1878. 



AND HORTICULTURIST. 



365- 



fruits of recent introduction — new to us in these 

 parts but old sorts it may be in other sections of 

 the country. Amongst Pears we have had an 

 opportunity to test for the first time the splendid 

 Souvenir du Congres, and it is not saying too 

 much to use the adjective splendid in the super- 

 lative degree when speaking of this fine Pear. 

 The specimens that I saw weighed twelve ounces, 

 which we call large here, but it might not be 

 accounted so in the more southern locality of 

 Philadelphia, or in that paradise of fruit, Cali- 

 fornia, yet good for the Granite State. The 

 fruit is fine grained, the tree is hardy, and we 

 cannot see why this variety is not a great acquisi- 

 tion. I have also noticed the Champion 

 Grape, and I must acknowledge it is rather 

 poor in quality, poorer perhaps than any other 

 of the new varieties, and were it not for its 

 great hardiness and vigorous growth, combined 

 with its extreme earliness. it would be discarded 

 at once ; but the qualities mentioned make it a 

 possibility to raise fruit, although it may be of a 

 poorer quality, even as far north as N'ew Hamp- 

 shire. We have also the Brighton planted, but 

 have not fruited it as yet. Our aim is to get an 

 early Grape that is good; this we must have 

 in order to succeed, for with most of the Grapes 

 that we now have it is almost impossible to ripen 

 them oftener than one year in three. Hence it 

 is better to have a Grape of rather poor quality 

 that will ripen early than to have green Con- 

 cords or Catawbas. Then we say to Grape grow- 

 ers as far north as we are, try the Champion, and 

 Grapes of that class. 



NEW OR RARE FRUITS 

 AND VEGETABLES. 



Moore's Early Grape.— It is said to be 

 earlier and better than Concord and Hartford, 

 and to be one of the twenty-five hundred seed- 

 lings raised by Mr. Moore, of Concord, where 

 also, the Concord originated. 



The Prp:nti.s.s Grape. — We have some 

 buhches of this new variety. The bunches are of 

 medium size, but they have a large number of 

 amber green berries thickly set. These are re- 

 markabl}^ full of juice, and seem grateful to the 

 palate. The chief objection is in the terribly 

 thick skin. More is returned from the mouth 

 than is swallowed. For all this we believe it 

 contains elements of popularity. 



SCRAPS AND QUERIES, 



Late Peach. — From J. Zimmerman, Lan-^ 

 caster, Pa.; on the 16th of October, came to hand 

 some excellent Peaches. They were medium in 

 size, freestone, and of a rich juicy flavor. 



Fine Grapes. — From Mr. Kenders, gardener 

 to E. Beneson, Esq., of Chestnut Hill, we have 

 a bunch of remarkably fine Black Morocco 

 Grapes. It is remarkable as being thoroughly 

 ripened in a cold grapery, which is unusual.. 

 The individual berries were uniform in size, and 

 mostly about three and three-quarter inches- 

 round. It was an instance of excellent skill in 

 treatment, which we are always glad to note. 



Destructive Strawberry Insect. — M. C, 

 Cuyahoga Falls, 0., writes : "I send, to-day, by 

 mail, some Strawberry plants that are damaged 

 by a little white worm tliat feeds on the bark of 

 the roots; also some of the worms. They 

 made their appearance in this neighborhood 

 about five years ago, and are much more numer- 

 ous now. We are under the necessity of setting 

 out a new plantation every year, as we can only 

 raise one crop of fruit before the patch gets 

 ruined. Some varieties seem to be injured" far 

 more than others. The Duncan and Springdale 

 are almost ruined, while the Capt. Jack, "New 

 Dominion and Crescent Seedling are but slightly 

 damaged. I shall be glad if you or any of the 

 readers of the Gardener's Monthly can give 

 us a remedy." 



[The appearances were not familiar to us. 

 Send a few of the insects next 3'ear to Prof. Riley, 

 Washington, D. C] 



Fruit Growing in Pennsylvania. — We 

 quite agree with a correspondent who thinks 

 " the enclosed may be a settler for those who 

 think the apple is not profitable in Pennsyl- 

 vania." 



Charles B. Ott, of Springfield, is an extensive 

 and successful grower of apples for market. He 

 has an orchard of forty acres, of which ten acres 

 are of the Red Astrachan variety, now just ripen- 

 ing and ready for sale. This apple is of a fine 

 red color, quite acid in flavor, and well adapted 

 for cooking and eating. Mr. Ott's trees this sea- 

 son bear a fine crop, and he is actively engaged 

 in sending the product to the neighboring towns, 

 where they are sold without difliculty. The ap- 

 ples are can-ied in w;\gons to Easton. Quaker- 

 town, Bethlehem, Allentown and Catasauqua, 

 and the trouble is to find sufficient transportation 

 at this busy season. The price realized is about 

 SI. 20 per bushel, at which Mr. Ott's apple crop 

 pays him pretty wcill. The soil of that portion 

 of Bucks county is admirably adapted to fruit 

 growing, and the opening of an avenue to mar- 

 ket by the construction of a railroad would add 

 greatly to the value of real estate. 



