is a subject in which all may feel interested ruary, and I suppose they would keep and be benefited. longer. LOUDON COUNTY, Virginia. YARDLEY TAYLOR. Mr. ROBEY, of Fredericksburg, reported the following list of fruits: No. 1. Carter Apple.-Long known in this country, and cultivated by almost every farmer. Bears enormous crops. August and September. 2. Summer Cheese.-September. 3. Roberson White.-September and October. Blooms very late. 4. Winter Cheese.-When grown, full medium size. December to February. 5. Gloucester White.-Two-thirds grown, nearly yellow at maturity. November to January. Rich aromatic. 6. Red Cathead.-Bears regular and heavy crops, fruit always perfect, fine for table and culinary. October to December. 7. Ladies' Favorite.-Bears large and regular crops, fruit always fair, keeps till January. 8. Limber Twig.-Dull red, May, regular bearer. 9. Abram.-Keeps till May, bearer. keeps till regular 20. Summer Golden Pippin.-The specimens are not so large as they usually grow, fruit always fair, bears well. 21. Green Newtown Pippin. 22. Waugh's Crab.-The specimens are not half the size of this apple when grown, bears very heavy crops, have been left on the trees until Christmas, to freeze and thaw, without much injury; if crushed in January it makes the finest white cider, fully equal to Hewes' Crab, from March to June it is a fine rich table apple, nearly sweet. 23. Wine Sap.-Bears regular and fine crops, and keeps well till March. 24. Baltimore Pippin.-Bears well, and the fruit good. September and October. 25. Vandervere.-Juicy and good, bears well, keeps till March. 26. Russet. Variety not known, a good winter fruit. 27. Brooke's Pippin.-The tree from which this apple was taken, was found upon the farm when Mr. B. purchased it, about forty years ago; it was then about the size of a coach whip. He thinks it is a seedling. The tree is now very large, bears regular and large crops of fruit, always fair, of the largest size; keeps well till May; fine, yellow flesh, juicy and rich, and of the finest Oc-flavor; the tree grows in a warm, sandy soil. Mr. B. has nearly all the known varieties of the Pippin, which very rarely come to perfection; young trees in the nursery grow very thrifty. I regret that specimens of this apple, from Mr. B., did not reach me before I left home. 10. Prior's Red-Keeps till March. tober. 13. Hollady's Seedling.-Raised by John Hollady, of this county. Large fine yellow, with russet spots, very rich, highly perfumed, keeps till April, regular and good bearer. 14. Strawn's Seedling.-Rather large, flesh yellowish, rich, crisp and juicy, bears large and regular crops, fruit always perfect, keeps till April. 15. Leather Coat.-Winter. 16. Bowling's Sweet.-When ripe, very rich. October to December. Bears large crops, fruit always fair. 17. Milam.-Dark red when ripe, keeps till March, fruit always fair. 18. Spice Apple. Not half their usual size, owing to the tree being overloaded. 19. Ogleby.-Raised, by an old colored man, from seed of a red fall apple. The original tree has borne this the third year. When ripe, fine yellow, very rich, a little spicy. Specimens have been kept till Feb-1 28. Winter Queen-Bears large and regular crops, keeps till February, fruit always fair. 29. This is a pear that I present for a name; it is a grafted fruit, grown extensively in the lower counties; said to have been imported from France about seventy years ago. No doubt it will be readily recognized by the committee in this state. It bears regular and very large crops, and very rarely an imperfect fruit is seen on the tree; it is sometimes in eating 1st November, will keep with very little care until February, and specimens have been kept until April. It is known here as the Taylor Pear. I have put in three kinds of seedlings, Nos. 1, 3, and 4, and one marked Robey's fruits as are deemed worthy of cultivation. Seedling; the latter promises to be a fine winter apple. I would here state that the specimens of fruit are not near their usual size at this season of the year, owing to the very dry summer; until recently we have had very little rain, and a good many kinds are from trees growing in old fields, very poor, and not cultivated for many years. H. R. ROBEY. HOPEWELL NURSERIES, Fredericksburg, Va. may It is believed this and the neighboring counties do furnish native fruits of as much excellency as any portion of our country, many of which are scarcely known beyond the neighborhood of their origin. This is to be regretted, particularly as the soil and climate where they originate and have proved their good qualities, are sure guaranties that in this region at least, they may be cultivated with success; and it also be presumed that what suits this climate will succeed well in a large portion of the Union. As you have shown a liberal spirit in giving accounts and representations of animals, implements, etc., interesting to farmers, it is The fruit season has been a fine one; we hoped you will encourage the diffusion of were favored with a great abundance of all the knowledge, history, properties, and deskinds. The cherries bore very heavy crops, cription of new fruits, particularly of our the fruit large and fine. The mature apri- native seedlings of worth. Some of your cot-trees bore immense crops. The plums, subscribers believe you would render good too, were fine on heavy clay soils. I have service to the community by calling more never had any difficulty in growing good particular attention to an excellent apple crops with a little attention to guard against that is known to perhaps but few, although the ravages of the curculio, and for this it has been exhibited at some of the hortipurpose I mainly depend upon the pigs cultural exhibitions in the eastern part of picking up the waste fruit. The new Seed- the state for several years. I mean the ling Plum maintains its character, and I Mr. WILLIAM SUMMER writes to the late President, from Pomaria, South Carolina, September 6th, 1852: think is worthy of general