1877.] 



AND HORTICULTURIST. 



207 



the new potato men. They raised new kinds for 

 us by the hundred — all of them so good — that 

 there was no great use in selecting any one, and 

 then they took to advertising the seed, so that 

 every one could raise his own best variety. Will 

 it soon be thus with the strawberry ? 



By the way, we notice that Mr. Durand adver- 

 tises that he received the " First Premium " at 

 the Centennial Exhibition, but he has been led 

 into error. There were no premiums awarded 

 at the Centennial for strawberries. Mr. Durand's 

 fruit received very high credit, more so, indeed, 

 than any " premium " would give him, but then 

 other strawberry exhibitors received quite as 

 high awards as his — saj^ for instance, his fellow- 

 citizen, J. H. Withington, of South Amboy. 

 There was honor — high honor to manj' — but 

 " first " to none. 



Apples for England. — So late as the 4th of 

 May, the " Indiana," of the American Line of 

 Steamers, from Philadelphia to Liverpool, took 

 out 1,500 barrels of apples. Some of these were 

 of the celebrated Pennsylvania variety, " Smoke 

 House," which is said to be highly appreciated 

 in England. In past times they seem to have 

 known nothing of American apples except "New- 

 town Pippin," and seem to be astonished at the 

 superiority of other kinds. 



The Northern Spy Apple in the West. — It 

 is said that the Northern Spy is fast outrunning 

 all other kinds in popularity in low^a and Michi- 

 gan. It is longer in coming into bearing than 

 most kinds, but generally brings more in market 

 than the others, and this perhaps, may help 

 balance accounts. 



Best Stock for the Early Richmond Cherry. 

 — The Western Farmer says the Early Richmond 

 in Iowa bears most heavily and earlier on its 

 own or Morello stock, but ultimately most fruit 

 on the Mahaleb. This is good rule for Iowa, 

 where the Mazzard does not do well. Wherever 

 the Mazzard thrives, it is by far the best stock 

 for the Early Richmond. 



The Gros Colman Grape.— This variety has 

 never achieved great popularity with American 

 hot-house grape-growers, but we note that in the 

 December reports of Covent Garden (London) 

 Market, it seems to be the general favorite, and 

 to bring higher prices than all the varieties of 

 that season. What say Mr. Huidekoper and our 

 other friends who are interested in experimental 

 vinery culture ? 



Size of Pot-raised Pears. — In England the 

 Dwarf Pear is not uncommon as an orchard- 

 house fruit. Of some remarkable fruit the Lon- 

 don Journal of Horticulture has this to say: — 

 " Mr. Hawkins, gardener, Ewenny Abbey, Bridg- 

 end, Glamorganshire, tells us that he grew last 

 year in pots Pitmaston Duchesse Pears weighing 

 27 ozs., Durandeau 21 ozs., and Doyenne du 

 Comice 17 and 18 ozs., that fruit being of excel- 

 lent flavor. He wishes to know if other garden- 

 ers have obtained fruits as fine or finer." 



Sending Peaches to Ireland. — Mr. J. H. 

 Parnell, of Alabama, who did himself so much 

 credit in the exhibition of the very large peaches 

 of the Early Beatrice variety, at the Centennial 

 last year, has astonished the residents in " Great 

 Britain and Ireland " by sending peaches from 

 Alabama to Ireland in first-rate condition. The 

 Irish Farmer's Gazette says thej'' were in just as 

 good condition as if pulled fresh from the tree. 

 Mr. Parnell brought them in a box, which is 

 thus described : — " The contrivance consisted of 

 a large, square bin or deep wooden chest, strongly 

 put together, and lined with zinc ; within this 

 was another large chest similarly lined, a space 

 of some 8 or 9 inches intervening between the 

 inner and outer chest, which was filled with ice. 

 In the inner chest the peaches were stored, not 

 in separate trays, layers, or anything of the kind, 

 but heaped as you would stow potatoes in a pit ; 

 and there they lay, a rosy and happy looking 

 mass, in the best possible condition." 



Importing Early Vegetables. — We have our 

 " South " to keep us in early vegetables. Eng- 

 land is finding one in Algiers. The Garden 

 says : — " Large quantities of Green Peas are. now 

 being received in Covent Garden from the warm 

 and sheltered parts of France, and also from 

 Algeria, whence they are consigned by way of 

 Paris; and during the past week we have noted 

 gangs of Pea-shellers almost as busily engaged 

 in that work as in the Summer time, when Eng- 

 lish-grown Peas are abundant. It is, too, a no- 

 ticeable fact that the French Peas are far supe- 

 rior to those that come from the warmer climate 

 of Algeria. The succulent Long White Turnip 

 of the Paris market gardens, together with salad 

 vegetables, is also now being sold by auction, 

 daily, in large quantities. French and Channel 

 Islands Asparagus is abundant, and comes packed 

 in flat lath boxes 2 ft. wide, 15 in. deep, and 

 about 3 ft. in length. A few Globe Artichokes 

 and Cardoons come from Marseilles, and now 



