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LIBRARY
COLLEGE
OF
AGRICULTURE
NEW YORK STATE
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE,
DEPARTMENT OF HORTICULTURE,
CORNELL UNIVERSITY,
ITHACA, fi. Y.
Cornell University
Library
The original of this book is in
the Cornell University Library.
There are no known copyright restrictions in
the United States on the use of the text.
http://www.archive.org/details/cu3 1924003328709
HOOPER’S
WHSTERN FRUIT BOOK.
The following opinions are from gentlemen well known
as eminent Horticulturists, who examined the work in
manuscript:
Spring GARDEN, CINCINNATI,
November 12th, 1856.
E. J. Hoorrr, Esq.,
My Dear Sir—iI have given your manuscript Catalogue of
Fruits a hasty examination, and regret that my time does not admit of a
more deliberate and critical one. The arrangemert is admirable, and
can not fail to be immensely valuable to cultivators, as well as to those
who are making selections of Fruit Trees for planting. The great confu-
sion which exists in the nomenclature is exceedingly embarrassing.
This your arrangement removes, and makes the subject easily under-
stood, Your descriptions, though brief, are pointed, and really all that
is needed,.to guide the uninformed in making judicious selections. The
number of varieties that have been brought to notice within the last few
years, is so great, and the want of time to test them in our soil and cli-
mate so short, that such a work as yours will require great care and
labor ; and even then will of necessity require several editions, correc-
tions, aud additions, to approach anything like perfection.
With my best wishes for your success in the noble undertaking, I
remain, very respectfully, yours,
A. H. ERNST.
Crycinnati, October 17, 1856.
E. J. Hooper, Esq.,
Dear Sir —I have souithed 4 your Catalogue of Fruits care-
fully ; and, so far as I am able to judge, I believe the nomenclature to be
accurate, and most of the synonyms correctly given. I allude to the
Fruits generally known and tested—for new seedling varieties, espe-
cially of Apples, multiply on us so fast, that it is hard to classify them,
and give them a’proper place in our catalogues.
I agree with Dr, Warder, Mr. Ernst, and Professor Cary, in their notes
on your Fruits, and think them accurate and just. The points of differ-
ence, if any, are so few that I will not designate them.
That your Catalogue will be valuable to Fruit Growers and Horticul-
turists, there can be no doubt; and I am much pleased to find, that you
are about to supply, in a compact form, so brief and ready a mode of ref-
erence to the Fruits cultivated in the West. It is much wanted.
Very respectfully,
R. BUCHANAN.
y
e
E, J. Hooper,
Dear Sir —1 have carefully looked over your manuscript of
Laronia Sprines, January 22, 1857.
Apples, in your contemplated work on Pomology, and, with a few altera-
tions which I have taken the liberty, by your permission, to suggest, believe
that your book will be of great utility to those engaged in the pursuit
of Pomology. I like the plan of your work, and think that it will be
well adapted to this vicinity, and to Western localities, generally.
The descriptions of Apples are generally concise, and well drawn, and
give the characters of the fruit very clearly — of all the most valuable
kinds, especially, Many new varieties are described of which I have
little knowledge, and therefore can not judge of their accuracy.
I think a work like yours, descriptive of the Fruits of this section of
country, with the soils best adapted to their growth, very much needed.
Yours, respectfully,
S. MOSHER.
(: TOM sayy Loy Sojow
yenqea Krew coy oyy popaoye 'sysGoyoured paysmAFuysyy aapO pre!
MAES NHO&HAHNOW ¢C'NVNV HOOT GOH ES NAY EVA Ea
THE FATHER OF AMERICAN GRAPE CULTURE,
ator. of that mostump ortant fact- the sexual char
andthe chief dissemin
acter of the strawberry.
Middleton, Strobredye &CeLuR Gin 0.
HOOPER’S ©
WESTERN FRUIT BOOK:
COLLBORION OF: FACS, '
NOTES AND EXPERIENCE
SUCCESSFUL FRUIT CULTURISTS,
ARRANGED FOR PRACTICAL USE
IN
THE ORCHARD AND GARDEN.
“Under these general laws, each variety of fruit requires a particular treatment,
and should be nurtured with a wise reference to its peculiarities and habits."
Hon. MarsHatt P. Wiuper, Pres’t Mass, Hort. Society.
BY E. J. HOOPER,
MEMBER QF THE CINCINNATI HORTIOULTURAL SOCIETY, AND FORMERLY
EDITOR OF THE ‘‘ WESTERN FARMER AND GARDENER.”
THIRD EDITION, COMPLETELY REVISED.
CINCINNATI:
MOORE, WILSTACH, KEYS & CO,,
26 WEST FOURTH STREET.
1858.
EY.
Entered ac€ording to Act of Congress, in the year 1857,
BY MOORE, WILSTACH, KEYS & CO.,
1n the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern
District of Ohio.
Btereotyped and Printed by
MOORE, WILSTACH, KEYS & OQ,
OINQINNATI, O.
TO
DR. JOHN A. WARDER,
PRESIDENT OF THE CINOGINNATI HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY,
This Volume ig Bedicuted
BY HIS FRIEND,
THE AUTHOR.
INDEX TO FRUITS.
APPLES, - < = “ E 3 - td
PEARS, . < = = 5 3 118
PEACHES, - = a Ss - 2 ~ 212
NEcTARINES, - - 2 - es 239
APRICOTS, S - - s z 240
Pius, 7 ‘i é “ ‘ 2942
CHERRIES, - i - = é - 256
QUINCES, 7 - - < = 272
GRAPES, - 5 _ x e - 274.
STRAWBERRIES, - - - : - 2383
RASPBERRIES, - - - = a - 297
BLACKBERRIES, - - = - z 303
CuRRANTS, - - “ < - 303
GOOSEBERRIES, - - 2 4 306
Appropriate Location, Soil, and Treatment
of Fruit Trees, - - 308
Selection of Trees from the Nursery, - 326
NOTE EXPLANATORY.
