NEW VARIETIES OF FRUITS. 255 



LADY ELGIN 



is described in Dowuing's Appendix, with the synonym Marengo Siberian, No. 

 4, as follows : 



'•' This beautifnl uew Siberian apple originated on the farm of James Forbes 

 of Ridott township, III. Free, hardy, vigorons, upright, slender branches, very 

 productive, a pleasant dessert fruit, and said to be excellent for canning ; the 

 slight acid or vinous flavor being preferred by some to the rich sweet of the 

 peach. Fruit large for a Siberian, roundish oblate, regular; skin smooth, 

 whitish yellow, nearly covered with bright rich red, a few light and gray dots; 

 stalk medium, slender; cavity calyx closed; basin shallow, corrugated ; flesh 

 white, fine, tender, juicy, mild sub-acid, slightly vinous ; very good. Septem- 

 ber and December." 



SYLYAJSr SWEET 



is another novelty among crabs, ripening in advance of their ordinary season. 

 It w^as originated by Mrs. C. P. Ailing, Sylvan, Richland county, Wisconsin. It 

 is described as vigorous and suited to a northern latitude ; the flesh tender, 

 juicy, sweet. Fruit large for a crab, roundish oblate ; skin smootb, light yel- 

 low, nearly covered Avith bright red. Stem long, slender; cavity medium ; 

 basin small; season last of August and first of September. It is represented 

 as promising to be a valuable variety for cider. 



In his appendix Mr. Downing notices as varieties of recent introduction : 

 Bailey's Crimson Crab, originating with William H. Bailey of Patterson, N. 

 Y. ; McKie's Beauty Siberian, originating with Matthew Mackie, Clyde, N. Y.; 

 and Van Wyck's Siberian, originating with Miss Caroline Van Wyck, Fishkill, 

 Dutchess county, N. Y. 



CHERRIES 



(if we for the present omit blackberries) come next in alphabetical order. 



In this fruit very little progress seems to have been accomplished since the 

 wonderfully prolific results from the experiments of Dr. Jared P. Kirtland, of 

 Cleveland, Ohio, some years since. Indeed, the cultivation of the cherry may 

 be said to have retrograded since the advent of its enemy, the curculio, and 

 more especially since the straAvberry has come into so general cultivation, and 

 has developed so many improved varieties which, in part at least, fill the sea- 

 son of the cherry. 



THE LIE13 



is a new cherry which has recently made its appearance in Iowa, similar to the 

 Early Richmond, but much hardier and sweeter than that variety. This can- 

 not properly be called a new variety, the parent tree having been brought from 

 Germany about twenty-five years since. It is at present said to be in the pos- 

 session of its introducer, Mr. Lieb, at Galena, 111., after whom it is named. 



The Iowa Homestead says the tree is " a botanical curiosity, the twig and 

 bud strongly indicating their origin from the Morello family, while the leaf as 

 strongly resembles those of the Duke family.'' 