cultivation. Pears. The trees of the Petit Muscat were loaded until the limbs bent down like an umbrella. The Julienne and Seckel were of fine size, and the flavor very superior, while the Bartlett, Doyenne Blanc, Duchesse d'Angouleme were of larger size than usual. The Beurre Capiaumont bore very heavy crops. The Fulton is with us one of the finest pears; and the Croft Castle eaten today, proves to be a pear worthy of cultivation in our soil and climate. I think in our warm, deep soils that many varieties of the pear are improved in flavor. We have had a bountiful supply of apples and peaches. They were everything that could be desired; but as I have not time to particularize, I must bring this hasty note to a close. WILLIAM SUMMER. Jefferis Apple. JEFFERIS APPLE. As fruit culture is attracting the attention of farmers and others, I hope your corres- "Jefferis apple." It originated on the farm pondents will from time to time, as in their of Isaac Jefferis, in Newlin township, Chespower, give information of such seedling ter county, Penn., and was by him exhibited to the Chester County Horticultural Society, at their annual exhibition, in 1848, and, by the committee on Seedling Fruits, named "Jefferis," by which name it has since been known. At the late meeting of the American Pomological Society, the committee on Native Fruits pronounced it "best," which, in pomological language, means "first-rate." The following is a description of the fruit: Shape oblate spheroidal. Skin, in its ground color, lemon yellow, streaked and stained with red, but on the side next to the sun, deepening into rich red, dotted with white spots, and a little russety round the stalk or stem. Stalk about half an inch long, slender, inserted in a narrow, deep cavity. Calxc woolly, nearly closed, set in a regular, well formed, deep basin. Flesh white, crisp, tender, melting, juicy and of exceedingly pleasant flavor. In use from the middle of August until late in October, and is an excellent fruit both for cooking and the dessert. Its superior, for the season, I have not met with. Tree a rather moderate grower, with upright habit, and said to be a constant and abundant bearer. It can be had at some of the Chester county nurseries. DAVID TOWNSEND. -Farm Journal. WEST CHESTER, Penn. The Diller Pear. "DILLER" is among the very best August pears, and deserves a place in every collection in this state. It is named after the DILLBR PEAR. flavor; a little gritty at the core, which is Would that the Southern States were well supplied Culture of Fruit at the South. The following remarks are worthy of note person on whose property it grew and by to Southern readers, and contain elements whom it was most probably raised from seed, of truth worthy of consideration in the one hundred years since. Tradition says he brought the tree or cions from Germany; North also. Let us rejoice at the reception but this is extremely doubtful, because of of useful hints, even when accompanied by a long voyages and want cf horticultural reflection against our nurserymen. knowledge. It is more probable he brought seed of some favorite pear, planted it, and raised this tree. Its growth much resembles the Bloodgood, short jointed, wood reddish brown, not a rapid grower, but bears regularly and abundantly. Fruit of medium size, obovate irregular or one-sided, thickening abruptly into the stalk, which is an inch long nd obliquely inserted. Skin, at maturity, golden yellow, sprinkled, and one side mostly covered, with light cinnamon russet. Calyx mostly open, set in a slight, smooth depression. Flesh yellowish to be introduced to many new varieties of white, buttery, with rich sugary luscious fruits, and to be informed of many interest with sensible nurserymen, who would observe the peculiarities of situation, soil and climate, and advise their purchasers accordingly. It is believed that our Southern friends will contribute a quota to the next meeting of the American Pomological Society, at Boston, October, 1854. By them we hope CULTURE OF FRUIT AT THE SOUTH. ing facts in pomology. It is sincerely hoped that the suggestion of Mr. Peabody, in the Soil of the South, from which this article is taken, will be acted on, as the committee appointed to examine the fruits of the state, would collect much valuable information. MR. EDITOR:-One of the most fatal mistakes committed by those who have engaged in the cultivation of fruits at the South, has been the adoption of the methods prescribed by Northern nurserymen. After many years of disappointment in following the directions of English gardeners and nur serymen, they had to abandon them, and strike out a system of their own, better suited to their climate and soil, before much progress was made in this department of horticulture. We at the South in like manner have been led without reflection into the same error, for there is not a greater difference between the climate and soil of the Northern States and England or Belgium, than there is between the Northern and Southern States; and it is not reasonable that the same modus operandi would answer well for the cultivation of plants and trees of both sections of country. What is yet more strange is, that whenever any of the Southern nurserymen we have, have written or given directions to those who have purchased from them, it has been but a reiteration of rules laid down at the North, so far as I have seen, until there is, from the frequent failure of many who have attempted raising some kinds of fruit, an opinion prevalent that they can not be grown here successfully. My object in writing this short article is to endeavor to disabuse this opinion, by prescribing such plans and processes as experience Las taught me to be better adapted to the region of Georgia, and which I hope and believe will prove satisfactory to all who may try it. I shall begin with a few simple rules for the cultivation of the apple, and at another time, if this meets with a favorable reception, take up other varieties of fruit by turns. In