dessert fruit. 
Connecticut. _ h. h. b. 
Reports from Germany are that the SaH Jos6 scale has not 
been detected yet in most kinds of American dried fruits The 
German officials require the opening of 10 per cent of all boxes to 
show that they contain peeled fruit. It is claimed that the scale 
is deposited only on the skin, and that peeled fruit is free from 
all danger. German public opinion seems to uphold the restric¬ 
tions on American trees and cuttings, but in the case of dried 
fruits, the precautions are considered entirely unnecessary. 
VAN DEMAN'S FRUIT NOTES. 
A Succession of Peaches. 
Will you name a succession of peaches that will furnish fruit 
from the earliest to the latest, having in view rather the quality 
than quantity of fruit produced ? c. h. 
Erie, Pa. 
A list of peaches for family use that are of superior 
quality, and make a constant succession from early to 
late, may be selected as follows : Greensboro, Triumph, 
Early Rivers, Mountain Rose, Champion, Elberta, 
Oldmixon Free, Salway, Heath Cling and Henrietta. 
Only two or more trees of a kind may be planted with 
better adaptability to home use than more trees of 
fewer kinds. 
Crossing Different Classes of Fruits. 
Have any crosses ever been made between two or more distinct 
classes of fruit that are worthy of cultivation ? I have seen sev¬ 
eral crosses of the cherry and plum, but none that was fit to eat. 
Nebraska. G. N. T. 
Yes, a few varieties of fruits have been produced by 
crossing different species, that are valuable. The 
Loganberry is one that was originated by Judge 
Logan of California by crossing the blackberry and 
raspberry. It is not so hardy as the ordinary varieties 
of these fruits, and requires protection during most 
Winters in the northern States. It is large and of fair 
flavor, but is more valuable as a novelty than for 
practical use. Mr. Burbank, of California, has also 
originated a number of crosses which are interesting, 
and some of them may become of permanent value ; 
but his berries of this kind are not of great value so 
far as tested. Some of the plums which he has pro¬ 
duced by intermixing the Japan, American and Euro¬ 
pean species, are already becoming quite popular. 
Many such hybrids prove of no value whatever, ex¬ 
cept as they instruct us along the line of scientific 
inquiry and experiment. The future will, doubtless, 
lead to many marvelous developments of this kind, 
and will add many useful varieties to those we now 
have. I have heard of the crossing of the plum and 
cherry, but have never seen any of the varieties so 
produced. 
Pruning Quince Trees. 
I have a one-year-old Meeeh quince orchard. I did not trim it 
when I set it out last Spring. The trees have sent out long, 
spindling branches. How shall I trim it and when ? Shall 1 cut 
it back pretty well so as to insure shapely trees, or must I only 
thin out and remove dead branches ? I want to do the best thing 
for the future welfare of my orchard. a. a. t. 
Glendola, N. J. 
The long straggling branches of the quince trees 
should be headed back to such distances as will insure 
moderately compact heads to the trees. About March 
or April will be a suitable time to do the work. The 
quince does not make a tall, stately tree, but is more 
bush-like than most fruit trees, and is, in many cases, 
difficult to train into satisfactory form. Quince cur- 
culios are so abundant in many sections, that it is 
necessary to jar the trees as plum trees are jarred, in 
order to catch them, and it is usually very profitable 
treatment. The little knotty depressions on the fruit 
are largely the work of these insects. In case jarring 
is done, the trees must be trained with bodies tall 
enough, and with sufficient room under the branches 
to spread the catcher. 
Self-Fertile Apples. 
Are the Roxbury -Russet, Hubbardston and Sutton known as 
self-fertilizing apples, or do any or all of them need to be planted 
near some other vaiiety for perfect pollinization ? What varie¬ 
ties Is it safe to plant in large-blocks by themselves ? What 
varieties are not self-fertile ? R. a. d. 
The matter of the ability of the varieties of the 
apple to self-fertilize or the reverse, has not been 
worked out as yet, except in a very limited degree. 
The varieties mentioned are among those of which 
little is known in this respect. The Ben Davis is one 
that has proved able to pollinize its own flowers ; but 
in this stage of the experiments, it would be unsafe 
to give a list of such as are or are not self-fertile. 