The reader will observe that we have classified the
fruits in this work as follows:
Tho best in quality, BBNOT, ete., or No. 1, in CAPITALS.
Second best <“ 7 “ 2, in SMALL CAPS.
Third “ “ a “ “ 3, in dalics.
(vi)
PREFACE TO THIRD EDITION.
In presenting to the public a third edition of his “ Fruit
Book,” the author desires to offer a few remarks, in expla-
nation of the errors that occurred in the first. That the
demand for this work should have required a third edi-
tion within one year, is, perhaps, not so much owing to
its intrinsic merits, as to the increasing taste in the people
of the Western Country, for the cultivation of fruits, and
the study of pomology. It is very gratifying to find,
however, that the book has met with so large a sale, even
with all its imperfections.
The original intention was to publish, simply, a descrip-
tive Catalogue of Fruits, after the manner of the Catalogue
of the London Horticultural Society, in a cheap and con-
densed form; and with this view, portions of the manu-
script were submitted to the inspection of some of his
Horticultural friends, to elicit their opinion of the value
of such a publication to the interests of Western pomology.
This explanation is due to the reputation of those
gentlemen, as pomologists, who so kindly recommended
the Catalogue to the public, as they might have hesitated
to indorse it in the more extended form, and ambitious
title, which it afterward assumed, without a thorough and
critical examination of the whole manuscript, as it was
furnished to the publishers. It was at their suggestion
that the work finally appeared as a “ Fruit Book,” instead
of a“ Catalogue,” as being more likely to meet the public
wants.
[vii.]
viil PREFACE.
To furnish materials for such a volume, the author had
to refer to his notes, taken during many years, while
serving as a member of the Fruit Committce of the Cin-
cinnati Horticultural Society; and to such other memo-
randa, from his own observation, and that of others, as he
had collected during the last twenty-seven years, on this
his favorite study.
As the work was passing rapidly through the press, and
the season for planting just at hand, he had no time to
make such revisions and corrections as were found requi-
site, upon a careful examination after its publication ;
hence the occurrence of those errors and repetitions that
were afterward noticed by the critics, and hyper-critics—
by the latter gentry with some asperity.
Repetitions may be pardoned, but errors should be
corrected; and in the present edition, the author has
taken advantage of all such criticisms; and corrections
have been made, so far as was practicable in stercotyped
text, aided by an Appendix.
The frontispiece was engraved from a photograph pic-
ture, taken at an Autumnal Exhibition of the Cincinnati
Horticultural Society, of a few of its pomological members
who happened at that time to be present. The author
regrets that some of those represented should, from mo-
tives of diffidence, object to appear in it; their labors in
the good cause, however, have, in a measure, made them
public property.
From the large sale of this work, throughout the West,
the author is gratified in the belief, that it has done some
good to the cause of Fruit Culture, and at least prepared
the way as a useful and safe pioneer, according to its
scope, as far as it goes, for larger, more elaborate, and
more perfect productions, from abler pens.
PREFACE TO FIRST EDITION.
Ir is the first step in science to know what is known. What is new,
and dependent on experience and original observation, will then come
easier and more certainly. It is an economy of time and labor, in any
investigator, to ascertain well what has been done before him, in any
field of experiment. Much time is often irrecoverably wasted in blun-
dering over proposed experiments, and supposed novelties, that have
long before been thoroughly examined, and definitely settled. In no
branch of practical science are these maxims more true than in regard
to the cultivation of fruit; and this because there are so many claims
upon the cultivator’s attention; so many drafts upon his credulous inex-
perience; so many contradictory statements resulting from superficial
investigations; so many delusory appearances; so much pretension and
self-serving ; so much that rests upon inadequate and interested evidence.
There is, in a word, so much to confuse, mislead, and deceive, that he
who shall present to the fruit-grower, a key to these conflicting claims
and representations, giving, in words of truth and soberness, a just and
concise statement of what may be relied on as fact, in regard to the
value and names of such fruits as are really and honestly known to be
worthy of acceptation and confidence,—that man will have done a good
work, and should be welcomed of all men as a benefactor, in a field
where ignorance is attended with innumerable mischievous consequen-
ces, and where doubt is about as fatal as ignorance.
There have been several praiseworthy laborers in this inviting field,
and all with more or less fault and excellence, more or less accuracy and
error—the result, perhaps, of too much haste in compilation, and too
great confidence in mistaken and interested testimony. None have
seemed exactly to fill the purpose desired; and the want of a new and
more competent work, in the shape of a concise and reliable hand-book,
was very generally experienced, and widely and repeatedly expressed.
A work was needed, less voluminous, and less diffusive, based upon the
authentic experience of actual cultivators; upon well-purged lists of
[ix.]
x PREFACE.
fully proved and living trees, whose fruit had been properly tested and
characterized, and of whose identification there was, finally, no question.
A book unincumbered with useless descriptions of worthless varieties,
and unneeded directions for planting and cultivation, aud free from all
guess-work, and all unverified statements, and confusing and half-
recognized synonyms. A descriptive and contise list, in fact, of such
actual fruits as are well established, and clearly identified, with their
most generally accepted names, and their most marked and unmistaka-
ble characteristics.
And this was the plan designed and undertaken by the practical and
practiced author of the present work. Himself a fruit-grower of diver-
sified experience, and having been in correspondence for years with some’
of the most prominent and successful cultivators in the United States,
especially with those whose experience has chiefly related to the peculi-
arities and requisitions of the Middle and North-Western States, and
feeling, in his own practice, the want of such a ready guide, as the one
contemplated in his plan, he came to the work, prepared with his own
accumulated observations, the advice and suggestions of other competent
growers, and the advantage of the several larger, but differently
designed, works that had preceded his own. The errors of these last he
was to correct, and their faults he was to avoid. The task was by no
means an easy one, and would not have been undertaken, but for the
steady encouragement of many warm friends of pomological science, and
the aid of many efficient cultivators; in whose knowledge and candor he
had steady reason to confide, and for whose kindness he desires, here, to
acknowledge his repeated indebtedness.
