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

are they superior cider apples, but amonl
them may be found kinds most admirable
for baking and for stewng, and as desser
: fruit they are already eliciting enoomiumi
from pomologists whose approval " is praise
= indeed"
Thus the venerable Charles Downing, au
= thor Of the new Fruit and Fruit Trees of
America" writes to us Mr.. a. Webster
sent me specimens OF the Mortified Beauty
Crab, a hybrid raised 10y Leonard d. Cady'
Mortified, Washington county w., the fruit
of which is as large as the Early Harvest
and Of good quality" In another letter
commenting upon an assortment of crab-hy-
birds, Mr. Downing says Of the Rose OF
Stanstead." This is the most beautiful of
all, and quite good
John J. Thomas, author Of " The Amerl-
can Fruit Culturist." who attended the last
fruit meeting Of our Board Of Agrcul-
ture. on Grand Isle in reviewing the cNhibi-
ton of Siberians. said he "was highly
pleased to see the great improvement in
these crab-hybrids over the old kinds, aud as
they seemed to be hardy everywhere, he did
not despair of seeing good apples yet grown
in all parts of the United States" Mr..
Thomas added that he thought he never
tasted better or more delicious apples than
the Geneva or Lady Elgin Siberian"
In letter before us, Mr.. c. g. Pnngle of
Charlotte, -unquestionaby the ablest poinol-
ogist our state can boast, and hardly sec
ond to any Of his age in the counhy-says of
another crab-hybrid: Have told you about
Bailey's Crimson Crab, which fruited for
the first time last season? will not hest
tate to say that it IS the best apple ever
ate. You must see that this is saying
great deal in its praise since, as you know,
my collection of apples Of all sorts is very
large. And you know how wary have been
Of crabs. surrender, however, to this one.
Mr.. Pringle has himself produced a crab
hybrid. "Pringle's Sweet" which, in our
Judgment, is surpassed 10y few sweet apples,
in richness Of flavor. The market test has
been applied to this variety and five dollars
barrel has been offered for it 10y retailers.
All Of these varieties, and number Of
others of almost equal merit, though not
large apples, are of respectable size Thus
Mr. Pringlc says of Bailcy's Crimson that
a." the fruit is from one and half to two inches
in diameter" Pringles Sweet " is OF about
the same size, and the following varieties
equal or exceed it, viz Marengo Winter
Barton Scarlet, Minnesota, Meader's Winter
General Grant, Mackie's Beauty, Dartmouth
Crab, Beadles Sweet, Chase's Winter Sweet,
and Maidens Blush. This list might be in
creased by the addition of number OF
others Of much excellence, but We appreciate
fully the force Of some remarks of Mr. Down
ing, who says ! fear those who are intro
ducing the new crab apples will over do the
matter with an endless number, too much
alike. If the growers would have meeting
and consult and decide on half u dozen Of
the best, it would be much better for all
parties"
In regard to the real value Of these crab
hybrids as a market fruit there Is but one
objection, which is the small size of all of
them, compared with popular favorites, such
as Baldwins, Northern Spys, Spitzenburgs,
etc, etc. This is probably an unsurmont-
able objection, since such very superior ap-
pies as the Fameuse, Pomme Grise, and even
the Golden Russell, cannot be advantageously
marketed in competition with the larger
sorts. few, as Mr.. Thomas remarked at
Grand Isle, would no doubt meet with sale
for ornamental table purposes, for which
their great beauty of color, and peculiar var
uished skin, especially fits them. For this
use they would come into competition with
the Lady Apple" and easily drive that va
riety ont Of the market.
In giving this opinion upon the market
ability Of the Siberians, we are speaking of
the general market in the large towns and
cities. In local markets. as soon as they be
come known, we suspect that they would
meet with quite sale as is shown, indeed
by the willingness of dealers to buy the
"Pringle Sweet" when we exhibited it to
them.
We have no doubt that, in time, varieties
will be produced from this stock that will
reach large size But, at present, excellent
as number of the varieties are proving
themselves for home use, we cannot counsel
the setting out of large orchards of these by
brid Siberians. Let each one, who has a To-
cation where other sorts fail, try them, Sc
Letting the best, and we are sure they will
in very few years, thank us for the advice