1877.] 



AND HORTICULTURIST. 



147 



It it a native of Boston, Mass., and is there a late 

 Fall apple. After all it is the late season, good 

 keeping Winter apples that are the most profit- 

 able. 



The Alexander Peach. — As vas.ny persons are 

 anxious to know how this early peach is doing 

 in various sections, we append the following, 

 taken from letters handed to us : 



Mr. Chas. Downing says : " The Amsden's June, 

 Honeywell, and Alexander were all worked on 

 the same tree, and though we could see by the 

 leaves they are distinct kinds, ripened together, 

 and if the fruits were all placed on a dish, no 

 one could select one from the other. Early 

 Beatrice is too small. These are the best early 

 peaches of fair size." 



Dr. Watt, of Niagara, Ontario, reports that in 

 that high northern region the Alexander ripened 

 on the 8th of August. 



W, P. Robinson, of Atlanta, Georgia, went to 

 Palmetto, 50 miles, to see it in fruit, and does 

 not regret the journey. 



Peach Culture in the North. — A correspon- 

 dent of the Country Gentleman has been giving 

 some interesting information about fruit culture 

 along the Niagara River, aiid thus speaks of the 

 Peach : " Most of the peach orchards in this 

 region are young and in full vigor. They bore 

 good crops for the past five years in succession. 

 This year, from some unknown cause, there a,re 

 very few. It is estimated that the peach or- 

 chards of the township of Niagara contain 

 40,000 trees, and it is likely to become noted as 

 one of the best peach regions of the State. The 

 best peach region appears to be confined to a 

 breadth of a mile or two along the river. Far- 

 ther inland this crop has not been so successful, 

 until we reach the neighborhood of Lockport. 

 A carriage drive from the Falls to Lewiston 

 showed an improvement in the peach orchards 

 as we thus neared Lake Ontario. 



QUERIES. 



The Fruit Crops in Ohio. — J. P., Dayton, 

 Ohio, writes : — "The Winter lias been very de- 

 structive in this locality, killing peaches, and 

 very materially injuring blossom-buds of Pears." 



Black Fungus in a Grapery.— T. E., Bridge- 

 ton, N. J., writes : — " I wish to ask for informa- 

 tion in regard to a black fungus or mildew that 



attacked the leaves in a cold grapery. Last Sum- 

 mer, after the grapes were a good size, a black 

 fungus appeared on the leaves, sash and some 

 of the grapes. The sash was painted white, and 

 the fungus made them in some places com- 

 pletely black. You will oblige me very much 

 by letting me know what is the cause of it, and 

 what will prevent or remedy it." 



[No one knows what are the peculiar circum- 

 stances which favor the growth of this fungus, but 

 if the stems of the vines are painted with sul- 

 phur and soot before the leaves come, the fun- 

 gus never appears. It is also good against other 

 fungi, and destroys the eggs of many insects. — 

 Ed. G. M.l 



The Blenheim Pippin Apple. — S. M., Paines- 

 ville. Lake Co., 0., writes : — " I feel quite inter- 

 ested in the Blenheim Pippin, described in the 

 January number, but do not know where to find 

 it ; I do not see it advertised in any catalogue. 

 A brief note might direct others who feel as I do 

 about it." 



[The Blenheim Pippin is but little grown in 

 this part of the world. Any one who can send 

 us information that will help our correspondent 

 will receive our thanks. — Ed. G. M.] 



The Pear Blight. — A Wateitown, N. Y., cor- 

 respondent asks, " If fungi are the cause of pear 

 blight, why did they not act as potently when 

 the country was first settled as now ? or must we 

 say it is a new creation — and who will believe 

 that? " It must be remembered that a fungus is 

 a plant, and must have seed, or as we say spores, 

 to start it, quite as much as the Canada thistle. 

 The Canada thistle was not in Canada when 

 Canada was first settled. But we are not on that 

 account forced to believe that the thistle in Can- 

 ada is a new creation. We do not know where 

 the pear fungus is, when " at home," but it is not 

 at all likely that it is a new creation. 



The True Wilson's Albany Seedling Straw- 

 berry. — R. P. H., Erie, Pa., says, that " For 

 several years he had the Albany Seedling true 

 on his place, but it does not bear any more." 

 This is not unusual experience. Sometimes all 

 the pistils abort, and then there is no fruit — why, 

 we do not know. 



Inarching Grapevines.— A. C. L., Madison, 

 Ind., writes : — " For the past fifteen years I have 

 been a careful reader of the 'Horticulturist,'' and 

 ne.ver asked a question. I now ask for some in- 

 formation, that I have in vain sought for else- 