That the work is faultless, is not claimed. That it will be found con-
venient, thorough and accurate, and just adapted to daily field use, by
the Western grower of both large and small fruits, whether professional
or amateur, is fully believed by the accomplished author's friend and
associate,
J. W. W.
Crncinnatt, February 15, 1857.
Middleton, Wallace & 09 Gm. 0.
RODMAN’S RED CLING.
Natural Size.
HOOPER’S
WESTERN FRUIT BOOK.
APPPLES.
ALEXANDER, synonymous with, and called by some, Hm-
peror Alexander, Russian Emperor, and Aporia; color,
streaked with bright red on greenish yellow; form, some-
times slightly conical; base, somewhat flattened ; size, 1;
use, chiefly kitchen ; quality, 2; season, August to Novem-
ber.
Remarxs.—Very large and handsome. A moderate
bearer. Rather coarse, but very beautiful in color, shape-
and has a fine bloom. Succeeds well in the Western
States. A good grower. “Large and beautiful.”— Trans-
actions Ohio: Pomological Society. (See Appendix, 1.)
ALFRIsTON, Newtown Pippin of some in England; color,
greenish yellow; form, roundish; size, 1; use, kitchen;
quality, nearly 3; season, September to December.
Remarxs.—Foreign. No similarity to Newtown Pippin
of America, as thought by some in England.
AMERICAN GOLDEN RUSSET, or called by some
Bullock's Pippin, Sheepnose, Golden Russet, and Inttle Pear-
main, sometimes, erroneously, Fall Winesap; color, gen-
erally, rich golden yellow, overspread with soft russet,
(11)
12 WESTERN FRUIT BOOK.
and in the sun a little red; form, roundish ovate, taper-
ing toward the eye; size, 3; use, table; quality, 1; sea-
son, November to February.
RemarKs.—This delicious apple succeeds well in the
locality of Cincinnati, also in Indiana, in rich soils.
“ First-rate and handsome.’—Trans. Ohio Pom. Society.
(See Appendix, 2.)
AmERICAN Mamoru. Synonymes, Ox Apple, New York
Gloria Mundi, Baltimore Pippin, and Gloria Mundi, which
last title see also.
AMERICAN SUMMER PEARMAIN, or Watkin's Early
and American Pearmain. Color, greenish yellow, with a
little red; form, pearmain, or roundish oblong; size, 2;
use, table; quality, 1; season, August and September.
Remarks.—This deserves to be called Summer King,
compared with the Summer Queen. An abundant bearer.
Different from the English Pearmain. It is good in nearly
all parts of the country. “Highly approved.”—Trans.
Ohio. Pom. Society. (See Appendix, 3.)
American Pippin, or Grindstone. Color, greenish red,
with red streaks; form, round and flattish; size, 2; use,
kitchen and table; quality, 3; season, January to July.
Remarxs.—There are many of this name, which is
rather vague, though expressive. It is a good bearer,
and a very great keeper, but almost totally unworthy;
uneatable at any time.
APPLE BUTTER, or Sweet Bellflower of some, and Mo-
lasses of others. Color, yellow; form, roundish, conical;
size, 1; use, table and kitchen; quality, 1.
Remanxs.—There are two apples cultivated in Southern
Ohio under this name. Mr. A. H. Ernst values them
highly. Dr. Warder, one of our best pomologists, con-
APPLES. 13
siders them tender and very good. Exhibited by F. G.
Cary, August, 1855. Mr. Heiks, of Dayton, also ranks
one of them high. :
Api. See Lady Apple.
ASHLAND. Color, dull greenish yellow; form, round-
ish; size, 2; use, table; quality, 2; season, October to
January, often longer. (See Appendix, 4.)
RemarxKs.—A sound, good keeper. Considered of a good
flavor by most. Exhibited before the Cincinnati Horti-
cultural Society by R. Buchanan. “A sound, sweet-tasted
apple, of medium size.”—Fruit Committee.
ASHMORE, sometimes erroneously called Fall Wine.
Color, bright, clear red; form, regular roundish, flat-
tened; size, 2 to 1; use, table; quality, 2; season, Sep-
tember and October.
Remarxs.— White, crisp, tender, juicy, ' sub-acid,
sprightly. Not of high character, but tender. Exhibited
before Cincinnati Horticultural Society, by A. H. Ernst,
August 21, 1855. Good also for cooking.
ASTRACHAN RED. Color, crimson red ; form, round-
ish; size, 2; use, table or dessert; quality, 2; season,
July and August.
Remarxs.—A very handsome, rather acid dessert fruit,
with a bloom on it similar to the plum. It cooks well, and
is productive. A good fruit for market. Exhibited by
R. Buchanan before the Horticultural Society, July,
1855. Fruit Committee decided it, “‘ Beautiful and very
good.”
AuTUMN PEARMAIN, or English Summer Pearmain, Royal
Pearmain, Sigler's Red, etc. Color, brownish yellow, green
14 WESTERN FRUIT BOOK,
and red; form, oblong; size, 2; use, table; quality, 2;
season, August and September.
. Remarxs.—This is our Autumn Seek-no-further. The
tree is a slow grower. Branches slender. Flesh crisp,
__ firm, and a little dry. (See Appendix, 5.)
AUTUMNAL SWAAR. Color, pale green, sometimes
a slight red in sun; form, roundish; size, 2; use, table;
quality, 1; season, October.
RemarKs.—This is regarded by Dr. Mosher, of La-
tonia Springs, one of our best eating apples. The grain
is very fine; juicy, tender, sprightly, and sub-acid in flesh.
If two-thirds of this apple rots, the remainder retains the
fine juice and flavor.
Baritey Spiczr. Color, yellow; form, roundish ; size, 2;
use, table ; quality, 2; season, August and September.
