All this is encouraging ; but there is also a dark side in fruit cul-
ture gradually coming on us, to be met only bj||the general diftusion
of knowledge on this subject ; a knowledge that, as before remarked^
will enable us to compete skilfully with deficiencies or over-luxu-
riance in soil ; to know the insects destructive, and their habits, that
we may secure our products from their ravages ; and a just appreci-
ation of the nature of trees, that we may know how to shape them to
the withstanding of our changeful climate.
As under each appropriate head we give somewhat of the olden
history of fruits, our remarks here will relate mainly to their intro-
duction and advancement to Ohio and the West. Previous to 1796,
there was very little other than the natural fruit of the soil culti-
vated iK Ohio ; and not until about 1820 or '22, was there any con-
ADVANCEMENT OF FRUITS, ETC. 17
siderable introduction and planting of " grafted fruits " in the north
part of the State. At that time the nursery of William Coxe, Esq.,
Burlington, New Jersey, seemed the nearest from which to obtain
trees ; and therefore from thence came hiost of the first plantations
of good fruits. Later, the nurseries of Prince, Kenrick, and Buel,
supplied our northern pioneers; and from these, with the libenil
hand which always characterizes a fruit culturist, a lover of the Cre-
ator's best gifts, grafts were distributed freely to whoever would.
As early as 1796 or 1797, Israel Putnam introduced and propa
gated many of the older and best eastern varieties on the borders
of the Ohio river, and there cultivated both trees and fruits, from
whence most of the older orchards of southern Ohio, and probably
Indiana, were procured. Gov. Worthington, at an early day, 1803,
or previous, introduced many fine varieties of fruits into central Ohio.
In 1820, Prof Kirtland imported, from New Jersey to Trumbull
County, Ohio, some two hundred sorts of the best fruits then
known; and in 1827, or '28 Geo. Hoadley, Esq., sent about one
hundred kinds to Cleveland. Alfred Kelly also introduced many
fine eastern varieties; and, as before mentioned, grafts from all
these were liberally distributed, followed by additional introductions
of new varieties, in succeeding years. Add to these, that nearly every
pioneer brought with him seeds of the best fruits known in the vicinity
of his former residence East, which he planted and grew with care, and
we have the heads of the principal introduction of varieties up to
about 1832. Since that period, not only have importations of
extended varieties been largely made and planted from eastern nur-
series, but the nurseries of trees grown for sale have so multiplied
in the whole West, that millions of trees are now annually grown
and planted.
For the history that follows, relating to Illinois and Wisconsin, we
are indebted to the zeal, enthusiasm, and courtesy of Doctor J. A.
Kennicott :
" The Grove, Northfield. Cook Co., Illinois,
October, 4, 1853.
'' The first permanent settlements in Illinois were made by the
French about 1682, in aind about Kaskaskia and Cahokia ; ahd it is
said, that ' the first generation of' fruit trees, there planted, had done
good service, and gone the way of all the living,' long before the ad-
vent of the present race who people ' Lower Egypt.' The Rev. John
M. Peck (whom I quote from memory) affirms, that he ate most
luscious fruits, some twenty or thirty years ago, the product of the
second generation of these old French trees, even then of almost
forest size.
From many sources I gather the fact, that among these old trees
were, and still are, perhaps, individuals producing very desirable
)S INTRODUCTORY EEMARKS.
fruit ; all, doubtless, of mature growth, though some may have been
brought from Canada, whence the seeds very evidently came, in their
route from the old world.
From this you perceive, that Illinois is one of the oldest fruit-
grmving states ; and it is very certain, that our seedling trees gener-
ally yield better fruit than the mass of chance varieties in the East ;
though, good sooth, I have been unable to trace any of our cele-
brated varieties in cultivation, to those glorious old trees, so graph-
ically described by the Rev, Mr. Peck ; and yet, I am by no
means certain, that some of our most valuable local varieties did not
originate in that classic fruit-land of Southern Illinois.
It is very probable, also, that, in Central and Northern Illinois
tliore may now be native varieties, surpassing in value a large ma-
jority of the sorts named in the books, for local cultivation, at least.