Within a few years, this will have been demonstrated, 
so far as the ordinary varieties are concerned. 
Japan Plums in Virginia. 
We contemplate planting 20 acres of fruit 40 miles south of Rich¬ 
mond,Va., on the south side of the James River. The land is 
directly on the river bluffs. We have thought of planting a good 
many Japan plums. Will they do well there ? If so, what varieties 
and how many of each would be best to plant ? d. w. b. 
The Japan plums will do very well in the region 
mentioned. I have seen them growing and bearing 
near Richmond, Va., and up the James River for 
more than 100 miles. .The following named varieties 
are well tested, and have proved profitable: Bur¬ 
bank, Abundance, Wickson and Hale. There are 
other good ones, but these are, perhaps, sufficient 
for the purpose intended. It would be well to select 
about 500 of each in planting 2,000 trees of this type 
of plum. It would be my advice to set a part of the 
orchard to some of the American species, such as 
American Eagle, Stoddard, Whitaker and Sophie. 
Apples for Colorado. 
1. What are the most profitable five varieties each of apples 
and peaches to raise for shipping to distant markets? 2. Is not 
the Spitzenberg one of the best of apples, and is it a free and reg¬ 
ular bearer ? Is it all right to trim trees during the Winter sea¬ 
son ? 3. What is the best spray for insects ? 4. Is it advisable to 
sow Crimson clover in a bearing orchard ? c. H. c. 
Minnesota. 
1. It is presumed that C. H. C. is going to western 
Colorado to grow 
fruit, for peaches 
do well only in 
that part of the 
State. Among the 
best apples to 
grow there for 
profit are Rome 
Beauty, York Im¬ 
perial, Jonathan, 
and the much de¬ 
spised Ben Davis. 
Grimes Golden is 
also a very excel¬ 
lent variety for 
fancy market, and 
will bring a very 
good price. Spit¬ 
zenberg is an ap¬ 
ple of high qual¬ 
ity, but does not 
bear very well 
generally. In 
western Colorado, 
it may do well, 
but has been little 
tested there. Of 
peaches, there are 
none better for 
that region than 
Mountain Rose, Elberta, Champion, Galway and 
Picquet. 2. Fruit trees may be pruned during mild 
weather in Winter without injury. It depends, how¬ 
ever, upon what is the reason for pruning as to the 
time of year it is done. Winter pruning will cause a 
vigorous growth to start out where the cutting is 
done. Summer pruning will check growth. 3. Any 
of the arsenical preparations are good insect destroy¬ 
ers. Consult the entomologist of the Colorado Experi¬ 
ment Station at Fort Collins at once, and learn just 
what to do in the matter. All minor directions will 
be given from there. 4. Crimson clover is a very good 
soil-improving crop for an orchard where the Winters 
are moist enough to cause it to live over. In Colorado, 
it does not succeed. The cow pea fits far more climates 
than Crimson clover, and is fully as good a producer 
of humus and fertility. Clean cultivation is about 
the best thing for an orchard, except that some cul¬ 
tivated crop may be grown while the trees are young. 
There is a horticultural society even in Egypt, organized at the 
agricultural college which the English have started. Think of a 
horticultural discussion in the land of the Pharaohs! 
Do you not think that Stringfellow’s New Horticulture is en¬ 
titled to more attention than it has yet received ? His teaching 
in regard to root pruning and firm soil is sound, and I think he is 
correct in all his teaching. m. crawford. 
Ohio. 
We have had no experience here with the Northern Spy apple 
roots, which are claimed to be Woolly-aphis proof. I have ex¬ 
amined Northern Spy roots sent me by a nursery firm, on which 
Woolly aphis was found, but slight injury had been done by it. 
Arkansas. prof. John t. stinson. 
W. E. Haughton, of Ohio, likes to use a glass label for fruit 
trees. He writes the name of the fruit and the name of the fruit 
agent on a slip of paper, and rolls it around a small, round stick. 
This is then put into a small homeopathic pill bottle, which is 
corked up and wired to a tree. It is a first-rate plan to put the 
agent’s name with the name of the tree. This information may 
come handy when the tree gets into bearing. 
THE SHORES OF LAKE KEUKA—WEST FROM BLUFF POINT. Fig. 20. 
