DOMESTIC NOTICES. 



199 



Lo's protracted illness, and pressure of city busi- 

 ness. 



Messrs. Thorburn, near Astoria, so often men- 

 tioned by your correspondents, also hold a prominent 

 position. His large specimen plants were all out 

 — two in particular — the Weeping Pine of New 

 Zealand, about 12 feet high, with graceful droop- 

 ing branches, and a large double flowering Pomo- 

 granate, attracted my attention. The houses were 

 undergoing an arrangement for the summer, and, 

 like the Messrs Hoggs, such as were completed 

 bore evident testimony to the fact that an embar- 

 go is not put upon our green-house doors, as some 

 of your correspondents would have it. The deli- 

 cacy and beauty of the Fuchsias and Geraniums 

 , tiien in bloom, would insjiire the most obdurate 

 with a love for their cultivation Gladeolus hir- 

 sutus roseus was also pretty. Verbena, Robin- 

 son's defiance, made a great show ; and a large 

 plant of the Caledonian (U- Scotch Thistle, and 

 double white Canterbury Boils were peculiarly 

 striking. The Dahlias, ofwiiich their young stock 

 seemed inexhaustible, were then promising well. 



Mr. Wholsey's garden, near Astoria, is exten- 

 sive and well kept. The Glass comprises one 

 range divided in seven parts, of which, four are 

 vineries, two pine stores, with a large plant con- 

 servatory in the centre. This latrer was near di- 

 vested of its former occupants, and left a skeleton 

 exposed to the summer sun. The vines bore ev- 

 idence of good management. They were well 

 grown and had excellent crops of fruit in various 

 stages of succession. The Pine Ajiple plants 

 were small and clean, yet they were of a sickly 

 yellowish hue, this, I presume, is chiefly owing to 

 a full exposure to the sunmier's sun, having neith- 

 er canvass nor paint to protect them. 



Mr. E. AVoolsey' place is also neatly kept, 

 but his gardener having denied me the courtesy of 

 showing me through, I can give no particulars 

 of it. 



Mr. Hoyt's, near Astoria, is another of those 

 places to which I would gladly call the attention 

 of those that wish to see good practical business. 

 The specimen plants here are superb. The green- 

 houses were well stocked and full of bloom. The 

 vineries might be looked to, at a fu'ure period, for 

 the effects of special manure. There is one 93 

 feet long by 16 feet wide, but for the convenience 

 of forcing, &c., is divided into two parts, and 

 heated by smoke flues. The width of the border 

 outside is 18 feet, thoroushlj' prepared, 2 feet 9 

 inches deep. The inside border, which runs the 

 width of the house, is also trenched this depth. 

 The outside border is all paved, with a principal 

 drain in front, to carry away any superfluous mois- 

 ture. The gardener kindly informed me that in 

 prejiaiing this border, he used, in addition to 

 stable manure, 50 bushels of bones, chiefly in the 

 outside. The vines were planted twelve months 

 last spring, and were, at the time of my visit, 

 making monstrous growth. There are two other 



vineries, but time did not permit me taking any 

 particular notes on them. The whole establish- 

 ment was in excellent order, and does much credit 

 to the skillful gardener. Fidelius. New 1 ork^ 

 Sept., 1850. 



Notes on Fruits of the Season — Peaks. — 

 The Bloodgood, when at maturity, this season, 

 has proved to be a more valuable fruit with us, 

 thaa in any former year. Still it was not equal to 

 the Madeleine and ripens two weeks later. The 

 Dearborn's Seedling maintains its high character 

 for fine flavor, but it does not surpass the Zoar 

 Beauty, and is one-third less in size. The latter 

 we must place in our list of number ones. The 

 Moyamensing is now mature, and promises to sus- 

 tain its reputation as a valuable fruit. Our mar- 

 kets are at this time supplied with the Windsor or 

 Summer Belle, which, though one of the most 

 saleable of fruits, is worthless and not worthy of 

 cultivation. The same remark is applicable to 

 the English Jargonelle. The Musk Robert or 

 Quince stocks is superior in size, flavor, time of 

 maturing to the same kinds raised on standard 

 trees. Still, it cannot be considered of much 

 value. The Belle of Brussels, in Mr. Elliott's 

 grounds has, this season, equalled its highest re- 

 commendations. With us, it once attained to that 

 standard, but in subsequent years proved so poor 

 that we discarded it. The llostiezer is ripening 

 with us; but its small size will operate unfavora- 

 blj' to it, however valuable its other qualities may 

 prove. The Tyson is decidedlj' the finest flavored 

 pear we have tasted this season. In size, color 

 and form it bears some resemblance to the Zoar 

 Beauty — in flavor it excels; and w-e must place it 

 among the No. ones. 



Apples. — Bevan's Favorite, though a spicy 

 and rather high flavored apple, is too hard and 

 dry in its texture to be considered a first rate ta- 

 ble fruit, yet its fine appearance and durability 

 will always ensure it a ready sale in market. It 

 cooks tolerably tender, though not equal to the 

 Summer Rose and Red Astrachan. A variety is 

 cultivated in this vicinity under the name of Ram- 

 bour Franc and Benoni ; which of the two names 

 is correct is not decided. Its qualities fall far 

 short of those given to the Benoni by Cnlcs & 

 Downing, and it ripens too early to agree with 

 the time named for the maturing of the Rambour 

 Franc, by Coxe. It is not worthy of cultivation. 

 Summer Pearmain, is ripening at this time in a 

 high state of perfection, and is entirely exempt 

 from cracking, which sometimes impairs its value. 

 Early Joe, to our taste, is one of the finest eating 

 apples with which we have ever met. Every or- 

 chard and even a small garden should contain at 

 least one tree for family use. As a market fruit 

 it is of no value. William's Favorite and Red 

 Quarrenden have not attained to their usual iiigh 

 standard this season, owing to the trees being de- 

 nuded of their leaves by red-legged locusts. Os- 



