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PENNSYLVANIA APPLES FOR EXPORT.

By H. M. ENGLE.

Mr. PRESIDENT: To give this meeting of intelligent fruit growers a dis sertation on "Pennsylvania apples for export," while our State instead of exporting is annually importing thousands of barrels of apples for home consumption, must be considered in the prospective. It is, however, not asserted here that Pennsylvania does not export any apples, for some of the western counties have fallen in line with the New York trade, but our trade is so insignificant that it is scarcely worthy of notice, compared with that of New York and several other States. That Pennsylvania to-day might be rivaling any State in the Union, in the exporting of apples, had she pursued a course similar to that of other States now so far advanced in this branch of industry, your essayist firmly believes.

Had Pennsylvania fruit growers formed active societies as early as New England and New York did, and made efforts to disseminate and establish a reputation for the best and most reliable apples, native to the State, and at the same time diffused information necessary to the planting and management of orchards, as well as the picking, handling, and marketing of their fruits, the commercial value of our orchard products would amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars annually; but instead of taking an independent course, we simply aped after New England and New York, taking for granted that the varieties that succeeded there, were just what we wanted, and thus have for the last twenty-five or thirty years planted northern and northeastern winter apples trees, and have harvested fall apples. No wonder we don't export. Now, what makes the present aspect the more humiliating is, that all the while Pennsylvania had apples, native or otherwise, just as good as those that have been disseminated in consequence of their popularity at home, and just as well adapted to her soils and latitude as those of other latitudes were to their native place. It is not claimed that fruits do not succeed except in the vicinity where they originated, but it is conceded that varieties of fruit that give satisfaction everywhere are few and far between. Under these circumstances your essayist feels more disposed to lecture Pennsylvanians for our short-sightedness in the past, than to tell us what apples to export while we have none; besides, if we had them, it is only the few that would know how to manage them properly for exporting.

I am, however, gratified to announce that a new era has opened for our State. By the diffusion of pomological knowledge, many of our citizens have learned to know the commercial value of apples in other States, as well as the steadily increasing demand abroad for the same; they have also learned to know our mistake in the selection of winter varieties, which only are valuable for export. It is therefore claimed, that we are rather in a transition state, which should tend to repair in the next quarter of a century what we have lost in the last, in the apple business, by not being sufficiently wide awake. My subject, however, is "Pennsylvania apples for export." I shall consider Pennsylvania seedlings first. I do not see why Smith's Cider and York Imperial might not become as popular abroad as at home. The former is, no doubt, the most reliable winter apple in Eastern Pennsylvania, and York Imperial very little behind; both are showy, of good 37 AGRICULTURE.

quality, reliable bearers, and good keepers. York Stripe is larger, more showy, and of better quality than either, but, perhaps, not quite so good a keeper. Should it prove as reliable a bearer, it is destined to become one of our most valuable winter apples, and therefore may come in competition with the best northern apples in foreign markets. Belmont: It seems strange that an apple with so many excellent qualities should have been so long overlooked in its native State, while it became very popular abroad. I would bespeak for this apple a promising future, when our State goes into the exporting business. Smoke-house, although not a very attractive name, there is nothing smoky about it. I know of no apple that is more sought for in its season where it is known, and it will become popular whenever it can be obtained in perfection; and if its season could be extended a month or two it would rank among the most promising for export. Rambo is equally popular with the latter, but simply as a dessert apple, maturing about the same time, in early winter, which will prevent them from becoming very valuable for export. Ewalt: This fine, large, showy apple is looming up in popularity. In appearance it has few rivals among winter apples. The most that can be said against it is that it is rather acid as a dessert apple before it is fully ripe, but for culinary uses it is No. 1. I have known it to sell in Chestnut street, Philadelphia, at eight dollars per barrel, while the price of winter apples generally ranged from three to four dollars. Should it bear exporting well, it would in my opinion, outsell any other American variety now shipped to foreign markets. Major and Creek are both new promising winter apples of very good quality, and worthy of more extended cultivation. In addition to these there are many valuable native winter apples that have only a local reputation, some of which will, no doubt, prove equal to any of the generally popular kinds. Among the varieties not Pennsylvania seedlings, the green Newtown Pippin has in some localities succeeded well, and among apples shipped to foreign markets, it has thus far sold at higher figures than any other. Were the Yellow Bellflower as firm, so as to bear shipping well, it would be one of the most valuable for export. Peck's Pleasant is scarcely inferior in flavor to Newtown Pippin, of larger size, more showy, and the tree a more vigorous grower. I do not see why this apple should not stand as high in any market as the Newtown Pippin. I would not hesitate to plant Rome Beauty and Ben Davis, both of which are good, showy, and productive, as weli as good keepers. Romanite: I do not see why this showy and very productive apple might not become valuable for export. It is of good quality and an excellent keeper, and would bear shipping as well as any apple with which I am acquainted. There are, however, two varieties disseminated under the same name, with synonyms of Gilpin, Carthouse, and others. They are both southern apples, and similar in many respects. I am confident that both have been grown in the same orchard, under the same name and as the same fruit. I believe the above named varieties have all proven worthy of cultivation in some localities in our State, mostly in the eastern division.

