The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-09-08

recommended. The Gideon is hardy,
somewhat liable to split the bark and
bleed in spring; have not tested the
fruit yet. 1 have an apple that orig
mated in Patten, called the Jay, that
think much of as a winter apple; per-
fectly hardy, forming the terminal bud
in July; good bearer, late keeper,
quality best, medium in size. The Fa-
meuse does fairly well here; a small,
nice apple, shy bearer with me. From
December to February the Duchess
does well; Aroostook seems to be their
home; nothing can take their place as
fall apple; first-rate for culinary pur-
poses and fair for dessert. But l have
two other kinds far ahead for dessert, the
Peach apple and Yellow Transparent,
the latter the earliest and the best of
anything l have ever seen; good eating
at date.
In place where the Duchess keeps
till February it ought not to be difficult
to keep the Wealthy till May. Prob
ably Mr.. Hayden has not yet learned
that to keep the Wealthy he must
gather it as soon as it is fully colored
(and before that time the sound apples
do not drop, as some complain) and
store them in cool place. The apples
should also be cool when gathered. The
morning, or cloudy day, is the best
time for gathering. If gathered when
warm from sun-heat, they should be
spread to cool before barrelng, other
wise they will not keep till Christmas.
We have just at hand letter from
Mr. Charles S. Walker of Peru, Maine,
who says:
81 have read with much interest
your writings, in our agricultural re-
ports in years past, on the subject of
fruit culture. 1 know that they have
been of great service to me, and also to
others with whom l have dealt. Your
suggestions in regard to varieties for
cold sections are what 1 have perused
with most interest
6 l am a dealer in nursery stock
and my aim has always been, in selling
in severe climates similar to yours, to
sell only varieties that had been thor
oughly proved in such. Your article
entitled Apples for Aroostook has
been almost my sole guide thus far.
There are some varieties that have
come to notice since that was written
that presume you have tested by this
time, and as in that article you kindly
offer to answer inquiries on the subject,
| take this opportunity to get the de-
sired information.
81. Are either the Pewaukee, Wal
bridge, Mann or Haas hardy enough
to be safe to plant in your section?
2. If hardy enough are they good
enough? 3. For general planting Gin
severe climates) what changes would
you make in the following list: Russian
Transparent, Duchess of Oldenburgh,
Peach, Alexander Gin small quantities),
Wealthy, Magog Red Streak and Scott's
Winter? 4. Is there anything that
would come at the same season as the
Alexander that is as hardy and better?
5. Is there any plum or cherry that will
do well in your locality?"
We give Mr.. Walkers letter and
answer his questions here because we
have received similar letters from our
Vermont and New Hampshire readers,
which we have had time to answer only
briefly by postal.
l and 2. Mr.. Walker will see what
Mr.. Hayden says of the Haas. We do
not find it as hardy as Fameuse, and
its quality is poor. The true name of
this apple is Fall Queen-No. 100 of
the American Pathological Society's
catalogue. Pewaukee, Walbridge and
Mann are in the same category as re-
CARDS both hardness and quality.
Mann is the tenderest of the whole
four, and we think the poorest in quail
ity. 3. We should drop Magog Red
Streak, for though of our own introduce
ton, we find that Wealthy is its SUI
perior on every point. We should add,
as fast as the nurserymen have them
to offer, Longfeld, a Russian every
way equal to Wealthy, and reported as
longer keeper; the Switzer, another
Russian, large, fine red apple, ex-
cellent for all purposes, that keeps I'M
til Christmas, or nearly as long as
Fameuse; the Prolific Sweeting, large
yellow sweet of fine quality, same sea-
son as Switzer; and Newport Winter
Sweet, the only thoroughly iron-clad
winter sweet we know of, as large as
Tolman, as good for baking and better
for eating, and as productive. 4. Well,
the Wolf River is so considered. 1t
seems to be Seeding of Alexander,
perhaps more productive, a little bet
ter in quality and little better keeper.
One of the New Russians, Golden
White, is better in quality, but not
quite so large or so finely colored. 1t
is splendidly vigorous tree, rather
tardy in coming to full bearing. 5.
Nothing of the "tame plum" kind
that is better than Mooer's Arctic.