546 



POMOLOGICAL NOTES. 



The foreign grapes of the hardiest kind 

 do not succeed more than one or two sea- 

 sons, while the vines are young, in the 

 open air. After that, the fruits mildew. 



CurcuHo, or Flu?n Weevil. — This insect, 

 last season, destroyed every plum on my 

 farm, except the crop of one tree in my 

 swine lot ; that tree is bending under its 

 load of fruit. / believe that swine and hens 

 will effectually protect a large orchard of 

 plum trees against the attacks of the cur- 

 culio. Persevering shaking off, and pick- 

 ing up of the punctured fruit will do the 

 same, but requires much labor. This spe- 

 cies of curculio breeds in our forests, and 

 even in some succulent plants. In 1835, 

 it was very abundant in Trumbull county, 

 Ohio, though not a plum tree grew in that 

 county in 1834. It seemed to emigrate in 

 '35, from the woods. Instinct directs its 

 movements. It will avoid trees standing 

 in places where its larva or its chrysalis 

 must evidently be destroyed ; and I think 

 this in part accounts for the effect of 

 swine and poultry in interrupting its opera- 

 tions. 



This insect is an epicure, and will usu- 

 ally select the tenderest and best varieties. 

 But if hard-pushed for a supply of fruit, it 

 will also attack the wild plum, the peach 

 and the apple. 



NOTES ON PLXJBIS. 



Cot's Golden Drop. — Has not ripened well 

 here for the last three years ; requires a 

 long season ; have never known it very fine 

 but once. 



Diamond. — Prolific, but coarse, and des- 

 titute of fine flavor. 



Smith's Orleans. — Fine and valuable. 



Pear Tree Blight — p. 322. I doubt whe- 

 ther the 1st or 2d view embraces the cor- 

 rect pathology of " Fire-blight" as it pre- 

 vails here. The disease seems to depend 



on a peculiar state of the atmosphere — a 

 saturated state of vioisticre, as manifested 

 by the hygrometer, and a hot, scalding im- 

 pression of the sun. Insects and frosts may 

 produce a peculiar disease, — the latter oft- 

 en kills apples, pears, and cherries, as de- 

 scribed by Kev. Mr. Beecher ; but our west- 

 ern blight is a morbid, vegetable action, 

 siti generis — contagious, and it may be ex- 

 cited into action by atmospheric vicissitudes. 

 Bold and thorough amputation below the 

 diseased parts, and burning all the limbs 

 thus pruned off, is the only known remedy. 



NOTES ON PEAKS. 



Belle de Bruxelles. — One of the best pears 

 last season ; trees received of Elwanger & 

 Barry. 



Bartlett. — Best of all pears, in my esti- 

 mation, taking all circumstances into con- 

 sideration. 



Jargonelle. — Very popular, but not of 

 much value. 



Julienne. — Insipid with me. 



Madeleine. — Very valuable ; much supe- 

 rior to the Bloodgood in 1846 and '47. 

 [The Bloodgood far superior here, in all 

 seasons. Ed.] 



Beurre Diel. — Has not equalled expec- 

 tations ; flesh coarse and harsh ; soil stiff' 

 clay. [Should be grown on quince stock. 

 Ed.] 



Beurre Van Marum. — Has fruited for 

 four years ; valuable ; the fruit middling ; 

 very productive. 



Dix. — This must be a seedling of the old 

 St. Germain. 



White Doyenne, [St, Michael's or Virga- 

 lieu.] — I have cultivated this variety in Ohio 

 since 1823, a7td have never known it to mani- 

 fest any signs of disease or decay. It is now 

 as healthy, vigorous and productive as it 

 was when I first became acquainted with 

 it in Hartford, Ct., in the year 1812. It is 