Analogy would lead to such a conclusion ; for, as a general rule here,
of fifty seedling trees, in almost any orchard, at least five will be
found worthy of notice, and worth preserving in their natural state,
though not desirable for propagation.
from personal observation you are already aware, that some fruits
of high repute East, are nearly worthless here; and that others are
wonderfully improved by the peculiarities of our soil and climate. It
is thought, too, that many old fruits have become so changed as to
be no longer easily recognized ; and, as their history has been lost,
and several local synonyms have been used to designate them, much
difriculty and doubt attend our western nomenclature.
Perhaps these difficulties will soon be removed, and the doubts
cleared up, as in Ohio, by the re-fruiting of our celebrated varieties
Enst, from scions obtained here, or by further observation on the
fructification here, under the true names.
Many of our varieties, of the first irees transplanted in western Illin
ois, and southern Wisconsin, were disseminated by tree pedlars from
the region of the Wabash, in Indiana, and central -eastern Illinois ;
and I am only aware that some of their sorts came from Ohio, and
others from Kentucky, Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina, and
a few, doubtless, from the Eastern States ; though what proportion,
oi" what varieties of those brought us by these tree pedlars, I am un-
able to determine. Very few were sold under eastern names, how
ever, and, now and then, a variety is, doubtless, of native origin.
Among these pedlars' trees, the Red June is decidedly the most
valuable, and the Milam the most abundai\J:.
Here-away, I know the origin of four-fifths of the trees planted out
in the last ten or twelve years, apart from the j^edlars' trees, which
continued to arrive up to three or four years ago. The Buffalo nur-
series and your Cleveland dealers have furnished the most. The
nurseries of Chautauque County sent eome early, and the Rochester
establishments a great many more recently, -uid a few Un or tv-vU e
•advancement of fkuits, etc. 19
years ago. The Flushing nurseries are also represented in our or-
chards, and, quite lately, those of Michigan and Northern Indiana;
and, in fact, there is scarce an eastern establishment which has not
sent trees to the lake region of Illinois and Wisconsin."
Similar to those named, is that of most Western States, in the his-
toric introduction and origin of fruits. Chance seedlings, of value
sufficient to retaining of the original tree, are abundant, while those
meriting a first place are rare. The character of "very good" will
apply to probably one-tenth of the fruit, while that of " best" will
hardly apply to one-thousandth.
Of the value of fruits as food, of their free use and tendency to
health of system and morality of character, much has been written ;
but the following, by Doctor Kennicott, sums up all in few words :
" The free use of ripe fruits not only prevents disease^ but their reg-
ulated enjoyment helps to remove that which already exists. All
ripe fruits are, also, more oi less nutritious. Professsor Salisbury
has clearly demonstrated that the apple is superior to the potato,
in the principles that go to increase the muscle and the brain of man,
and in fattening properties, it is nearly equal, when cooked, for
swine, or fed raw to other domestic animals."
Ripe grapes have cured Epidemic dysentery. Physicians have,
occasionally, advised the use of " cooling acid fruits ;" and the ear-
liest writers have directed the sugary ones, as " figs," for food in con-
valescence. Families, where fruit is most plentiful and good, and
prized as an article of daily food, are most free from disease of all
kinds, and more especially from fevers and "bowel complaints."
Most fruits aid digestion, some directly, some indirectly, and lessen
the desire for alcoholic or stimulating drinks. The juicy ones act as
" diluents," and all as " diuretics ;" the free acids neutralizing, or
rendering soluble the earthy matters in the blood, and carrying them
off rapidly through the natural channels.
CHAPTER II.
OKIGINATUSTG OF VARIETIES — THEIR PROPAGATION, BY
BUDDING, GRAFTING, LAYERS, CUTTINGS, RUNNERS AND
SUCKERS.
"Our garden varieties of fruits are not natural forms. They are
the artificial productions of culture. Seedlings from them have
always a tendency to improve^ but they have also another and a
stronger tendency to return to a natural or wild stated Of this, we
have here a strong evidence, in the production of seedling cherries by
Prof Kirtland, where from several hundred grown from seed
gathered from the same tree, only about one tenth have surpassed,
and two tenths equaled, the parent ; the remainder mostly falling
back toward the original mazzard.