Remarxks.—Fruit always fair at Rochester, New York;
moderate growth ; flesh, sprightly, spicy.
Battty Sweet, or Patterson Sweet, Edgerly Sweet, ete.
Color, clear yellowish red, with russet patches; form,
round ovate, flattened ; size 1; use, table ; quality, 2.
REMARKS.—Grown in Northern Jlinois, where, as with
us, it is beautiful, delicate, sweet, juicy, and rich.
BALDWIN. Color, red and orange, brilliant; form,
roundish oblate ; size, 1 to 2; use, table; quality, 1 (where
it succeeds) ; season, October to February. (See App. 6.)
Remarxs.—Of the Asopus Spitzenburg family. It is
the great Boston Apple. It is rather subject to rot in
Ohio and Kentucky. “Good at the North; subject to
bitter rot at the South.”—TZrans. Ohio Pom. Soc. In this
locality (Cincinnati), not generally successful as a keeper,
though sometimes seen very fine in January; generally
APPLES. 15
an early winter apple, subject to worms and rot, and
never to be compared to Msopus Spitzenburg for flavor.
The tree bears early and well; a vigorous grower; toler-
ably upright; spreads when older.
Bartlett, synonymous with Priestley, or Bullet. Color,
_ bright red on yellow; form, oblong; size, 2; use, table;
quality, 3; season, January to June.
Remarks. Long keeper.”—-Trans. Ohio Pom. Society.
Rather an inferior fruit.
Beauty of the West, Red Bellflower of some, and Ohio Non-
pareil, Wells, etc. Color, green and yellow; form, round-
ish, flat at base; size, 1 to 2; use, kitchen; quality, 2 to
3; season, September and October.
Remarxs.—lIt is sweet, and keeps some time. It is
handsome but rather poor. It is not known as Red Bell-
flower at Cincinnati, or in the south of Ohio. A remark-
ably fine grower. (See Appendix, 7.)
Beauty or Kenr. Color, striped with purple, red,
greenish yellow; form, roundish; size, 1; quality, 3;
season, August and September.
Remarks.—Rivals the Alexander in size, but not so
good in flavor. The tree is vigorous and productive.
Exhibited at Cincinnati Horticultural Society, by A. H.
Ernst, August 21, 1855. (See Appendix, 8.)
BELLFLOWER, WHITH, or Detroit, Ohio Favorite,
Ortley of Lindley, etc. Color, pale yellowish white; form,
oblong oval, or roundish conical; size, 1 to 2; use, table;
quality, nearly 1; season, December to April. (See Ap-
pendix, 9.)
Remarxs.—Large on rich soils; core, open. »‘ Excel-:
lent on most strong soils.”—Zrans. Ohio Pom. Soe. It is
often affected in South Ohio with the bitter rot, but where
16 WESTERN FRUIT BOOK.
this is not the case it is one of the good apples of South
Ohio and Indiana. There is now a superbly fine seedling
of this variety, raised by Mr. Davis, in Southern Indiana.
This seedling has the advantage of not being hollow in
the core, like the parent fruit, the White Bellflower. It
is named Davis’ White Bellflower.
BELLFLOWER, YELLOW. Color, pale yellow, some-
times with a blush next the sun; form, oblong; size, 1;
use, table; quality, 1; season, November to February.
Remanxs.—A_ beautiful, peculiarly good flavored, and
well-known apple in the markets of Cincinnati and the
West. The wood is slender, and like the Newark, or
French Pippin, bears its fruit on the ends of the limbs.
It is desirable to graft it above ground. The blossoms
are very beautiful. It is a superior variety, but not a
great bearer. It blooms early, and before the leaves
expand, that is, on long stems, and is therefore liable to be
frosted. It bears well; the fruit drops a little, but is good
for cooking at all times. It becomes of less value as it is
grown toward the north of us. (See Appendix, 10.)
Betmont, or Gate. Color, rich, light yellow, with a
glossy surface, and a bronzy blush toward the sun; form,
roundish oblong, but irregular; size, 2; use, dessert;
quality (Cincinnati), 1 to 2; season, October to February.
(See Appendix, 11.)
RemarKs.—This is a great and favorite apple in North-
ern Ohio, but succeeds indifferently in South-Western
Ohio. It is not yet fully tested in this locality. Dr.
Warder considers it a first-rate apple, if it can be so called
without the highest flavor. “Generally approved, espe-
cially in Northern Ohio.”—Trans. Ohio Pom. Soc. The
Gate is very fine at Marietta, Ohio. It is showy, and
looks quite rich on the stalls, Rots on the tree here.
“APPLES. 17
BENONI. Color, striped red; form, round; size, 2;
use, table; quality, 1; season, July and August. (See
Appendix, 12.) “6
Remarxs.—Excellent; one of the best early fruits;
flesh, yellow; a good bearer; sub-acid, and pleasant.
Often exhibited before the Cincinnati Horticultural Soci-
ety; considered by the Fruit Committee of the Society,
“ prolific, pleasantly acid, and very agreeable.” ) range and depth.
