368 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
Dec. 
and the cheapest and best means to supply such de¬ 
ficiencies? and what do we know of the elements in 
the manures we are constantly using? Still we go 
on blind-fold, applying and mixing the one with the 
other, sometimes with good effect, sometimes with 
bad, and sometimes with no effect at all. 
What should we think of the man who should en¬ 
ter the laboratory of the chemist, and proceed to 
throw together his alkalies, his acids and his metals 
without any knowledge of their properties or of 
their affinities, and then tell us he expected certain 
results? We should expect to see him burn his fin¬ 
gers at least, if he did not get blown up; and yet the 
admixture of soil, the application of manures, and 
the cultivation of our crops, is a constant but en¬ 
larged chemical process. 
Again, what, as a class, do we know of correct sys¬ 
tems of breeding and improving farm stock? of the 
anatomy and physiology of animals? of their diseases 
and their proper treatment? Enlightened, practi¬ 
cal agriculture, aided by the lights of science, is dai¬ 
ly solving and settling many of these questions which 
are of much importance to us, but questions which, 
in our confidence that we know all, have never once 
occurred to many of us. 
But thanks to the spirit of the times, the dark 
days of agriculture are passing away, and light is 
breaking upon it so clear, u that he that runs may 
read,” and he that does not read will be run away 
from. 
&he gortiaxlturaL JDfpartment 
CONDUCTED BY J. J. THOMAS. 
Answers to Inquiries. 
Is the Louise Bonne de Jersey as good on the 
pear as on the quince? Is the Spanish Chestnut 
hardy about Rochester? Is the apricot worth any 
thing as a market fruit in western New-York? C. 
S. Herkimer Co., N. Y. 
The Louise Bonne de Jersey is unworthy of cul¬ 
tivation on pear stocks. On the quince it is great¬ 
ly superior, and although scarcely of the highest 
quality, it is one of the most valuable of pears in 
consequence of its handsome, fair and fine fruit, 
and enormous productiveness. 
The Spanish Chestnut, although hardy, does not 
ripen its fruit as far north as 43° lat. and for this 
reason is of little value here. 
The Apricot succeeds finely in western New-York, 
when protected from the curculio, yielding crops 
about equal to most sorts of the plum. On a w r et 
subsoil it does not flourish. It should be kept head¬ 
ed rather low, as the hot sun upon the trunk after 
severe winters, sometimes kills the bark and causes 
the death of the tree. It has not been much culti¬ 
vated for market, but there is no doubt that with 
careful attention, it would prove very profitable, as 
it ripens some weeks before the early peaches, and 
most of early plums, and is showy, rich, and deli¬ 
cious. 
What is a sufficient number of apples, pears, 
cherries, plums, peaches, nectarines, quinces, apri- 
eots, currants and gooseberries, to furnish an abun¬ 
dant supply for the home consumption of a family? 
J3. Harford Co., Md. 
No two persons would agree as to the number 
Deeded for this purpose. Throwing out of the es¬ 
timate the difference in the size of families, and the 
still greater difference in their habits and profuse¬ 
ness. the number must be in a great measure gov¬ 
erned by the age of the trees, the variation produ¬ 
ced by unfavorable seasons, and more than all else 
by the cultivation given. The following may how¬ 
ever, be taken as an approximation to an average, 
taking different circumstances into account, after 
the trees attain full bearing: 
50 apple trees, 
20 pear 11 
12 cherry u 
10 plum “ 
25 peach 11 
5 quince (l 
8 apricot u 
30 currant bushes, 
15 gooseberry “ 
Most families find it convenient to dry considera¬ 
ble quantities of fruit, and whatever kinds are thus 
selected, must be in larger proportion than other¬ 
wise. Again, some are particularly partial to cer¬ 
tain kinds, while others dislike them ; as for instance 
the currant, which by some is placed at nearly the 
head of all fruits, and by others, far towards the 
bottom of the list. Again, apple trees, pears, 8tc. 
usually require many years to attain that size which 
gives us the largest crops, hence it may be advisa¬ 
ble to set out a sufficient number, to give the requi¬ 
site supply at a younger age. Besides this, some 
sorts, as the pear and apricot, are often liable,to 
disease and death, and hence a larger number may 
be requisite to provide for this contingency. And 
above all, the kind of treatment the trees receive 
will exert a very great influence on the quantity 
(as well as the quality) of the fruit; a very few, 
with high, rich, clean, and mellow cultivation, oft¬ 
en giving more than five times the number neglect¬ 
ed and compelled to take care of themselves. 
We have not included nectarines, as they require 
an unusual amount of protection from the curculio, 
and are only occasionally fine and well ripened, 
What is the best mode of using charcoal as ma¬ 
nure? I observe a great deal has been said in its fa¬ 
vor. B. Genesee Co., N. F. 
Charcoal alone, is not very valuable as manure j 
but if it is placed so as to become mixed with the 
accumulation of privies, it forms one of the most 
fertilizing substances to be found. If chamber-ley 
is poured regularly upon a heap of charcoal dust, 
nearly the same result is effected. Charcoal pos¬ 
sesses absorbent powers in a very high degree, and 
although perfectly inert of itself, it absorbs and ren¬ 
ders inodorous, the most powerful of animal ma¬ 
nures. _ 
A Curiosity. 
Eds. Cultivator —My attention was lately call¬ 
ed by Mr. D. D. Brower, to four plums growing on 
one twig in his garden, two of the plums being good 
sized Columbias, and two as perfect well sized 
Green Gages. The trunk of the tree was of the 
wild red plum (P. americana.) Two grafts, 
one of the Columbia, the other of the Green 
Gage, had been inserted, and came In contact 
the space of an inch and a-half immediately 
above the place of insertion. The bearing twig 
came from the Columbia graft, some eighteen or 
twenty inches above the place of contact. Can 
this be accounted for on scientific principles, or 
must we regard it as a Lusus natures. R. Watkins. 
Napoleon, Mich., Sept. 12, 1849. ! 
This, perhaps, cannot be accounted for on scien¬ 
tific or any other principles, and if no mistake has 
been made in the observations, it must stand as a fact 
by itself. It is true, that hybrids between two varie¬ 
ties of the same species (as of the two plums above 