Most of our choicest varieties cultivated, are from seeds of chance
cross-impregnation : few have been the result of artificial skill and
care ; cross breeding and hybridizing are too often confounded, and
while we are constantly in the production of new varieties from
crof<s brecdiny, none are known in fruits from hyhridiziny. Lindley
says : " If the pistils of one species be fertilized by the pollen of an-
other species, which may take place in the same genus, or if two
distinct varieties of the same species be in like manner intermixed,
the seed which results from the operation will be intermediate be-
tween its parents, partaking of the qualities of both. In the first
case, the progeny is hybrid or male ; in the second, it is simply cross-
bred.''^ Although of the same genus, no hybrid has ever yet been
created between the apple and the pear, or the gooseberry and cur-
rant. These cross-bred s, when closely resembling the female
parent, are termed sub-varieties.
This practice of producing new varieties by cross fertilization was
advocated by Thomas Andrew Knight, a distinguished horticulturist
of England : while that of Dr. Van Mons of Belgium, was the re-
production of seedlings from seedlings in succession ; selecting each
time those of the seedlings to procure the seed, which proved the
best n the fruit. At the eighth generation, in growing from the
pear, his seedlings produced fruit at four years old, while at the com-
mencement it required twelve to fifteen years. This he regarded
as the correct course to pursue in the amelioration of varieties ; and,
to this theory, this fruiting at an early stage, according as the parent
is far removed from its original state, may we not attribute much
of the habits of many of our pears ? The Frederic of Wurtemburg,
(20)
PROPAGATION BY BUDDING, GRAFTING ETC. 21
originating by Prof. Van Mons in this way, it is well known pro-
duces its fruit often in the nursery at two years from the bud ; while
the Dix, a seedling from we know not what variety, requires twelve
or fifteen years. This process however, if taken, as by Van Mons,
from the commencement, i.e., a wildling, would require a life-time ;
but our people have all around them seedlings whicTi at an early age
are producing fruit ; if, therefore, seed be taken from the best of
them, and the choicest again selected, it is not probable that^ more
than ten years would elapse to produce something very superior.
On the other hand, the process of Mr. Knight, of producing by
crossing, gives the grower the choice of selecting and growing to
whatever form, size or character he may desire, and this with an
almost absolute certainty of success. This process being fully
described by Thomas in his Fruit Culturist, we extract therefrom :
" A familiar instance of cross-impregnation in plants occurs in the
Indian corn. The pistillate or seed-bearing flowers covering the
young ear, are remotely situated on the plant from the staminate or
fertilizing flowers on the summits, or tassels. Hence, from this re-
mote position, the pollen or fertilizing dust from the summits may
not certainly fall on the ear ; and if different sorts grow near, a mix-
ture will probably result. It is well known to farmers, that if dif-
ferent sorts, as white, yellow, and purple, are planted in the same
field ; or, if common and sweet corn are planted together, each sort
no longer remains distinct, but each ear, the second year, is speckled
with a promiscuous assemblage of white, yellow, and purple, and of
common and sweet corn, of various grades. In fruit trees, the
stamens and pistils are in the same flower, and the chances of acci-
dental mixture from other tree^, become very small, unless aflfected
by insects, which becoming thickly dusted with powder from ^ one
flower, plunge into the recesses of another, and affect a cross-fertiliza-
tion. Where many varieties grow in one garden, in close proximity,
cases of promiscuous intermixture are constantly occurring, which can
be developed only by raising fruit from the seedlings.
In the annexed figure of the pear blossom (fig. 1), the five
central organs a, are the pistils; the
upper extremity of each is the stiff ma. The
surrounding thread-like organs, 6, are the
stamens, surmounted by the anthers. The
anthers are little bags or cases filled with
the pollen or fertilizing dust. When the
flowers open, the anthers burst, and dis-
p. ^ charge the pollen on the stigma, which
^' â– operates on the embryo fruit at its base.
The production of new varieties is greatly facilitated by cross-im
pregnation, or by fertilizing the pistil of one variety Mith the pollen
of another. T'lis wns •performed with great success by Knight.
22 ORIGINATING OF VARIETIES.
Selecting two varieties, while yet early in flower, and before the
anthers had burst and discharged the pollen, he
cut out with a fine pair of scissors all the
stamens, leaving the pistils untouched (fig. 2).
When the stigma became sufficiently mature,
which was indicated by its glutinous surface, he
transferred the pollen of the other sort, on the
. ., point of a camel's-hair pencil. The fruit, thus
yielded, was unchanged ; but its seeds partook
variously of the nature of both parents, and the trees growing from
them bore new and intermediate varieties.
