We give a very good representation of the Norway Spruce, as shown in The Farmer: Mr. Sias, of Rochester, recommends evergreens highly for shelter belts. He gives the following list: 1st, Norway Spruce (Abies) Excelsa); 2d, White Pine (Pinus Strobus); 3d, Red Pine (Pinus Resinosa); 4th, Hemlock Spruce (Tsuga Canadensis); 5th, White Spruce (Abies Alba); 6th, Scotch Pine (Pinus Sylvestris). He says: "We head the list with the Norway Spruce, first, because it is capable of resisting a stronger wind than any of the others, unless it is the white spruce; second, it has more fibrous roots, hence less loss in planting; third, it is a fine looking tree. Josiah Hooper says: Of all the hardy evergreens this appears to be the most suitable for shelter, dense and compact in its growth, hardy to the utmost degree, and vigorous in almost every soil; it is certainly the perfec tion of plants for a screen. We must confess to having nothing that will compare with this invaluable tree for all purposes.' YELLOW TRANSPARENT APPLE. Syn.--Yellow Transparent, White Transparent, Red Duck, Charlottenthaler, Grand Sultan, Russian Transparent. Mr. Gibb, of Abbotsford, thus describes this variety: "No. 334, Yellow Transparent (Skvosnoi joltni). This is now widely known. It is earlier than Early Harvest, and much like it in appearance and quality." Yellow Transparent is one of the seven leading varieties of apples recommended for planting in Wisconsin, by the Horticultural Society of that state. Mr. Wm. Toole speaks of this variety as observed in the orchard of A. G. Tuttle, of Baraboo, in the following glowing terms: "A clear, waxy, white-skinned apple, of good quality, juicy and very early. It is hardy, a constant and enormous bearer." (See vol. xv, p. 455.) Geo. P. Peffer, of Pewaukee, at the late annual meeting of the Wisconsin Horticultural Society, reports that "in his search in different orchards in Wisconsin he finds Duchess and Tetofsky the best preserved varieties, although Alexander and Transparent are found to be all right." Of a dozen or more Russian varieties set in his own orchard he says: "Those that are satisfactory are Yellow Transparent, Long Arcade, Hibernal and Longfield." Says Farm, Stock and Home: "If the efforts to introduce Russian apples into the Northwest had resulted in but this one acquisition, it would amply repay all trouble and expense. It is the best very early apple, pleasanter than the Early Harvest in flavor, ten days at least earlier, better and younger bearer, and much superior, as a keeper, to any early apple. It has that mellow, luscious appearance of the Sweet June, with its minute specks. Undoubtedly it would pay to plant it quite extensively near Minneapolis and St. Paul for the city markets." J. T. Lovett, of New Jersey, says of it: "The earliest of all apples; handsome and good. Of Russian origin, and like all the Russian apples, of ironclad hardiness. It ripens fully ten days in advance of Early Harvest, Primate and other early varieties. Tree a free, upright grower, very prolific, and a remarkably young bearer, frequently producing in the nursery rows the second year from the bud. Fruit growers in New Jersey who have this apple in bearing are realizing immense profits from it." Dr. Hoskins, of Vermont, says: "The tree is a free and symmetri. cal grower, upright when young, but spreading as it becomes older under the loads of fruit. It is a healthy tree, and like most of the Russians, ironclad against cold, enduring forty degrees below zero without injury. It is a heavy bearer annually in rich gardens, but biennially in poorer soils or in sod. The fruit fairly grown, is medium in size, though specimens that would rank as large may often be found on young trees in good soil. In delicate, waxen beauty, the Transparent, when allowed to mature upon the tree, is unequaled among American apples. The fruit is always fair, and its attractive appearance, joined with its very good quality, makes it extremely salable. As an early market apple it has great merits. If gathered just as the seeds begin to color, it bears transportation well, and will keep two weeks or more before showing any signs of deterioration." We are under obligations to Farm, Stock and Home for use of cut of this New Russian apple. |