356 



NEW OR RARE FRUITS. 



These things have no good tendency ; on 

 the contrary, they are only productive of 

 evil. 



Experimental hybridization is best con- 

 ducted on a limited scale. One case of 

 cross-breeding, carefully wrought out, on 

 correct principles, is more pregnant with 

 really useful and valuable consequences 

 than a thousand promiscuous ones, or a 

 hundred carelessly prosecuted, while, of 

 course, the labor and trouble attending the 

 experiments, becomes lessened in propor- 

 tion. 



Thus reasons an able writer. We have 

 italicised a few remarks to give them force, 

 and somewhat altered the phraseology of a 

 line or two. What has been done for the 

 small fruits, and what may be done by our 

 gardeners and amateurs, time will show; 

 and, it will also show, that a large majority 

 of the so called magnificent and incompara- 

 bly superior varieties — so styled by the au- 

 thors of their origin — are not worth grow- 

 ing. 



Wm. W. Valk, m. d. 



Flushing, L. I., December 30, 1847. 



NEW OR RARE FRUITS. 



I. THE MELON APPLE. 



Among all the new dessert ap- 

 ples that have been originated 

 in this country, within the last 

 few years, and the number is 

 not small, we consider two va- 

 rieties, which have been intro- 

 duced to public notice from Ro- 

 chester, N.Y., as especially de- 

 serving the attention of all cul- 

 tivators. The first of these is 

 the Northern Spy, with which 

 our readers are already famil- 

 iar ; the second is the Melon. 

 Both have added to usual good 

 qualities, one characteristic ex- 

 cellence in great perfection, viz., exceeding 

 freshness of flavor, juiciness, and crispness. 

 The Northern! Spy is universally popular, 

 where it is known, as a late winter, or 

 spring fruit ; and the Melon apple deserves 

 to be held in equally high estimation as 



* This fruit was first noticed by Mr. Barry, in the Cultiva- 

 tor as Norton's Melon. It is also called, by some cultivators, 

 the Watermelon apple ; but the latter name is applied to ano- 

 ther variety. 



Fig. a.— The Melon Apple. 



one of the most delicious and valuable of 

 early winter fruits. 



Specimens of Melon apple were sent us 

 this autumn by Wm. R. Smith, of Mace- 

 don, N. Y., who is familiar with all the 

 finest standard apples grown in this coun- 

 try. In a subsequent letter, Mr. Smith 

 says, in reply to our high commenda- 