Then the finest mold is thrown lightly én the roots, after
they have been carefully spread out. Gentle pressure by
the foot, will aid in setting the earth about the roots, after
taking particular care that the fine earth has been well
worked in among the fibers. Some planters recommend
the application of a bucketful of water at this stage, par-
ticularly if the soil be dry; but others cons der this of
doubtful propriety, particularly when the land is stiff and
clayey. When the natural soil is poor, or unkind, and
not well prepared, it will be necessary to use a good com-
post for filling up the holes; but great care should be
taken to avoid the application of any strong or fresh ma-
nure. Rotten sods, with old decayed chip manure, or
TREATMENT OF FRUIT TREES. 321
cow-yard scrapings, well incorporated, and treated. with
lime and ashes, or some other judiciously prepared com-
post, will be available, but should have been prepared
beforehand. In filling up around the tree, less care will.
be requisite as to the character of the earth. The surface
should be made a little rounding, to allow of settling, and
also to prevent the accumulation of water in a wet season ;
this is to be particularly observed in Fall planting. Care-
fully examine the roots, and remove, with a sharp knife,
all those portions that have been unfortunately torn, or
wounded by carelessness, in digging at the nursery, or
in transportation. Set the roots upon a bank of mellow
earth, spread out every fiber in its natural direction, fill
in with the most mellow soil, or compost, shaking the
tree very gently, and working in the dirt thoroughly ; fix
the roots by a gentle pressure of the foot, and then fill up
the hole to the proper level of both tree and surface. In
dry weather it may be necessary to leave a slight. con-
cavity or hollow about the stem, so as to retain moisture
until it can soak into the earth; but in newly-planted
trees it is better to sprinkle the tops. Mulching, or cov-
ering the whole surface above the roots with straw, etc.,
to prevent the evaporation of moisture, will be found of
inestimable value, particularly in a season of drought.
Subsequent Summer treatment will depend, in a great
degree, upon the manner in which the ground had been
prepared for the young orchard. According to the best
authorities, the soil should have been thoroughly loosened
by deep plowing, and, if practicable, subsoil plowing, in
most soils, before the trees were set, for such complete
culture can never afterward be applied, on account of the
presence of the trees. If this kind of preparation has
been made, it will be best to continue stirring the whole
of the ground, with the plow or cultivator, so as to destroy
the weeds and maintain a good tilth during the season ;
322 WESTERN FRUIT BOOK.
this will require two or more repetitions of the plowing,
according to the character of the soil, and the abundance
of weeds and grass.
Cultivation of the soil among the trees should, if possi-
ble, be continued for some years, to secure and promote
the rapid and healthy growth of the orchard, even should
it be objected that such a thrifty growth of the trees is
not followed by early productiveness. Lay a broad foun-
dation for future bearing of large crops, and the coming
years will not have to blame you for stinted trees, unable
to produce a liberal yield. The plow is the great agent
of culture, upon which we depend for the comminution of
the soil, and its subversion, when we desire to bury the
weeds and expose the earth to the influence of the atmo-
sphere, which is ever ready to impart its aerial treasures
of gaseous manures, from which, indeed, the chief element
of woody fiber is to be derived. Two or more plowings
of the soil will be found necessary, and will maintain the
requisite mellow condition and freedom from weeds.
In all cases, the use of the plow and cultivator, espe-
cially the former, should be guarded with great care, to
prevent the injurious contact of the trace-chains and.
whiffle-trees with the bark, that would be otherwise
bruised and often removed, to the great injury of the
growing trees. The single-trees should be as short as
possible, and as the team approaches the rows, an assistant
should watch and guard the young trees, by lifting up the
projecting portion. Some persons prefer oxen for this
culture among trees, upon the supposition and belief that
they are more readily controlled in their steady gait,
slower than horses, and because the yoke alone is liable
to injure the trees, and this is more perfectly under con-
trol of the driver. For heavy plowing, the oxen would
be preferred by most operators; but for the light, continu-
ous culture among young trees, the horse, or, perhaps
TREATMENT OF FRUIT TREES. 323
still better, the small-footed and precise- stepping mule
would be preferred.
When plowing among orchards, care should be taken
not to open a land between two rows repeatedly, by
throwing the first furrow against the tree, but the lands
should be alternately opened and gathered, so as to main-
tain a level surface; unless, indeed, the surface be very
flat and humid, when it may have heen necessary to plant
the trees upon the original surface, and cover the roots
with a small hillock of earth; here, the constant “open-
ing” of the lands, by throwing the furrows toward the
trees, will be advisable; this soon supplies a series of su-
perficial drains that are beneficial to the orchard.
Cultivation of the soil may be continued for several
years, with the best results, as will be very apparent in
the thrifty growth, fine foliage, and smooth bark of the
trees; but it is very desirable to have it continued at least
during three or four Summers; after which the surface
may be laid down to grass, provided due care be taken to
keep a large space cleared about the trecs, but no cattle
should be allowed to pasture upon the land, except swine,
which will destroy insects that are in the fallen fruit.
In some situations, whether from convenience or neces-
sity, the young trees are set in a grass field, which may
be rocky, or otherwise unfit for the use of the plow and
cultivator. When this is the case, as general culture of
the whole area is impracticable, it becomes advisable to
pay special attention to the treatment of that immediately
occupied by the roots. When planting in such a field, the
holes should be dug much larger than required to receive
the roots, and, of course, much wider than when planting
a thoroughly prepared soil. The grass and weeds must
be kept under control by digging about the trees to an
extent of five or six feet in diameter,ormore. This digging
may be performed during the Winter, when the frost will
324 WESTERN FRUIT BOOK.
permit, and will require repetition by Midsummer, and
perhaps again during the season, unless we have applied
a most excellent adjuvant, the mulching of the surface.
So much has been said and written of late years upon
the subject of mulching, that it must be familiar to all, yet
a few words will be in place. The object of mulching is
to preserve a certain degree of moisture in the soil, about
the roots, by preventing the rapid evaporation from the
surface, in our arid climate; it will, therefore, be particu-
larly serviceable in sandy and gravely soils. The mulch
may consist of any light rubbish that may be at command;
straw is generally used, and is applied to freshly-dug soil
to the depth of three or four inches; this soon settles
down and forms a close coat that prevents rapid evapora-
tion, collects dew, and with it, ammonia, which it retains,
ready to be washed down into the soil by the next rain.
Chip dirt, from the wood- pile, or old tanbark, are very
suitable materials to be thus applied, and even loose
brush and twigs, the trimmings of the trees themselves,
which will retain the blowing leaves, will form a good
mulch. and keep the soil loose and mellow beneath ; but
where accessible, as from a saw-mill in the neighborhood,
there is nothing that so well and so neatly produces the
desired effect as coarse saw-dust, which, in stiff soils, may
be turned in at the winter digging, or scraped to one side,
and reserved for application the ensuing season.