There are many other varieties worthy of notice, perhaps as valuable for export as those just referred to; but for some time I have been more disposed to strike a number from our catalogues, than to add more, unless proving of superior merit. I do, however, not wish to be understood as discouraging the planting in our State, wherever they succeed, of those excellent northern varieties, which have became famous both at home and abroad; for in our northwestern counties they have proved much better keepers than in the eastern part of the State. The same may be said of the higher altitudes of the mountainous sections throughout the State to

its southern border. Therefore, Hubbardston, Baldwin, E. Spitzenberg, Northern Spy, Rhode Island Greening, King, American, Golden, and Rox Russets and other northern apples may prove valuable for export in those sections of our State just referred to.

In order to establish a commercial interest in the apple trade of our State, more orchards must be planted, and those already established better cared for. There are both land and capital lying idle, or partly so, to pay investors a large profit, and the State a commercial income of hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. To such as would invest in this enterprise of apple growing as a business, I would say select a good location for an orchard, better a little rough and hilly than too low or wet.

Prepare the ground as you would for a field crop, observe the orchards surrounding yours close by, and make the largest proportion of your list of such varieties that succeed best in your neighborhood, and upon similar soils. Plant only young thrifty trees, not more than three years old, plant not deeper than they stood in the nursery, and head in the branches at planting, but get and save all the roots you can. Mulch your trees the first season with manure or any rubbish that will keep the earth beneath moist, and cultivate well with summer crops for six or eight years at least. Plan the shape of your trees from the start, and prune so as never to have occasion to cut off large branches. Nothing but finger and thumb and pocket knife should ever be used for pruning fruit trees while in thrifty condition, and such they should always be so long as you expect to harvest paying crops from them. When the trees commence bearing, keep the ground in good fertility with proper manures, which should be applied in proportion to the crops that your trees will yield. Keep out borers from trees, and any other insects injurious to trees and fruit, but especially keep down the codling moth, by the application of bands around the stems of the trees. When the crop is large, thin out as systematically as you would your corn when planted too thick. All fruits will keep better if not left get too ripe on the tree. In gathering for market, reject all unsound and gnarly specimens. It will pay to make two or three grades of almost any fruit for market purposes, so as to have it run uniform. Pack carefully in new barrels, but by all means avoid deception, which is too common, in which the barrel is topped off with specimens far above the average. Do not close the barrels at once unless the weather is quite cool. Press the fruits so as not to move in the barrels while they are handled. Place in a cool or rather cool place until freezing weather. Slight freezing after the barrels are closed will not injure them, but they must not be roughly handled in that condition. Fix your brand on every barrel and also the grade of fruit it contains, and build up a reputation that you never need be ashamed of. By planting more extensively, and following the above directions, I will predict that the rising generation of our State will be enabled to talk more intelligently on Pennsylvania apples for export, than your essayist possibly can on this occasion.

Apple culture in Eastern Pennsylvania, was the subjest of a very practical essay by Mr. Cooper, President of Lancaster County Agricultural and Horticultural Society:

APPLE CULTURE IN EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA.

In undertaking the task of writing an article upon this subject, I fear our worthy chairman has made a grave error in assigning it to me. Not having a taste for writing or addressing public meetings, I have never cultivated that pleasing address so essential to entertain an audience. I,

therefore, hope the members of this Society will excuse all defects; nor expect me to tell you how to grow apples, without some effort on your part. The great ambition of the American people is to leap after results, ever ill content to await the natural course of things. Many plant a tree to-day, and to-morrow enter a complaint that it does not show signs of growth. So hasty are we to reap the reward of our labor, that many fail for want of the proper care, patience, treatment, and labor necessary to accomplish certain ends; but enough on that score.

Location should be the first consideration in planting an orchard. Choose rolling ground, and the elevation as great as circumstances will allow. Protected, if possible, from the north and wests blast of our changeable climate; would prefer an eastern or southeastern slope, avoiding a southwestern, on account of the great danger of the trees being winter killed by the afternoon rays of a warm winter's sun. A few years ago, a customer came to my place for a small orchard, and asked my opinion as to planting in low land. I discouraged him from planting in low, swampy ground, that would not, naturally, drain itself, and that, in all probability, they would not succeed. His answer was, "I tries them anyhow." Being familiar with the location, I carefully watched the result. The first summer they looked well, and, to all outward appearance, you might suppose the experiment would be a success; but in a year or two I observed their decline, and in about four or five years, when you would expect some fruit, they were all dead.

