attr Py Bite iD Ws Hie ie f iy ¥ “ i Tica . THE JOHN : CRAIG 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.