Young trees, freshly set out, especially those from
crowded nurseries, and where they have been cleanly
trimmed up with naked stems, just such as are generally
most admired, on account of their resemblance to walk-
ing sticks, perhaps, are frequently obnoxious to serious
evils when transplanted to open exposures. The smooth
bark is often scorched and blistered, and oftentimes fine
young trees are also destroyed by the larva of an insect
that lives upon the cambium or young wood just beneath
TREATMENT OF FRUIT TREES, | 325
the bark; the worm eats away a considerable surface,
often nearly girdling the tree before his invasion is dis-
covered. The latter injury can only be suitably met with
the sharp knife, in the hands of the ever-wakeful orch-
ardist, who watches his trees with lynx-eyed vigilance;
but the former evil may be prevented by a very simple
contrivance, and one that is particularly recommended for
the cherry, that has its bare and polished shank exposed
to a hot sun, after having been drawn upward in search
of light and air in the close rows where it grew. The
application consists in a wisp of straw gently tied to the
stem, and extending from the branches to the ground.
As the trees grow larger, the straw may still be applied
with advantage to the cherry, which appears to suffer
from sunshine, both in the Winter and Summer, more than
other trees; for the larger trees, a straw rope is used,
wound about the stem; but a couple of boards tacked
together, and set up to the south and south-west sides,
have been found a very efficacious protection.
Low-headed trees are, on many accounts, to be preferred
in our climate, even for the apple, the great orchard fruit.
These should have their training commenced in the nur-
sery, but it is seldom there attempted, on account of the
desire with most purchasers to see tall trees: often mere
whip-stalks, trimmed up clean and straight, will sell more
readily than stout, stocky young trees, containing every
element of future beauty and usefulness. Always select
such when it be possible, remembering that we have
already agreed that the ground planted in fruit should
not be appropriated to pasturage, and hence the tall stems
are not needed to keep the fruit and foliage up out of the
reach of cattle.
Having selected properly grown trees and planted and
tended them as already advised, the Summer pruning for
the first few years becomes a matter of great importance.
826 # WESTERN FRUIT BOOK.
A frequent examination of their condition should be made
during the growing season, and with good judgment and
small sacrifice of wood, great good may be effected. This
should consist in stopping rambling or rampant shoots,
either by pinching their buds with the thumb and finger,
or cutting them back with the knife; here, however, is
the point to exercise great judgment. In branching the
tree it should be an object, from the first, to divide the
head among more than two main limbs, since the division
into only two is more apt to be followed by injury from
splitting in after years, from the weight of the fruit and
foliage, than when the strain is more divided.
SELECTION OF TREES FROM THE NURSERY.
BE. J. Hooprr.—Dear Sir :—At your request, I sit down
this evening to address a few remarks to the readers of
your valuable work on fruits, upon the selection of trees
from the nursery. (See Appendix, 100.)
At different periods, and in different places, I have ad-
dressed nurserymen upon a similar topic; not exactly the
same, but similar, that is, upon the proper mode of grow-
iug trees for sale. These addresses have been received,
with different degrees of favor and disfavor; the nursery-
men sometimes admitting the truth of the remarks offered,
but asserting that purchasers desired to buy their trees
by the foot in height, and not by the inch in diameter. This
being too much the case with planters, as you are very
well aware, the attempt is now made to reach them, the
buyers; as we may be well assured, that the intelligent
nurserymen of our country, very well knowing the true
philosophy of the matter, will gladly supply the public
with a better article, if that public can be made sufli-
SELECTION_OF TREES FROM THE NURSERY. 327
ciently intelligent to demand well-grown instead of tall-
grown trees—substantial stocky plants, instead of slender
drawn, feeble, whip-stocks. ba
Those who are about planting an orchard, will do well
to visit the nurseries, and see the stocks; then they can
select for themselves such trees as they may prefer. Allow
me to suggest to them a few things by the way, and before
they become fascinated with the tall, smooth stems of the
saplings they may be about to visit, and before they may
have selected their stocks; and also allow me to send a
telegraphic dispatch to the nurseryman, to the effect that
intelligent customers are on their way to the nurseries.
To this effect, therefore, I will say to the visitors, that it
is presumed they, as intelligent planters, and promising
orchardists, desire to form orchards, with low heads, hav-
ing appropriated a certain piece of ground to the produc-
tion of choice fruit, and not to a general range for the
pasturage of all sorts of stock; for no sensible man will
expect to produce good fruit without due care of his trees,
and the entire devotion of the soil to the orchard.
There are those who can not afford to relinquish any
ground to trees alone, they are patriarchal in their habits;
they keep droves of cattle which range everywhere, and
they have no idea that an orchard field should be inclosed
perfectly ; and that from it, not only foraging boys, but
feeding cattle also, must be excluded. Such persons re-
quire that their trees, when planted, should be already
fully grown, and that they should be high-limbed, so as
to be without branches, until above the reach of all hun-
gry cattle; to such, it behooves us to be lenient, but, at
the same time, let us hope that the number of such plant-
ers will become less and less from year to year. :
