336 



TEE GARDENER'S MONTHLY 



[^November, 



however, they are more popular than the peach 

 in many instances. Thos. Rivers still pays at- 

 tention to new nectarines. Lord Naj)ier i.s one 

 of his latest. 



roisoNOUS Mushrooms. — "The neighborhood of 

 Agen has," says a correspondent of the Garden, 

 " been placed in a state of consternation by the 

 <lealh of eight members of the same family 

 through eating Mushrooms. This fatal example 

 is a warning for those who persist in the use of 

 Mushrooms of doubtful qualit}'." A nuich larger 

 number of species of Mushrooms are edible than 

 people imagine, but unfortunately few are intel- 

 ligent enough to distinguish them. Our friend, 

 John Haines, assures us that the common large 

 puff ball is wholesome as well as delicious, in the 

 form in which he cooks it. 



Destruction of the Potato Beetle. — The Gar- 

 dener's Monthly Avas the first to recommend the 

 use of Paris green for the destruction of the po- 

 tato beetle, and naturally takes an interest in 

 anything that will be an improvement on it. The 

 following we find in the Boston Journal of Chem- 

 istry, and we shall be glad if any of our corres- 

 pondents will report next year what success they 

 may have with it : — " Good authorities condemn 

 the use of the poisonous Paris green for the de- 

 struction of potato bugs, and suggest carbolate of 

 lime instead. They say that the latter is equally 

 fatal to the bugs, while ft is harmless in other 

 respects. Farmers will do well to give it a trial." 



NEW OR BARE FRUITS. 



Mr. Eicketts' Grapes.— The seedlings of Mr. 

 J. H. Ricketts have been exhibited at many 

 places this season, and always receiving high 

 praise for their fine appearance and delicious 

 flavor. 



The Lady Washington Grape.— By kindness 

 of Mr. J. E. Mitchell, we have on our table a 

 bunch of Mr. Ricketts' new seedling grape, 

 '"Lady Washington." Though it had been 

 several days on the tables of the Permanent 

 Exhibition, it weighed nearly a pound. It is a 

 white grape, with a slight amber tint, and of 

 excellent flavor. 



Marshall Pear.— This fine new American 

 pear originated in Washington county, New 

 York, and is now [1876], being propagated and 

 for sale by P. H, Foster, at the Babylon Nursery. 



And the following is Mr. Foster's description : 

 "Tree moderately vigorous; very productive; fruit 

 rather large ; bell shape ; greenish russet, be- 

 coming yellowish when ripe; thin skin ; flesh 

 white, juicy, buttery; flavor neither sweet nor 

 sour; ten days after the Bartlctt, as good a 

 bearer and better fruit ; smooth; does not crack 

 nor canker; is always much admired while 

 growing and when ripe." 



Some fruit came to hand a few weeks ago, 

 and we can truly say that few pears will excel it 

 in flavor. We regard it as a very valuable ac- 

 quisition, and we say this knowing full well that 

 the list of pears "recommended for culiivation " 

 is already too large. 



Early Dawn Grape. — At the recent annual 

 meeting of the Newbury Bay Horticultural 

 Society the premium for the best seedling grape 

 grown in the open air, worthy of cultivation, 

 and to which no premium has been before 

 awarded, was given to Dr. William A. M. Cul- 

 bert's "Early Dawn." 



Brighton Grape. — Mr. T. T. Southwick, 

 Rochester, N. Y., writes : — " I do not believe I 

 can serve my friends better than to recommend 

 them to try this new grape. The more I see of 

 it the better I am pleased. The growth is almost 

 as strong as Concord, and so far as I can see the 

 foliage is free from all fault. The fruit is, in the 

 highest sense, excellent. Last season I tested it 

 by eating Brighton from one hand and from the 

 other my favorite lona, and it stood this severe 

 test. Both bunch and berry are large, and what 

 is more important, it is among the very first to 

 ripen. Taken all in all I consider this one of 

 my best grapes yet brought out. Allow me to 

 add I have no vines for sale, or any interest 

 whatever in this vine, save as a lover of fine 

 fruit." 



[We have had opportunities of testing this 

 grape this season and can say that in all that 

 refers to the good quality of bunch and berry 

 we can endorse all Mr. Southwick says of it. — 

 Ed. G. M.] 



Freeman's Late Peach. — We have from Col. 

 Freeman, of Alto Pass, Illinois, samples of this 

 beautiful peach, reaching us on the 27th of 

 September. Some measured ten inches in cir- 

 cumference and weighed seven ounces. It is a 

 yellow fleshed freestone, and in quality equal to 

 Crawford's Late. Following that excellent va- 

 riety in order of ripening, it ought to be a very 

 valuable addition to our list. 