The soil should be light and porous. Would prefer a sand or slaty loam, with a sub-soil that would quickly drain off all surface water that could not run away in a few hours. Such as do not have the above, might select fiint or gravelly loam, always avoiding that of a tenacious character; observing the sub-soil to see that it is sufficiently porus to allow of proper drainage. Even were the surface so full of small stones that it would seem almost impossible to find earth enough to get the trees started, I would consider the chances of success greater than on flat land of the highest fertility. I do not think it necessary that the soil should be in that high state of cultivation so frequently recommended. This would answer very well if timber is wanted; but to produce good healthy wood, I cannot recommend the selections of such location to grow fruit. Nor is it advisable to use high stimulating manures, that have a tendency to produce too rapid growth.

Preparation of the soil is, by no means, a secondary consideration; the plowing, harrowing, &c., should be as thorough as if a field of potatoes, or corn, are to be planted; and, if not naturally drained, the ground should be sub-soiled at least sixteen inches deep, to assist in carrying off all surface water as quickly as possible. If the location be such as not to provide a proper drainage, it might be plowed in lands, as wide as it is desirable to set the trees, throwing it up in ridges, as high as practicable by cross plowing, until the desired elevation is had. Having thoroughly pulverized the soil, and made it as friable as is practicable to do, you are ready to stake off the orchard, according to the fancy of the planter, allowing for each standard tree nine hundred square feet, or thirty feet each way.

Digging the holes is also an important part of the preparation that too many planters are apt to neglect. Some skill and judgment are necessary here. It is not a post hole that is wanted, but one that a tree is expected to grow and flourish in. If for spring planting, would prefer to have them prepared in the fall, so that by frequent thawing and freezing, nature assists in pulverizing to that mealy condition so necessary to insure success.

If the sub-soil be of clay, it should be put in a pile by itself, and the hole sufficiently large to allow all the roots to stand in their natural position when the tree is planted.

Having made all the necessary preparation, the question what varieties. to plant and were to get the trees, is by odds the most vexatious problem to be solved. The unprincipled vendors who have canvassed the country so thoroughly that scarce a house escaped in the rural districts; the cities, too, have not been neglected, have so grossly deceived the people, that they look with suspicion upon all who offer anything in that line. Their handsomly colored plates and specimen fruit put up in alcohol, in white glass jars, blown in such shape as to magnify to near twice its natural size, was well calculated to induce subscriptions at the fabulous prices some of then realized. Such tales as "stawberries growing bushes two or three feet high;" peaches on roots the borer would not touch; "wild-goose plum3" that the curculio "could not penetrate," in short, everything much finer and of sorts that could not be had, except by subsciption through them, conveys but a meager idea of ways adopted to take in the unwary public. In many instances they had much better have thrown the trees to the brush heap and applied the torch, than have planted, and after years of waiting and care been doomed to disappointment in not getting what they ordered, end sorts unsuited to their location.

Every one contemplating planting an orchard should first inquire, (if not already posted,) what varieties do best in that immediate vicinity, and of such plant at least three fourths of the plot. The balance may be of those that give promise of fruitfulness and quality in many localities. The great error has been with most of us, to want something new, never for a moment thinking, that if an apple succeed well in our section, it may not do in another.

This I attribute, in a large measure, is the cause of many failures in our section. The fine fruits brought to our markets from central and western New York has induced planters to try them here, but at last found them unsuited to this section. Hence, they condemn all, because they could not grow fruit to compete with the noted fruit growers of New York. In referring to this matter so fully, I wish to be understood, that at least four fifths of the failures might be traced to the folly of planters choosing such sorts as have no established merit, either for quality or bearing. I therefore repeat the appeal, to select only those as do best in each particular neighborhood. If, however, the planter is desirous of testing varieties unknown in his section, and has sufficient ground to experiment, I would, by all means, encourage such in the good work; for by trial, and an occasional failure, too, are we in the end enabled to decide what to plant.

Of sorts I might name the following as a list, that generally do well in Lancaster county: Early Harvest, Sweet Bough, Jeffries, All Summer, Townsend, Early Strawberry, Benoni, Hawley or Douse, Munson Sweet, Sweet Rambo, Apple-butter, Smoke-house, Rambo, Fallawater, Ortley or White Belle-fleur, Dominie, Smith's Cider, Nedley or Spice, York Imperial, Baldwin, Hub Nonsuch, Krouser, Romanite, Winesap, L. I. Russet, Winter Sweet Paradise, and Talman Sweet.

As to where to get the trees, would say, make out your list, and send direct to any reliable nurseryman, requesting him, at the proper season, to forward, by express, trees not over three years old, as I fully believe at that age will succeel much better than either older or younger. They should be five to seven feet high, according to the growth of the variety. The greatest care should be taken to secure the roots from the high dryiug wind so common in the spring. They should be "heeled in "at once,

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