For the success of such experhnents, several precautions are req-
uisite. The flower must be deprived of its stamens before it has
fully expanded, or before the anthers have already burst and
scattered their dust ; the pollen must be procured from a bursting
or fully matured anther, when it will be dry and powdery ; the
stigma must be inoculated as soon as it becomes adhesive or glu-
tinous, otherwise it may be fertilized from another source, and then
the intended pollen cannot possibly take effect. For a stigma once
inoculated, cannot be inoculated again. It is safest, where practi-
cable, to force the trees by artificial heat into flowering a few days
earlier than others, so as to be secure from accidental inoculations
of pollen floating in the air; and to prevent its spread by bees, to
apply a temporary covering of gauze. A want of attention to these
minutiae, has led some experimenters to fancy they had obtained
crosses, when they had only natural seedlings."
Budding. — This mechanical process, in connection with that of
grafting, layers, and cuttings, is performed for the purpose of
increasing the number of trees or plants of any one variety ; and is
performed on stocks of the same or closely allied species. These
&xe, designated under each particular head of Apples, Pears, &c., on
other pages. The process and practice is^also one, which, although
well and truly described in all fruit works and most of the leading
journals, is nevertheless too often attended with so much of failure,
that while we here repeat descri{5tions, we at same time advise
every new beginner to visit the leading nursery-man or successful
amateur groM^er in his immediate neighborhood, and^ learn more in
half a day from practical example than could be told him were one
to write a month. In order to be successful, it is requisite that the
stock on which it is intended to operate should be in a thrifty,
healthy state, not too early or late in the season, but the best time
is usually just when the terminal bud is forming. Various modes
of budding are known and described ; but that most successful, most
rapid, and in common use, is the one termed incorrectly, American
shield budding., described by Forsyth in 1803 — which diflfers from the
'BOPAGATION BY BUDDING, GRAFTING, ETC.
23
Fig 3. Fig. 5. Fig. 4. Fig. 6. Fig. 7.
common shield budding, only in leaving a small piece of wood at base
of the bud inserted, instead of taking all out. An incision is made
lengthwise through the bark of the stock, and a small cut at right
jinsles at the top, the whole somewhat resembling the letter T.,lig. H,
A bud is then taken from a shoot
of the present year's growth, by
shaving off the bark an inch or
an inch and a half in length, wilh
a small part of the wood directly
beneath the bud, fig. 4. The. ed-
ges of the bark, at the incision
in the stock, are then raised a
little, fig. 5, and the bud pushed
downward under the bark, fig. 6. A
bandage of bass-bark, woolen-yarn, or other substance, is then
wrapped around, commencing at\he bottom and passing the bud, re-
turnin<T again and tying just below, covering all but the bud, fig. 7.
The pressure should be just sufficient to keep the inserted portior
closely to the stock, but not such as to bruise or crush the bark, lu
about ten days or two weeks after insertion, the strings will
require to be loosened, and at expiration of three weeks removed
altogether. The ensuing spring, as soon as the buds begin to sweil
strongly, cut off *the stock about six inches above the bud ; and as
the shoot or bud grows, tie it to the piece of stock above its inser-
tion until about midsummer, when it will be time to cut away the
piece of stock above the bud, leaving a sloping cut downward from
the top of insertion of bud. An improper practice with some is to
place the buds in water ; this so saturates them with moisture, that
they have no attractive force left to imbibe the sap of the stock, end
hence often fail to grow. In cutting the shoot containing buds in-
tended to be inserted, the leaf should immediately be cut off to
within half an inch of the bud, otherwise the evaporation will
exhaust and injure its vitality. If buds are wanted to be kept a
number of days, they should be wrapped in damp moss, or wet
cloths ; or if desired to send any distance, the whole wrapped in oiled
silk. In this way they will keep without injury ten days or more.
" Annular bucldlha" h applicable to trees of hard wood, or thkk
or rigid bark, as the walnut and magnolia. A ring
of bark is removed from the stock, and another coj:
responding r-'ng, containing the bud, slit open on^Y>tife
s'.de, is made to fit the denuded space. Fig. 8.
