1852. 
THE CULTIVATOR 
109 
The Pear on Quince. 
We are receiving continued inquiries as to the best 
kind of quince for dwarf pears, and of the propriety in 
any case of going largely into the cultivation of dwarfs. 
The best quince for this purpose is the sort imported 
from France, and commonly known as the Angers quince, 
a sub-variety of the Orange quince, more vigorous in 
growth than that, and continuing longer in growth in 
autumn. There are a few varieties of the pear, however, 
which seem to be so naturally adapted to the quince, as 
to flourish almost if not quite as well on any sort. Among 
these are Louise Bonne of Jersey, Dutchess Angouleme, 
See., but with most other sorts suitable for dwarfs, it is 
much better to procure the French stock. 
But there is a very small proportion of good pears that 
should ever be propagated on the quince. Some will 
not grow at all upon it; and of those that will, most are 
short-lived. They flourish finely for a few years, but as 
soon as they come into full bearing, they become feeble, 
and often the first good crop seems to exhaust nature, 
and they soon perish. It is rare that double-working 
obviates the difficulty. Much disappointment must re¬ 
sult from the indiscriminate dissemination of the many 
sorts which grow freely and flourish for two or three 
years on quince stock, and then linger and perish. There 
is no doubt that a difference in the composition of soils, 
and in the treatment the trees receive, have an impor¬ 
tant influence on their duration, but none should be pro¬ 
pagated and planted, except for experiment, which are 
not known to succeed under good culture in all localities. 
More experience is needed to determine a full list for this 
purpose; among those which so far appear.to have done 
best, are Dutchess Angouleme, Louise Bonne of Jersey, 
Diel, Passe Colmar, Glout Morceau, Doyenne Boussock, 
Winkfield, Summer Frankreal, Stevens’ Genesee, £tc. 
No fear need be entertained in planting these on a large 
scale, even to be trained with heads at standard height 
for field culture, provided the soil receives clean and en¬ 
riching cultivation. 
Tobacco for Trees and Plants. 
Eds. Cultivator —Could you inform me, through 
your paper, the effect of tobacco (the ribs or stems and 
refuse) upon peach, plum, pear and apple trees, and the 
mode of application. B. H.Detweiler. Trappe,Md. 
Tobacco, for destroying insects, is applied in two ways. 
The most common is to form a strong decoction. It may 
be prepared by pouring over the tobacco in a tub or bar¬ 
rel, enough hot water to cover it, and let it stand some 
days. If strong enough, it will destroy plant lice, and 
other small insects which infest fruit trees. It often fails 
for want of sufficient strength. A mixture of a small 
quantity of starch in solution, will add to its efficacy 
without increasing in any degree the danger to the trees. 
A mixture with it of a solution of soap also adds to its 
effect, but if the soap be strong, it proves in some cases 
injurious to the young foliage. Tobacco, being a vegeta¬ 
ble poison, will not do any injury, however strong it may 
be. Small trees may be bent over and dipped into the 
solution; it may be applied to larger trees by a shower¬ 
ing syringe. Smoke from burning tobacco may be applied 
to plants by means of Brown's Fumigator, a small in¬ 
strument made of tin, costing from three to five dollars, 
and kept for sale by R. Buist of Philadelphia, and by 
Hovey &, Co., Boston. 
Mowing Machines. 
Eds. Cultivator —I wish to inquire if there is any 
mowing machine that you think would work on our 
meadows here, that would do its work well, and hot be 
likely to get out of repair, and that would be profitable 
for us to buy. I saw in the Tribune last fall, a notice of 
u Ketchum’s,” manufactured by Howard &.Co., of Buf¬ 
falo, N. Y., that was rather complimentary. Perhaps 
there is some other, better. A. H. Hat ward. Addison, 
Vermont , Jan. 1852. 
Ketchum’s Mowing Machine, is probably the best 
for the purpose that has yet been made and used. . It 
will work well on smooth meadows, whether level or rol¬ 
ling, and even on smooth hill-hides, but not on rough 
ground. It is drawn by two horses, and will cut about 
ten acres a day, which is about the usual rate between 
the labor of men and horses, the latter doing about five 
times as much as the former. The cost, with one set of 
knives, is $100; with two sets, which no farmer should be 
without, who abhors the delay of sharpening in the mid¬ 
dle of his operations, the cost is $110. 
Hussey’s Reaping Machine, we are informed, forms a 
good mowing machine. 
J. Rapalje & Co., of Rochester, N. Y., are about to 
commence the manufacture of a mowing and reaping 
machine, which from some trial, they are led confidently 
to believe, possesses important points of superiority over 
any other invention of the kind. 
Since the above was written, we have received the fol¬ 
lowing: 
In reply to a correspondent at Newport, R. I., I can 
say that Ketchum’s mowing machine, manufactured by 
Howard & Co., Buffalo, N. Y.,has been used in this 
town with entire success. I have used one of them upon 
my farm for two seasons, cutting one acre per hour, with 
one span of horses, and as evenly as it could be done 
with a common scythe. The machines have been im¬ 
proved the present winter, and are now perfect, and just 
the thing for cutting grass. Any other information as 
to the working of the machine cheerfully given. Morgan 
Butler. New-Hartford, Oneida co., Feb. 9, 1852. 
The Best Apples. 
A winter exhibition of fruits was held at Rochester, 
and several very fine collections of apples, and a few fine 
and rare winter pears, were presented. When the exhi¬ 
bition w r as about to close, and while some tw r enty of the 
most successful and intelligent cultivators yet remained 
in the room, it was proposed to call a vote for best winter 
table apple , (not for marketing) its agreeable qualities 
being the chief consideration. The vote was entirely in¬ 
formal, and the following w r as the result. The large voice 
for the Melon was probably owing to the fact that some 
fine specimens, then in perfection, had just been distribu¬ 
ted. 
Melon, 5 votes, for winter fruit. 
Swaar, 3 do do 
Red Canada, 2 do 
Baldwin, 2 do do 
Northern Spy, 3 votes for bag keeping. 