Having reached the nursery, with a list of varieties
wanted, already made out, proceed to examine the stock,
to see if any have been properly grown for the making
328 WESTERN FRUIT BOOK.
,
of an orchard of low-headed trees. The nurseryman,
who has been expecting you, will have a corps de reserve
to suit your case, even though his anxiety to serve the
majority of customers, and perhaps to gratify his own taste
for taliness, may have induced him to have a majority of
his trees made after the whip-stock fashion. Look at
these better trees, and among them proceed to select
thrifty, stocky plants, furnished with twiggy branches
from near the ground. It is not necessary that the side
branches should be large, much less that they should
be at all equal, or nearly equal to the leader, which should
always be supreme, among the branches. Here you may
be able to find the desideratum for which you seek. All
well-grown trees, to be well-grown, must be developed
on all sides alike. With our modern views of the im-
portance of the doctrine of the individuality of buds, it
becomes necessary so to arrange the trimming of young
trees as to provide an equal and universal, or general
supply, over the extent of the infant tree, if we desire to
have it well and fully developed. We all know that
where young trees are crowded closely, or where they
are cleanly trimmed up and crowded together, they will
necessarily be tall, slender, and poorly developed, while,
if they have had room to develop themselves fully, and
have been encouraged to put out lateral branches, they
will, perhaps, be less tall, but they will be more stout
and stocky; and experience shows that such trees will
be more able to withstand the shock of transplanting,
and will be much more likely to grow well, just in pro-
portion to the number of vital centers they may possess ;
these centers are the buds, and the more widely they are
distributed over the plant, the better will they be able to
exercise their functions. This is not all—that most de-
ceitful and insidious of all the enemies of a young orch-
ard, the bark worm, seldom attacks any trees but such as
SELECTION OF TREES FROM THE NURSERY. 329
have a clean, smooth, uninterrupted bark, open and ex-
posed to their ravages, which, alas, are never to be ob-
served until too late, when their work of destruction is’
completed, and the dead bark, sloughing off from the
wood, presents itself to the eye of the orchardist, at the
end of the season, and explains, in terms of unmistakable
plainness, the damage to which the unsuspecting planter
has been subjected. This enemy, rarely, if ever, dares
intrude upon a tree that has been properly grown, and
which is furnished with lateral branches, from near the
root to the proper head of the tree; and if, perchance, it
have ventured to intrude, the numerous points of vitality
near at hand are able, by their resiliency, to restore the
loss, and to repair the damage.
Heretofore these expressions have applied to the gener-
ality of trees; the bark worm, however, is peculiarly de-
structive of the apple, quince, thorn, and pear, perhaps
in the order named. There are, however, other evils that
are inflicted upon high-grown trees, that are still more
apparent with the cherry and other sorts of fruit. The
effects of the bright sunshine upon such naked stems is
also disastrous, as seen in the dried, and shriveled and
scorched bark of many a noble, tall, but naked speci-
men—while those but partially shaded by the moderate
spray that exists in well-grown trees, entirely escape
these results. It is a common remark with regard to the
cherry, particularly the freeer-growing sorts, that they
will suffer from bark-bursting, which is attributed by
some to the frost, and by others to the influence of the
sun. Whoever saw these effects, from what cause soever,
upon low-headed trees, or above the branches? No one
often, though there may be exceptional cases. No, these
results are always most manifest upon the prettiest, most
thrifty, and most naked trees; and the very remedy which
has proved most effectual is simply supplying to such
28
330 WESTERN FRUIT BOOK.
trees as are most exposed, the shade by boards, or straw-
wrapping, that might have been afforded more cheaply
and better, by the natural limbs of the tree. In select-
ing cherry trees, therefore, choose those which have been
so treated, in the nursery, by heading down, or otherwise,
as to have their sides furnished with low branches, instead
of those which have been either trimmed up high, or
allowed to branch only from the upper buds; so as to
make a high head. With pears, apples, and most other
fruits, the same rule will apply, and you may safely
restrict your selection to those that are furnished with
moderate side branches from near the ground. Rest as-
sured, that it will be much more easy a matter to trim
these lateral branches off, as you may wish to raise the
head of the tree, than it will be to produce them from
one of your beautiful, smooth, high-trimmed trees, such
as are constantly to be seen, and which, unfortunately,
are so much admired. .
With the peach there is less importance to be attached
to this matter of nursery trimming; for the virgin trees
are always of but one year’s growth from the bud, and
it matters little how they may have been branched and
have grown, for a judicious planter will always cut them
down to a foot or less, when setting them out, and force
them to take a new start. The more equable this is, the
better for the future tree; for, of all our fruits, the peach
most needs to be a bush, branching equally from its stock,
near the ground; but this plan involves the modern ad-
mirable ideas, of pinching in, and shorteniug of fruit
trees, particularly applicable to the peach, and this is a
topic that it was not intended to broach.
-These general rules with regard to the branching of
the trees being premised, next look to the condition of
the bark, which should be smooth and fresh, not wrinkled,
nor mossy with age; for all thrifty young trees will have
PRESERVATION OF FRUITS. 331
a healthy, smooth skin; this part being to them, as to
animals, an organ of great importance in the function of
transpiration, and here, too, in that of respiration.
When taken up from the ground with sufficient care,
the roots should present an appearance of a mass of fibers,
rather than that of a few prongs of smooth forks. The
former condition ig that most favorable for success in
planting, and is worth much to the purchaser, but is not
obtained without the expense of labor and time by the
nurseryman, and should always entitle him to your con-
fidence, and to a liberal remuneration, for the extra pains
-he has taken in transplanting the trees to produce this
condition.
Excuse, dear sir, these hasty notes, thrown off rather
as suggestions than as precise rules for the selection of
trees. Hoping that they may not be entirely useless to
some of your readers, believe me yours,
Feburary 23, 1857. Jno. A: WARDER.
PRESERVATION OF FRUITS, BY SCHOOLEY’S
PATENTED PROCESS.
As we have referred to Schooley’s Patent Process for
the Preservation of Fruits, we deem it our duty to say a
few words in reference to it. We had the pleasure and
satisfaction of examining the plans of Mr. John C. Schoo-
ley, of Cincinnati, several years ago, and were then confi-
dent they were based upon correct scientific principles.
Since our first examination of his plans, Mr. Schooley
(who has endeavored for many years to ascertain the best
mode of preserving ripe native and tropical fruits) has
been very successful, and has demonstrated, that the ripen-
ing process can be so retarded as to preserve all kinds of
our choicest native fruits, from one season to another,
with all their original flavor and freshness. It is evident
332 WESTERN FRUIT BOOK.
that various mcans have been used during the last fifty
years, whereby ripe fruits could be preserved from year
toyear. Ice has been used in many ways, which, in every
case, succeeded in reducing the atmosphere to a proper
temperature ; but the great difficulty has been, to get clear
of the moisture, and then again to produce a continued
supply of desicated, or dry, cold atmosphere.
