50 



////•; a A A' I) /■: X /: A'' s .vroxmLv 



[ lu'hniaiy. 



time in the month of Kebruary, when upon open- 

 ing: tlie trunk they were much surprised to see the 

 pears fully ripene(l,and of a beautiful golden color. 

 1 obt allied a few fjrafts from this oriuinal tree, 

 and do not know that any were ^iven to any 

 other jiarty. I have distributed a few of the 

 j:rafts to friends in our city, some of whom have 

 fruited it, and are much pleased with them. 

 Should it prove to be a new or unknown variety I 

 I have thoujiht to give it the name of " Rescue," I 

 presuminii that the original tree has disappeared 

 in the extension of the city of New York, and 

 that it has been rescued from extermination 

 through the few grafts obtained by me. The 

 pear that I have sent is one of the largest that I i 

 have grown, being above the average size. 

 Should the pear come to you in a good condition, i 



I should l>f pli-ased to havt' \(iui' views respect- 

 in<: it. 



I It caiiif to hand early in .lamiary. Il is soinc- 

 thini,' in the way of Heurre Diel,ltutsu|)erior toanv 

 other variety we have met with for many years- 

 It is not known to us, and we can say that as to 

 size, flavor and general appearance it is a truly 

 lirst-class fruit. — Kd. G. M.] 



Burnet Grape,— This Canadian variety is 

 receiving much praise in Xorthern papers. It 

 was originated in Prince Edward County by Mr. 

 Peter C. Dempsc}', one of our most skillful 

 growers. The fruit is large, purplish black, 

 sweet and rich, and ripens earlier than the Con- 

 cord. The vine is vigorous, productive and 

 hardy. 



Forestry. 



COMMUNICA riONS. 



AMERICAN FORESTRY. 



BY AV. 



No doubt many of your numerous readers, 

 who have interests outside of the greenhouse 

 and potting-shed, will be pleased with your 

 department of Forestry. 



This is a branch of industry which has been 

 far too mucli neglected, and yet it is one that 

 requires an extensive range of knowledge, ■vvhich, 

 unfortunately, has not yet, in our country, been 

 brought to bear upon it. An increasing interest 

 is, however, apparent among the people. This 

 is manifestly the case in the Western or prairie 

 States, where, in the horticultural societies, For- 

 estry vies with Pomology in the rank assigned 

 to it. Your prairie farmer soon learns the 

 benefits conferred by groves and shelter belts. 



Your readers may be glad to know that this 

 matter gave rise to a very spirited discussion 

 before the American Nurserymen's Association, 

 at their meeting last June in Chicago. This 

 resulted in the appointment of a large commit- 

 tee, who were charged with the duty of preparing 

 a memorial to Congress, asking that a commis- 

 sion be appointed to visit, study, and report fully 

 upon the forests of Europe. That memorial 

 has been presented to both houses of Congress, 

 and, with a bill providing for its proper execu- 

 tion, referred to the appropriate committees. 



It is earnestly hoped by the memorialists 

 especially since the matter ha,s received the en- 

 dorsement of the Secretary of the Interior, that 

 Congress will soon act in the matter and make a 

 suitable appropriation for the commission. 

 i The several agronomic associations, especially 

 those of the Wqstern States, now holding their 

 annual winter meetings, are warmly endorsing 

 the action of the memorialists, and urging their 

 delegates in Congress to lend the jjroject their 

 hearty support; so that it is hoped that the bill 

 now before Congress may become a law; then, 

 if the President be fortunate in finding a suitable 

 nominee, we may anticipate a good and useful 

 rej)ort, that will convey to the people a vast deal 

 of really valuable and practicable information 

 upon this branch of agriculture that is, as yet, a 

 terra incognita to us. 



SCARCITY OF DOGWOOD. 



BY MISS M..MUMFORD, WASHINGTON, V>. < . 



Since sending you my article on the above, I 

 came across the following in Loudon's Encyclo- 

 pa;dia of Plants : " Rhamnus frangula has dark 

 purple berries. The flowers are particularly grat- 

 ifying to bees. Goats devour the leaves vora- 

 ciously, and sheep will eat them. Charcoal 

 prepared from the wood is used by the makers 

 of gunpow der. The berries of this species, and 

 also of the Cornus, are said to be brought to 

 market and sold for those of the buckthorn ; but 

 they are easily distinguished, the true buckthorn 

 having four seeds, this two, the Cornus one." 



