304 



THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY 



[October, 



varieties, with the following general results : 

 Seedlings from the Downing follow the parent 

 so closely that the variations are slight, one only 

 going back to a wild dark fruit, with thorns on 

 the berry. Seedlings from Smith's Improved 

 also, in most instances, are similar to the parent; 

 but a few are colored, and one, a fine round, red 

 berry, seems to promise excellence. Seedlings 

 from Houghton vary somewhat in color, time of 

 ripening, and vigor, but not much improvement 

 in size. 



Seedlings from Mountain are, I think, more 

 interesting and hopeful than the others, because 

 along with the large growth, comparatively 

 thornless shoots, and immense crops, some of 

 the seedlings show larger size, finer quality and 

 earlier period of ripening than the old Moun- 

 tain seedling. I mean to further test some of 

 the more promising ones, hoping that this very 

 cheaply grown fruit may one day be found to 

 reach higher than it now does with those who 

 are critical in their taste, and look for early 

 Gooseberries to be as firm as Delaware Grapes. 



THE TYSON PEAR. 



BY A. C. L., MADISON, IND. 



It seems strange that this delicious Pear should 

 receive so little notice. Mr. Downing and Mr. 

 Field give a mild description of it, without any 

 peculiar qualities to recommend it. In this 

 climate it is only surpassed by the Seckel, and 

 when properly grown fully equals that Pear. It is 

 by far the best early Pear — ripening a month ear- 

 lier than Bartlett or Seckel. The objection to the 

 Tyson is its tardy bearing, but this may be obvi- 

 ated by double working on some strong growing 

 variety, taking care to get scions from a bearing 

 Tyson. It begins to ripen July 15, and con- 

 tinues until last of August. I have specimens of 

 it to-day that measure nine inches in circumfer- 

 ence. 



EDITORIAL NOTES. 



Local Names. — The cut-flower folks have 

 christened the Amaryllis " Cape Bell." In the 

 south the Savin Juniper is called "Cedar." A 

 cultivator down South says for the first few years 

 cultivate your orchard by planting " pindars " 

 among your trees. But what are pindars ? 



Insects in 1880. — This has been a remarkable 

 season. There have been some Curculio, but 

 Plums that have been barren for years, and 



Apricots that no one in many years past has 

 seen a fruit on, have borne freely near Philadel- 

 phia. 



New Southern Peaches. — The following are 

 the names of some of the newer candidates in 

 the southwest: Boggy's Mammoth, Infant Won- 

 der, Steadly, Miss May, Governor Garland, Nel- 

 son Cling, Mitchell's Mammoth, Brice's Early, 

 Ashby's Early, Baker's Early, Hyne's Surprise, 

 Shipley's Late, Austin's Late, Early Lydia, Mrs. 

 Brett, Great Mammoth, Great Western. It is 

 getting hard for an editor to keep up with Peach 

 knowledge. 



Origin of the Ribston Pippin Apple. — Though 

 this is an English Seedling, it is of French des- 

 cent. Seeds were sent from Normandy in a let- 

 ter to Sir Henry Goodrich, in the early part of 

 the last century, and from one of these trees at 

 Ribston Hall, the Ribston Pippin came. 



Family Favorite Peach. — This promising 

 Texas Peach is thus described by Mr. Munson : 



"Family Favorite, seedling of Chinese Cling, but 

 a freestone, two wrecks earlier, of finer color and 

 quality, firmer, not so liable to rot, very large, 

 tree exceedingly vigorous, productive and a much 

 surer bearer than its parent. Originated in Fan- 

 nin Countj', Texas, bj' W. H. Locke ; has fruited 

 five years, will surely become a leading variety." 



Mealy Bug in Hothouse Grapes. — The Jour- 

 nal of Horticulture says : "If vineries are not badly 

 infested, the vines should have all the loose bark 

 removed after pruning, and be well washed with 

 Fir tree oil at the rate of half a pint to three 

 gallons of water, or with Gishurst compound. 

 Paraflftn oil is certain death to the mealy bug, 

 should only be employed by experienced hands 

 upon vines, for it will kill the vines as well as the 

 bug if not judiciously applied. It is good for 

 cleaning the woodwork, but must be diluted 

 with water, and should be applied with a brush. 

 The surface soil, if the border be inside, should 

 be removed and fresh soil supplied. The walls 

 should also be washed with hot lime mixed 

 with paraffin oil. Even if every part of the 

 house and vines is thoroughly cleaned the pest 

 will make its appearance again after the 

 vines have started into growth and the season 

 has advanced. The early spring or summer, 

 according to the time when forcing commences, 

 is when the insects increase. Their destruction 

 can be accomplished when they are first seen 

 creeping upon the vines, which should be exam- 

 ined sedulously and perseveringly. If left until 



