DOMESTIC NOTICES. 



195 



Alpine strawberry. The writers give their testi- 

 mony against this variety, and assert that it is no 

 better, if it is not iilentieally the same as the old 

 Alpine. 



There ai)pears to be but little doubt in the 

 minds of all who have possession of this sort, that 

 much of the high reputation which it obtained 

 last season was owing to the circumstances under 

 which the original betl was grown by Mr. Stod- 

 darii. The soil was one of unusual depth and fer- 

 tilit}', and the fruit was, consc((uentlj', extraordi- 

 narily large and abundant. Slill we think all the 

 opinions yet advanced b)' the present growers of 

 tiiis variety are somewhat jiremature. Sui)pose, 

 for example, any new Pine strawberry had been 

 received from England just a year, or perhaps only 

 six months ago, (the time that Stoddarils Seedling 

 has " been out,-') would not those importing it, 

 cultivate till at least the second season, before pro- 

 nouncing on its merits / Certainly we think so; 

 anil we do not know why Stoddard's Alpine sliouUI 

 not be allowed the same time to establish itself, 

 and prove its qualities, before a verdict is pro- 

 nounced against it. 



What is the best Peach ? — We incline to the 

 opinion, that the best peack for this latitude, 

 taking into account all the desirable qualities 

 for standard gaj-den culture, is the George IV. 

 This most excellent sort, though it bears a royal 

 name, is a native of New-York, and is perfectly 

 adapted to this climate. It is large, very handsome, 

 and exceedingly high flavored. The tree is re- 

 markably healthy. But what we look upon as its 

 crowning merit, is its bearing habit. Nearly all 

 our peach trees, in the easy careless culture of our 

 gartlensand orchards, are ruined by excessive over- 

 bearing. Not one person in ten ever thinks it 

 worth his while to thin out the fruit of a peach 

 tree, when that fruit is half grown, and the con- 

 sequence is that the fruit attains only half the size 

 and flavor that it otherwise would, and the tree 

 itself is injuretl by the overcrop. 



Now the Cieorge IV. has the excellent habit of 

 hesLving just enough fruit. That is, it presents the 

 apjiearance when the fruit is half grown, when 

 compared with most other sorts, of only half a 

 crop. But when the fruit is fully grown, every 

 specimen is large, ripens finely, and is of the most 

 delicious flavor, while the quantity at last proves 

 abundant. This renders the tree a regular bearer, 

 and adds greatly to its longevity. 



Among early peaches, we are inclined to be- 

 lieve the true Early York not surpassed, if it is 

 equalled, by any other very early fruit. We allude 

 to the Karly York of our work on Fruits, a variety 

 with serrated leaves, quite distinct from, and, we 

 think, superior to the peach known by this name 

 in New- Jersey. For all localities south as well as 

 north, we now think it decidedly sujierior to the 

 Early Tillotson, a fine fruit, but which is compa- 

 ratively a slow grower, and we find ripens about 

 the same season. 



The fairest and most excellent of the white 

 peaches, is the Snow Peach, which deserves its 

 name, as well as a place in every good garden. — 

 Ed. 



Two NEW SEEDLING PlTTMS FROM MAINE. We 



have been favored with specimens, by express, of 

 two new seedling Plums from Maine, by B. F. 

 NouRSE, Esq., of Bangor. Mr. Nourse has also 

 furnished us with a description of these new fruits, 

 which we here append. Col. Henry Little, of 

 Bangor, has also, we learn, presented specimens at 

 one of the recent weekly exhibitions of the Hor- 

 ticultural Society of Massachusetts. 



Tlie specimens came to us in very good order. 



The McLaughlin, we should consider a very ex- 

 cellent fruit — perhaps a fruit of the first rank. It 

 is not unlike in form to the Purple Gage, and has 

 a rich high flavor. The Penobscot we think, so 

 far as we could judge from the specimens we re- 

 ceived, is only a second rate fruit, though large 

 and handsome. It resembles in appearance Princes 

 Yellow Gage, but it is a clingstone. We give an 

 outline of the McLaughlin, taken from the fruit. 

 No doubt both these varieties will be valuable for 

 their great hardiness in all northern localities. The 

 following are Mr. Nourse's descriptions. — Ed. 



Fig. 51. The McLatighlin. Plum. 



The McLaughlin P/«;n was raised by James Mc- 

 Laughlin, Esq., of Bangor, Maine, and first fruited 

 about three or four years ago; since when the ori- 

 ginal tree has been a regular anil good bearer. 

 Grown in light sandy loam, it remains to be seen 

 if it will improve or deteriorate in heavier soil. 



The tree is of rapid growth, making stout vigo- 

 rous shoots of four to six feet in a season. Top is 

 round, low, spreading, anil, as its grower says, "it 

 makes a regular apple-tree top."' T-eaves long, 

 broad and glossy. Bark smootli and clean — and on 

 the new shoots dark. 



Fruit above medium size, nearly round, but flat- 

 tened at either end more than any plum described 

 in your "Fruits and Fruit Trees," being of greater 

 breadth ttian length. Suture obscure. Stalk about 

 three-fourths of an inch long, inserted in a small 

 cavity, [without depression — Ed.] Skin thin and 

 tender, (russet) yellow, sprinkled with a red tinge 

 which deepens to a purplish hue aro'.'nd the stalk. 



