180 



THE MOUNTAIN ASH AS A STOCK FOR PEARS. 



The vinery at Clinton Point is, as our 

 engraving- shows, a span-roofed house, 80 

 feet long, 18 feet wide, and 14 feet high. 

 Mr. Van Rensselaer has deviated from 

 the usual course, in placing it on a north- 

 and-south, instead of an east-and-west line ; 

 and the result shows how wisely, for this 

 climate, as the vines on both sides are 

 equally exposed to the longest influence of 

 the sun, — enjoying it from rising to setting; 

 while at the hottest time of day they are all 

 far less likely to be injured by any excess 

 of heat than vines on the sunny side of a 

 house facing directly south. 



We have, so far, only spoken of the 

 vinery itself ; but, as we are always in- 

 clined to judge of the tree by its fruit, we 

 may add that all that we have said of the 

 merits of the structure, is fully sustained 

 by the extraordinary growth of the vines, 

 and the magnificent grapes which they 

 have produced this season. We have 

 only seen them equalled in one instance, 

 that of G. R. Russell, Esq., of West Rox- 

 bury, whose fruit bore off the palm at the 

 Massachusetts horticultural exhibition last 

 year. 



The vines were only planted a year ago 

 last July, and, of course, have not been al- 

 lowed to bear a full crop this season ; but 



the strong, vigorous, healthy wood with 

 which they have filled the house, and the 

 wonderfully fine clusters of fruit, of the 

 highest flavor, which they have produced, 

 show the advantages of the best structure 

 and the best culture. The border in which 

 they grow affords, indeed, a supply of food 

 which explains, in part, the extraordinary 

 growth of the vines, — since it runs under 

 the whole house, and extends over a wide 

 space all round it, being 80 feet wide and 

 120 feet long, by nearly 3 feet deep, and 

 very thoroughly manured. 



The house contains a very complete col- 

 lection of grapes, obtained from Mr. Buist, 

 of Philadelphia, and we were glad to learn 

 that every vine had proved correct. Be- 

 sides the standard varieties, we noticed 

 Deacon's Superb — perhaps the most beauti- 

 ful of all new white grapes, — the clusters 

 very large, berries oval, and closely set. 

 Reine de Nice, (not ripe when we saw it,) 

 was also laden with large clusters of very 

 handsome fruit. A'eres, another white grape, 

 also attracted our attention by the size and 

 beauty of its clusters ; while some bunches 

 of the Palestine grape, more than 2 feet 

 long, made us comprehend the biblical 

 account of the graphs of the land of Ca- 

 naan. 



THE MOUNTAIN ASH AS A STOCK FOR PEARS. 



BY S. L GOODALE, SACO, ME. 



A. J. Downing, Esq. — Dear Sir: As I 



do not recollect ever to have met with any 

 detail of definite results, from grafting the 

 pear upon the Mountain Ash, I propose to 

 give a sketch of a few experiments which 

 have been partially successful. 



Some years since, having a tree of the 

 common American Mountain Ash which 



might have been planted, originally, as an 

 ornamental tree, but had become stunted, 

 mossy, and anything but ornamental, I 

 thought to cut it down ; but when about to 

 execute the purpose, recollecting that pears 

 had been grown on this stock, I concluded 

 instead, to graft it, and accordingly did 

 so, — inserting scions in every limb. Deem- 



