We subjoin, from Hooker's excellent Western Fruit-Book, the following—
LIST OF APPLES FOR THE WESTERN STATES.
"The following list," says Hooker, "contains a catalogue of the most popular varieties of apples, recommended by various pomological societies of the United States for the Western states." These varieties can be obtained of all respectable nurserymen. The list may be of use to some cultivators in the different states mentioned. The general qualities of the best of these will be found in our descriptions under the cuts:—
- Baldwin.—Ohio, Missouri, Illinois.
- Roxbury Russet.—Michigan, Ohio, Missouri, Indiana, Illinois.
- Rhode Island Greening.—Michigan, Iowa, Ohio, Missouri, Illinois.
- Swaar.—Ohio, Illinois, Michigan.
- Esopus Spitzenburg.—Missouri, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio.
- Early Harvest.—Virginia, Ohio, Missouri, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Iowa.
- Sweet Bough.—Illinois, Virginia, Missouri, Indiana, Ohio.
- Summer Rose.—Ohio, Missouri, Illinois.
- Fall Pippin.—Michigan, Virginia, Ohio, Missouri, Illinois.
- Belmont.—Michigan, Ohio.
- Golden Sweet.—Missouri.
- Red Astrachan.—Iowa, Ohio, Missouri, Illinois.
- Jonathan.—Ohio, Missouri.
- Early Strawberry.—Ohio.
- Danvers Winter Sweet.—Ohio.
- American Summer Pearmain.—Illinois.
- Maiden Blush.—Ohio, Missouri, Indiana, Illinois.
- Porter.—Ohio, Missouri.
- Gravenstein.—Ohio.
- Vandevere.—Missouri, Indiana, Illinois.
- Yellow Bellflower.—Michigan, Iowa, Virginia, Ohio, Missouri, Illinois.
- Fameuse.—Illinois.
- Newtown Pippin.—Michigan, Iowa, Ohio, Missouri, Indiana, Illinois.
- Rambo.—Michigan, Iowa, Ohio, Missouri, Indiana, Illinois.
- Smokehouse.—Virginia, Indiana.
- Fallawalden.—Ohio.
- Golden Russet.—Ohio, Illinois.
- Wine Sap.—Ohio, Illinois.
- White Bellflower.—Missouri, Illinois.
- Holland Pippin.—Michigan, Missouri, Indiana.
- Raule's Janet.—Iowa, Virginia, Illinois.
- Lady Apple.—Ohio, Missouri.
For the value of these varieties, in the states mentioned, you have the authority of the best pomological societies. The several states are mentioned so frequently, that it will be seen that most of them are adapted to all the states. Attend to acclimation and manure, and guard against insects, and they will all flourish, in all parts of the West and of the Union.
APRICOT.
This is a fruit about half-way between a peach and a plum. The stone is like the plum, and the flesh rather more like the peach. It is esteemed, principally, because it comes earlier in the season than anything else of the kind.
It is used as a dessert-fruit, for preserving, drying, and various purposes in cookery. It does well on plum-stock, and best in good deep, moist loam, manured as the peach and plum. The best varieties produce their like from the seed. Seedlings are more hardy than any grafted trees. Grafts on plums are much better than on the peach. The latter seldom produce good hardy, thrifty trees, although many persist in trying them. The apricot is a favorite tree for espalier training against walls and fences, in small yards, where it bears luxuriantly. It also makes a good handsome standard tree for open cultivation.
It is as much exposed to depredations from curculio as the plum, and must be treated in the same way. Cultivation same as peach. It produces its fruit, like the peach, only on wood of the previous year's growth; hence it must be pruned like the peach. Especially must it be headed in well, to secure the best crop.
Varieties are quite numerous, a few of which only deserve cultivation. Any of the nine following varieties are good:—