The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-10-27
agricultural department.
CONDUCTED BY ALBERT CHAPMAN
MEETING OF THE STATE BOARD
OF AGRICULTURE AT GRAND

the meeting was opened by Mr. u. K,
Jap,>ou of lrasburgh, with an address
OF tho culture Of the crab apple. Mr..
Jonison exhibited large number of va.
lietes of crabs, as did also DR. Hoskins.
We regret we were not 10 the room
the commencement Of the address,
but we notice number Of the points
taken by the speaker after we entered
the room. Mr. j. stated that while
on Grand Isle and the more favored
parts of Western Vermont, the finer kinds
Of apples could be probably raised,
there were sections of the state not 80
highly favored, where the finer and ten.
derer kinds Of apples invariably disap-
pointed the hopes of the fruit culturist,
and it was absolutely necessary to find
something more hardy or abandon the
culture Of apples altogether. While there
were few varieties Of common apples
which had proved tolerably hardy, the
Number that could be relied upon was
very small. Attention for a number Of
years had been directed to cultivating
crab apples in Northern Vermont, in
the production of new crabs from the
seed and especially in improving the
character Of the crab by hybridizing
with the pollen Of the better apples,
and the results thus far were very
encouraging. While the size Of the fruit
was considerably increased and the quail
ty much improved, the tree seemed to re.
.ain its hardness. Varieties we're already
produced that were excellent for cooking
and drying, and of such size as to make
the labor of preparing them much less
than formerly. Varieties were also pro.
duced that would keep vel! and prolong
by some months the season that this fruit
could be used in the family in its green
or fresh state, and finally, varieties were
produced that made very fair eating up.
pies, apples that even persons that were
used to eating the better varieties Of com.
mon apples could eat with a relish.
Most of these new varieties of hybrid
crab apples were great bearers Of fair
fruit, and some OF the orchards longest
planted in Northeastern Vermont were
already profitable. Mr.. Jamison exhib.
tied number OF kinds and remarked
upon their characteristics. The Gen
Grant was the largest yet produced, the
specimens exhibited being, we should
Judge, over an inch and half in diane
ter. This keeps well in winter. The
Valley crab is some smaller but is an ex.
cellent variety for cooking and keeps
through the winter. The Montreal Beau.
ty was a fine fall variety. The Gold
Drop was fine variety that keeps well
into winter. The Barton Scarlet was
fine variety and one that keeps well. THE
specimens We brought home did not keep,
but ripcued before the Hyslop, fall
variety that does not keep well) The
Queens Choice was one Of the finest fall
varieties and one of the best to cultivate
Il was great bearer limbs were exhib.
tied tina. we're loaded very heavily with
fruit. The Rose Of Stanstead was YER
COED eating fall variety.
The subject OF raising ,hese kinds for
market was considered. MIR. Jamison
purchased and sent Eighty barrels of crab
apples to Boston market last fall. and the
returns were very satisfactory as whole.
Some that were sent were too ripe and
they proved loss They should be sent
before fully ripe. Ten barrels were sold
for $40, ten were sold for $50, and iew
Of the best sold under the most favorable
circumstances brought 80 per barrel
One orchard was mentioned Of hundre
trees, that produced thirty barrels of good
fair fruit and FIVE or six barrels of GULL
DIR. T. Ii. Hoskins after the address
spoke in favor of those apples for local.
ties where better fruit could not be raised
and there were many such in the higher
portions Of Vermont. Dr. H. spoke very
highly Of sweet crab apple he had re
ceived from Mr.. Prinde, of Charlotte, il
being hybrid raised by that gentleman
1t was good through the month of Ser
TENDER and left nothing to be desired a
u good dessert apple for the season. tn,
Lady apple that Mr.. Thomas stated wa
used and brought very high prices t,
ornament the tables OF the wealthy il
large cities, DR.. Hoskins thought woult
be superseded By the better class of cral
apples that were much better in qualit,
and equally ornamental. Dr. Hosku
said he hoped the good people of Gram
Isle would uot plant extensively of era
apples, but leave the market to be sup
piled with that kind of fruit BY the pee
pie ofhis part of the state who would the
have money to buy the better apples G
Grand Isle COR their own family use.
Mr.. Thomas said he was highly pleas Sc
to see the great improvement in the kind
OF crabs exhibited over the old kinds, an
as they seemed to be hardy everywhcr
be did not despair OF seeing good appl,
yet grown in all parts of the United State
he would only say to the fruit growers {
Northern Vermont, Wisconsin, and Nil
nesota, do not be satisfied with the KIM
yet produced, but keep trying by plan
ing seeds aud hybridizng to produce he
ter kinds than any yet brought out. II
had no doubt this could be done, an
stated that from kinds already met wit
there were great hopes of better. II
thought he had never tasted better {
more delicious apples than the Geneva {
Lady Elgin crab.
GsAPEs.-The cultivation OF crap,
was then discussed The general iav,
was for Delaware and Concords. The
had succeeded well on the Islands al
the speakers from other sections spoil
highly 10 their favor, though there vi
some dissent from the general recomme
datlons OF the Concord. Mr.. Macomb
said while they were toe most successf
varieties, the Concord was not of got
quality. The white Sweet. water had su
ceeded well with him for ten or tweI,
years. They had to be covered in wint
and sometimes widowed little but n
much. Aliens hybrid millewedquite
bad and was not near so good a beart
Diana had failed with him while otho