the selection of a site for an or chard, take one that inclines to the north or north-west. Plow and subsoil it well, and stake off for your trees, twenty-five feet each way; dig the holes from one foot to 265 eighteen inches deep, and three feet in diameter; select trees one to two years old, from a good Southern nursery, and plant them in these holes, filling them up with a soil taken from some swamp or low ground, if convenient-if not, get that composed of decayed leaves, or other vegetable substances, to which should be added a shovelful of ashes or lime. The after culture of the ground is of more consequence to success than the mere planting of the trees. This should be done by always keeping it occupied with a green covering of some kind. I prefer and use clover; in sections of country where this does not grow well, I would choose peas. The advice of Northern nurserymen to keep the ground clean, or in a hoed crop, will not answer here, as it becomes so heated by our vertical sun as to injure the roots of the trees, and either kill or render them worthless. Mulching has been advised. I say the best mulch is a green crop; nothing else is as good a radiator of heat as this. Keep the ground clean for a few inches about the trunks of the trees, so as to prevent insects from harboring there. Manure and plow the ground once in every three or four years, and I will not hesitate in saying that the choicest apples may be raised from the sea-board to the mountains in Georgia. By the way, I should have mentioned that the trees should be trained with low heads; the limbs should not be suffered to put out about four feet from the ground, and should the tree be of upright or tall habit, cut off those branches that shoot up, and compel a lateral growth, as a tree with a low spreading head always bears best, and at the same time shades and protects the trunks and roots from the heat of the sun. It is a good plan to tie a common clapboard against the south-west side of the trunks, for two or three years, or until the top has made growth sufficient to shade them. Where this is neglected, I have known the trunks to become blistered, and the death of the tree be the consequence of the neglect. In conclusion I will reiterate, keep a growing crop on the ground, that will cover it well, and there is but little doubt that you will succeed, anywhere, in raising this delicious fruit. J. VAN BUREN. GLOAMING COTTAGE, near Clarksville, Ga. The Troubles of a Country Nurseryman. mistake, another package put up for a differ CUTTING GRAFTS IN THE AUTUMN. MR. EDITOR :-Some months ago, you requested me to write my views and observations on the proper time for making cuttings for grafting, etc. I think it not impossible for a novice like myself sometimes to discover a great error in what may be the universal practice of experienced nurserymen, and I am inclined to think from my own observations in the limited experience I have had in the nursery business, that there is yet room for improvement. As to the time for making cuttings, I can say that I have had absolute proof that the fall is the best time for cutting pear, plum, cherry, and grape; nor would I except the apple. And for this simple reason when they remain on the trees until February or March, as is the common practice, many of them become either winter killed, or are so much weakened as not to have vigor or force in them to form a union with the stock; whereas if the cuttings are made in the fall and buried in the earth, they come out in the spring with all the freshness they ever possessed, and when grafted will grow with absolute certainty, if the operation is properly performed upon a healthy stock. According to my experience, grape cuttings are almost worthless, if not taken in the fall and kept in the earth until the time of planting. ent person, and which I returned; but, by a peculiar circumstance in the case, I had both packages to pay for, or involve a friend in a difficulty. Again, in 1848, I purchased a lot of grape cuttings and apple seed; not one in a hundred of the cuttings grew, and not one in a thousand of the seed germinated. Again, in 1849, I purchased a a small lot of Osage Orange seed, which were planted with the utmost care in the best soil, and but one solitary seed vegetated. And again, in 1850, I bought of the same seedsman a lot of Osage Orange seed, also pear, plum and apple grafts; the seed proved again to be worthless, about twothirds of the pear and plum grafts were winter killed-they were dead and black, and the nurseryman who furnished them could not have been ignorant of the fact, or if he were, he trusted to a hireling, which no honest nurseryman should ever do. I now come to speak of some catch-penny impostors, hailing from the state of Ohio, to let you know what kind of representatives the Ohio nurserymen have had among us, on this side of the river. A few years ago, I think in 1844, a company of grafters passed through a portion of this county, (Shelby,) and some of those adjoining; and to show you how they imposed upon every one who employed them, I will give you one instance. Dr. Clayton, of Christiansburg, employed them to graft a tree in Perhaps it may be of more service to his door-yard, the fruit of which was exmany, both sellers and buyers, for me to cessively acid. A neighbor, Mr. Flood, give a little history of the losses, disappoint- came while they were performing the work, ments and impositions to which I have been and inquired of the grafters if they had any subjected in my dealings wit nurserymen sweetening grafts? They replied in the and those connected with the business. In affirmative; a bargain was made, and they 1847, I sent an order to Louisville for a went over to Flood's and grafted his trees. lot of apple grafts, and had to pay a dou- In due time the grafters came along and ble price simply because the seedsman to collected their money. About the third whom I sent the order, sent me, through year the grafts produced fruit, and behold, |