Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-04-07
Siberian Apples.

1t is well understood by all who have made
the trial, that apple growing in Northern
Maine. Vermont and New Hampshire, as
well as in the Province Of Quebec, is attended
with serious difficulties consequent upon the
severe winter cold. Every species Of plant
and tree has its northward range limited by
this cause and as we travel toward the
Arctic regions one after another drops out Of
sight, until at last we reach those bleak and
frigid shores, where only the reindeer moss
and few stunted herbs survive.
Nearly all the favoritc apples Of the Mid
die States of the sea-coast region of New
England and of the Champlain valley, are
forbidden to the dwellers in the section above
named. These fruits seem to be unable TO
endure winters where the thermometer ha-
bitually descends TO or below ffty-two degrees
Of frost, or, as We commonly express it,
twenty degrees below zero. Exposed to
this temperature the young growth is killed,
partially or entirely thu heart-wood becomes
blackened and decays and even the sap
wood though surviving, is so weakened in
vitality that it bleeds at every slight cut
or wound the bark becomes black from the
exuded sap, the tree is stunted, bears only
feebly and of imperfect fruit, and finally
gives mp the ghost.
In the lists of choice standard apples put
forth by all the leading nurseries of the
country nine-tenths, at least, are such as are
found to follow this course to destruction, in
very cold localities, even under the most
careful and skiful attention. Aud this is
one reason why "New York trees are so
emphatically condemned 1t is not the only
reason, since large quantities of refuse nur-
sery stock have been peddled through the
country by "tree agents." that would never
have been good for anything If planted in
the most favorable location. But the best
trees that ever grew, of the Baldwin, King
of Tompkins County, Yellow Belnower,
.Jewett's Red, llubbardston Nonesuch, Rox-
bury Russell, Early Harvest, and twenty
other popular sorts, would equally fail along
the northern limits of the apple and every
attempt to grow them can result only in
disappointment
Must we, then, give up apple growing in
Northern Vermont Certainly we must, UNI
less we can hnd some harder varieties than
those which are reckoned the standard sorts
in more favored localities. But fortunately
there are number oil well known and ac-
ceptable kinds that stand very well IN all
but the most exposed and uniayorable spots
Among these may be named the Ietoisky
Duchess OF Oldenburgh Red Astrachan
Blue Pearmain, Westheld Seek-no-further
Fameuse, Ben Davis, st. Lawrence, aud Iol
man Sweet; aud to these may be added {
number more, not so generally known, sucl
as the Peach Apple, Magog Red Streak
Clyde Beauty, hentish flllbasket Granite
Beauty, Tracy Apple, SCOTS Winter Me
lntosh Red, Derby seek-no-Further, and st
Johnsbury Sweet.
From these lists varieties may be selected
from which very satisfactory orchards may
with care be grown But even these requir
much more attention than is ordinarily givei
upon most farms, in order to be of any grea
profit to the grower. The trees must be care
fully planted, cultivated, furrowed' mulcheC
and fertilized, in order to make them really
suecessful' and even with all this care, j
may be that an unusually severe winter vii
injure more or less OF Them and destro,
such as are not thoroughly vigorous am
healthy In short, the difficulty OF growinI
what is called " English apples in Norther
Vermont is about equal to the difficulty o
growing peaches IN Massachusetts and Cor
nectieut II ca" oe DONE but under ordinar
circumstances 1t cannot be made to pay
business
Would we, then, discourage our reader
from attempting 10 raise apples by n
means Every farmer should endeavor t
grow trees enough Tor large and lber'
nome supply oil thls necessary irniti and
lhgrowing these ne mas he mas pretty favo
able location we should even advise him
extend his plantation since wherever 1t
d'lheuit 10 grow apples apples are sure
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