DOMESTIC NOTICES. 



341 



bad effects of late frosts are well known every- 

 •where, but there are probably few persons who 

 have attributed the failure of a crop, after a great 

 show of blossoms, to copious and long continued 

 rains when the trees are in bloom. Dr. Barratt 

 shows, we think conclusively, that this often hap- 

 pens — and that a failure of the crop of any partic- 

 ular fruit tree maj^ be safely predicted, if the 

 weather is decidedly rainy while the blossoms of 

 that kind of fruit are expanded. 



Our own observations lead us to coincide in this 

 opinion. We well remember that last spring both 

 cherry and plum trees were unusually laden with 

 blossoms, in this neighborhood, and every one sup- 

 posed there would be a large crop. The fruit ap- 

 parently set in abundance, but very soon, being 

 abortive, nine tenths of it dropped from the trees 

 to the great surprise of all who remarked it, there 

 being no frosts, but, on the contrary, continued fine 

 weather after the blossoms had fallen. The cause, 

 as Dr. Barratt states, undoubtedly was the co- 

 pious fall of rain, which, on referring back, we 

 find took place during the greater part of the time 

 when these trees were in bloom. The rain, un- 

 der these circumstances, it is evident, washes away 

 the pollen, and the fruit sets very imperfectly or 

 not at all. 



RoxBURY Rttsset and Putxam Russet. — There 

 has been a good deal of conjecture and inquiry 

 about the identity of these two fruits. A year 

 or two ago the Putnam Russet was confidently 

 claimed as a distinct western seedling. On the 

 authority of Professor Kirtland, of Cleveland, 

 we stated in our work on Fruits, that it had origi- 

 nated at Marietta. But discussion in the western 

 agricultural papers, elicited the fact that beyond a 

 doubt, the grafts of the so-called Putnam Russet 

 were carried to the west from New England, by 

 the Putnam family, whence the fruit obtained the 

 latter title. 



Some cultivators at the west still doubted the 

 identity of these fruits — and we had ourselves 

 doubts of their being the same. 



We have however compared the two, this au- 

 tumn, pretty carefully. Specimens of the " Put- 

 nam Russet" have been obligingly sent us by A. 

 H. Ernst, Esq., of Cincinnati, Mr. Elliott, of 

 Cleveland, and Rev. C. Springer, of Meadow 

 Farm, Ohio. The specimens from the latter gen- 

 tleman were from the Putnam orchard itself. 



The Ro%;bury or Boston Russet is an apple well 

 known here, but to satisfy ourselves, while we 

 were in Boston the past autumn, we gathered 

 specimens from large bearing trees in Roxburj-, 

 and in Dorchester, to compare them with the Put- 

 nam Russet. 



The result is, that we cannot see any distinction 

 between the two fruits, and are bounil to con- 

 sider them identically the same — that is, all the 

 Roxbury Russet. 



The " Putnam Russets," grown on rich soil at the 

 west, are rather larger, and have shorter stalks than 

 the Roxbury Russet usua*lly exhibits here. But we 

 find this apple unusually variable, both in shape 

 and in the length of the stalk. Ordinary speci- 

 mens are rather flat,, with a somewhat slender 



stalk — fine specimens are slightly elongated, with 

 a short thick stalk. We gathered specimens from 

 a Roxbury Russet tree at Dorchester, which in 

 shape, stalk, flavor, &c., appeared to us pre- 

 cisely identical with the "Putnam Russets" we 

 have received from Ohio. 



In the nurseries last summer, we could distin- 

 guish no difference between the leaves, wood, and 

 growth of these two sorts. 



The Austrian Pine, (Pinus Austriaca.) — We 

 have cultivated this foreign Pine for four or five 

 years, and can recommend it strongly for ornamen- 

 tal plantations. It comes, we believe, from Hun- 

 gary. It is perfectly hardy in this climate, and is 

 one of the most rapid growing of all the Pine 

 family. As an ornamental tree, it is exceedingly 

 bold and picturesque — the foliage large, and the 

 shoots striking in their habit of growth. 



The Chester (Pa.) Horticultural Society — 

 The annual address of Dr. Darlington, before this 

 society, which we have upon our table, is a grace- 

 ful and elegant production. This young society 

 has commenced in a very spirited manner, and we 

 have no doubt will really effect much for that part 

 of Pennsylvania where it is located. The first 

 annual exhibition held last September, was re- 

 markable for the number of rare and fine exotics, 

 as well as the variety and excellence shown in its 

 fruit department. 



In the report we notice with some surprise, 

 among a large contribution from Mr. J. Ruttek, 

 the following: — "Cherries preserved in ice, and 

 still (Sept. 11,) fresh, viz: Napoleon, English 

 Morello, Red-sour (Kentish) and Red Hearts!" 

 How were they kept two months and more? There 

 was also "a metallic tree bearing two apples, 

 through which a current of galvanism was made 

 to flow," that attracted much attention and excited 

 a good deal of amusement amongst the young. It 

 was contributed by Rev. Mr. Woodward. 



Apples from Ohio. — We are indebted to A. H. 

 Ernst, of Cincinnati, for quite a collection of 

 Apples, the growth of that neighborhood — which 

 reached us in excellent order. Among them we 

 find Kaighns' Spitzcnbergh, described by Coxe, the 

 specimens of very large size, and good quality. 

 This apple is very indilferent here, and JMr. Han- 

 cock, of Burlington, New Jersey, informs us that 

 in his state, it has become so imperfect as to be 

 abandoned by many cultivators. We are glad to 

 see that, in the west, it has renewed its growth, 

 and taken a new lf>ase. 



" Detroit Jpple.- — The specimens sent us by 

 Mr. Ernst under this name, appear to us to cor- 

 respond in every characteristic with the Mon- 

 strous Belljtower of Coxe. Mr. Ernst informs us 

 that he should coincide in this Oiunion, but that 

 Coxe descrihos the growth of the wood as strong, 

 while he finds it slender. It is undoubtedly an old 

 apple, and a Bellfleur. 



" Newtown Spitzenbergh as wc suppose it here, 

 also extensively cultivated as the Ox-eye." A 

 number of fine specimens were received with the 