•' Trees whieh have been girdled in winter by mice.
may be preserved by a process similar to annular bud^
ding, by cutting away evenly the gnawed portions,
and applying one or more pieces of bark peeled from
Fig- 8. the branch of another tree, so as to restore the Ci)h-
24 OKIGIXATINvx OF VARIETIES.
nection between the two severed portions. This is done as soon as
the bark will separate ; the same end may, however, be accom-
plished early in spring by cutting away portions of the sap-wood
with the bark, and connecting the two parts by several pieces of a
branch, care being taken that they coincide accurately, as in graft-
ing. The whole,^ in either case, is then covered with wax."
Grafting^ like budding, has numerous modes and forms, all
resolving into the same thing — that of transferring one variety onto
another. The modes most regarded, and in most common prac-
tice, we describe.
Whip or tongue grafting. This is most generally practised when
the stock and scion are nearly of equal size. The whole gist of it
lays in so forming the graft and stock that the two outer surfaces of
albumen, or wood of last year's growth, match one with the other,
or if the stock is too large that they match on one side. See fig. 9.
The tongue is a notch cut in the stock corresponding with one cut
in the graft, and when put together, to serve as support in steady-
ing the graft until the circulation of sap has united it with the stock.
This is practised to a large extent by nursery-men on pieces of
i"Oots, and is then termed " root-grafting."
Splice Grafting is similar to tongue grafting, except that no slit
is made in either stock or graft. See fig. 10.
Crown Grafting is performed in the same manner, only that it
is done on small stocks standing in the ground, at a point near the
upper rootlet or fibre. See fig. 11.
Saddle Grafting. In saddle grafting, the stock is pared obilquely
on both sides, till it becomes an inverted wedge.
It |ij V and the scion is slit up the centre, when its sides
are pared down till they fit the sides of the stock.
See fig. 12. This is the best mode to pursue with
the cherry and other stone fruits.
Side Grafting, as seen in the cut, fig. 9, is per-
formed by cutting a notch or slit of about one inch
long in the side of the stock, paring the outer por-
tion, splitting the graft and paring the inner por-
tion, then inserting it so as to give a union of the
barks and woods — leaving meanwhile the top o.
Fig. 9. the stock to carry on the circulation of sap until the
graft becomes united, when it is to be cut away. This is the best for
,the magnolia and for the hickory, ash, &c. ; and also when scions
may ha've been received late in the spring, or the work of grafting
unavoidably delayed.
PROPAGATION BY BUDDING, GRAFTING, ETC.
25
Fig. 13. Fig. 11. Pig. 12. Fig. 10. .
Cleft Grafting is an easy though clumsy mode, rarely prac-
tised, except on limbs or branches too large tor whip grafting. In
this the scion is cut like a wedge, sloping on both sides. The stock
is split with a grafting chisel or large knife, which is drawn to one side
and holds open the split while the scion is pressed in, so that the albu-
men or inner barks match, when the chisel or wedge is drawn away.
Wrapping or Tying. After the operation of grafting is per-
formed, bass bark, or bass matting, or soft woolen, or cotton yarn,
is then wrapped around to retain them perfl-ctly in their places.
Where small trees or roots are engrafted, and to be planted in nur-
sery-rows, this is all that is neces.sary ; but when grafting is performed
on standard trees, it is best to cover the mattinjr with a wax. made in
the following manner :
Grafting Wax. 4 parts rosin, 3 parts beeswax, 3 parts lard.
This should be well incorporated together, while warm, strips of cot-
ton cloth dipped into it, and when cold, cut to the length and width
required for the size of limbs you are to engraft, will facilitate the
labor, and when this is done, the first tying of bass mat or woolen
string, may be dispensed with.
Grafts which have become dry, may be restored if the moisture is
applied so gradually that its absorption may require several weeks.
In one instance shoots cut early in autumn, and subjected to tho-
rough drying, were restored to perfect freshness by the next spring,
by wrapping them well in moss and burying them in a dry spot of
ground ; and being set, they all grew.
Scions for sending to a distance, are usually packed in damp
moss, saw-dust, or fibrous peat. They may be sent by mail, within a
very small compass, with great safety, by enwrapping them with
oil-silk or thin oil-cloth, drawing it closely round them to include
the moisture, by means of small thread.
9
26
ORIGIXATING OF VARIETIES.
Layers. This is practised in low shriihs and vines, as the quince
and grape. Jt consists in bending down carefally without breaking
a branch, cutting a notch or slit on the under side, and pegging it
securely, so that the centre
will be about four inches
under ground, see fig. 14.
With the grape trailing the
vine on the surface, as shown