If fruits are placed in a room containing moist, still air,
though it be sufficiently cold, these fruits will become
moldy and musty, and if retained any length of time in
this atmosphere, decomposition will inevitably take place,
and it is evident that this air will become contaminated
with such substances as the aqueous vapor holds in solu-
tion; and when there is no current of fresh air, all sub-
stances submerged in such an atmosphere will become
enveloped in their own exhalations. Hence, a current of
pure, cold, dry air is essential for the preservation of all
organic substances, and particularly ripe fruits. In a
fruit-room, constructed upon a large scale, Mr.S. has been
enabled to preserve quantities of our most tender fruits,
during the space of one year, with all their original flavor.
The entire process,as patented and put in operation by
Mr. Schooley, is fully indorsed by the American Pomo-
logical Society, as will be observed by their last Annual
Report ; and the president, Hon. Marshall P. Wilder, in
noticing this valuable invention, in his annual address
before the society, says:
“Having heard of the great success of Mr. Schooley,
of Cincinnati, Ohio, in his celebrated discovery for the
preservation of meats, I opened a correspondence with
him with respect to the application of the same process
to the preservation of fruit. He subsequently visited me
at Boston, and advised as to the construction of a fruit
room upon his principle. This [have found, during the last
Winter and the present Summer, to operate in accordance
PRESERVATION OF FRUITS. 333
with his statement, as illustrated by Professor Locke, in
his ‘Monograph upon the Preservation of Organic Sub-
stances.’ By his plans, the temperature and moisture of’
the fruit-room, and consequently the ripening of the
fruit, may be perfectly controlled. One gentleman in-
forms me that he kept strawberries in a fruit-room con-
structed on this plan, from June 1st to the 20th, in perfect
condition for the table; and he entertains no doubt of its
complete success in the preservation of apples and pears
indefinitely. My own experience corresponds with this
statement.”
We do not hesitate to recommend Mr. Schooley’s patent
to the attention of all fruit-growers, as an invention of
great importance; and properly constructed (according to
the plates published in the first part of this work, and
taken from the Annual Report of the American Pomolo-
gical Society), can not fail to be successful.
APP EIN DLs
Ow1ne to the MSS. of this book having come into the
publishers’ hands quite late last winter, the work was
somewhat hurried; in consequence, a few errors, as well
as some omissions, occurred. The following omissions of
fruits (many of which are new) are therefore, now sup-
plied. The figures correspond with those in the text:
1. This apple does well in the West generally, but is not
suited to this locality (Cincinnati). It is subject to rot
and speck on the tree. Page 11.
2. The English Golden Russet, is more acid, and of
much less value to us. Page 12.
3. Valuable for all purposes, and does very well on
sandy, but is rather hard-fleshed on stiff clay soils. Of
slow growth in the nursery. Page 12.
4, Striped and shaded with carmine, and sprinkled with
large light dots. Page 13.
5. Winter Pearmain, of the Middle States. Page 14.
6. With large russet dots, and streaks of russet about
the stalk. Page 14.
7. The author has had reason to change his opinion
very much, about this apple. It deserves more general
cultivation here; sometimes it is very fine, always good,
a sure bearer every other year, a good cooking as well as
table fruit, and a good market variety. It keeps better
than it has general credit for doing, although not a late
winter sort here. Page 14.
8. With stripes of red. Page 15.
9. Flat at base, narrowing to the edge; chiefly for
cooking. Page 15.
(335)
336 APPENDIX.
10. Mr. John Sayers thinks this apple too uncertain
sometimes, in this locality, to be recommended for gen-
eral cultivation, Tree vigorous, with spreading, drooping
branches. Page 16.
11. Waxen, or Mamma Beam, etc. Tree healthy, vigor-
ous, and very productive where it succeeds. Page 16.
12. And deep red. From Dedham, Mass. Very pro-
ductive. Fruit of rich flavor. Page 17.
13. Raised by John Bledsoe, Carroll county, Kentucky.
Growth moderate, rather spreading. Good for the South.
Page 19.
14. Color, fine ycllow, sometimes faint blush; form,
roundish flattened; size, 1 to 2; use, table; quality, 2;
season, November to January. From Philadelphia, Penn.
Growth, moderately upright. A good bearer. Page 19.
15. With us (back of Newport, Ky.) We are fully pre-
pared to substantiate our statement in the first edition of
the Fruit Book, that this apple, from Ellwanger and Bar-
ry’s Nursery, was once incorrect. We can at any time
bring forward the highest evidence to this effect. The
best nurscrymen will sometimes commit errors, and we
shall always be sufficiently independent to point them
out, without fear or favor from any party. Page 19.
16. Flesh, yellow, tender, juicy, with a spicy subacid
flavor. Page 19.
17. Requires to be grafted high, to make a good head.
Page 20.
18. Except perhaps, the Pumpkin Sweet. Tree vigor-
ous, spreading and productive. Page 21,
19. Conical; calyx small, closed; basin abrupt. Tree
vigorous, spreading, and productive. Page 22.
20. Brown on the sunny side, with dots and russet
patches; form, conical, flattened, rather irregular, with
projecting ribs. Page 23.
21. Form, oval, irregular to conic. Tree very vigorous,
APPENDIX. 337
upright; an early and abundant bearer. A profitablo
market fruit. Page 23.
22. Royal Pippin. Color, yellow and red striped ; form,
roundish oval; size, 1 to 2; use, table; quality, 1; season,
October to January. A vigorous grower, and productive.
Page 24. ;
23. Overspread with dull red, with stripes of bright
yellowish red. Tree of moderate vigor.