CRITIQUE ON THE APRIL HORTICULTURIST. 



difference in the breed of folks, as there is in the breed of pigs and chickens, or in the dif- 

 ferent varieties of vegetables. Look at the despotisms of the old world, where men are 

 divided into castes, or from the force of circumstances, obliged to move for generation 

 after generation, in one continued sphere of thought and action, from father to son, inter- 

 minably on, and see how men, under such circumstances, are born and made to differ, al- 

 though of one original stock. Look how particular traits of talent run in different fami- 

 lies for many generations, even in this country; and if, after a while bred out by inter- 

 mixture with blood of a different " gift," the peculiar /acuZft/ will occasionally creep out, 

 and act with its ancient energy and aptness. So in personal appearances and peculiarities. 

 I consider that our " democratic" tendencies are fast infusing the levelling system 

 among us, either up or down, as the case may be; but as we become better physiologists 

 in the animal world, as well as in the vegetable, we shall fully understand it. I am aware 

 that I am travelling somewhat out of the record, but the idea is suggestive, and it will do 

 no harm to direct attention to it, even in these pages. 



The largest Dessert Pear. — Sure enough; and so much the worse. Here is a great, 

 overgrown, coarse, spongy fruit, with not a quarter the virtues in taste of one only half 

 its size, of the same kind. If the " Boston folks," give premiums to such specimens, 

 over the close, compact, well grown medium sized fruits of the same varieties, they cer- 

 tainly do a wrong thing. There is very little merit in such samples as these; for 

 the same averdupois weight of fruit, in double the number of well grown pears of half 

 the bulk of this specimen, is worth twice the money. A well grown Bartlett, weighing 

 ten or twelve ounces, is large enough for any pear, and a Dutches d'Angouleme need not be 

 larger than a pound, for all needful uses, and the development of its best properties. After 

 attaining a full mid-summer size, with fair growth, the best qualities of this fruit are per- 

 fected, and no one should strive for anything beyond. 



Pear Blight in Illinois. — What a patient, indefatigable man. Professor Turner "is! 

 Why, one-quarter of the diflSculties he has to contend with, would wear out the patience 

 of half the modern Jobs in the universe. What with the curculio, the grape-rot and the 

 pear, apple, and quince blight, he must have a time of it! out of all which, I most hearti- 

 ly wish him a safe deliverance. His locality seems to be rife in such evils. 



The whole pear-growing community are under great obligations to Prof T. for his plain 

 and truthful notes on the fire, or sun-blight. His points, no doubt, are well taken — for 

 that locality, if not for others. A specific may possibly be found for this terrible malady; 

 and if investigation will do it, he is the man to ascertain it. The cause of the disease — 

 for disease it is, no doubt — must first be ascertained. That accomplished, one half the 

 battle is won, and a reinedy will not be long in the discovery; but whether of easj' appli- 

 cation, is another question. As in the case of the curculio, it maj' be more expensive in 

 the application than the disease itself; but it will be a consolation, at least, to know that 

 we have a remedy. 



As to the extirpation of the curculio by the frosts killing the fruit, I have my doubts. 

 If there is no fruit to sting, the curculio will live, and propagate his kind elsewhere. I 

 fear they will always be on hand whenever our trees are in bearing. 



Hints on the Culture of Gooseberries. — A straight-forward, sensible article — to any 

 one who grows them. But for all edible purposes, a dozen hills of rhubarb are worth half 

 a hundred gooseberry bushes, when you consider the trouble of pruning the bush and 

 picking its berries. Yet, at the rate Mr. Thompson's bushes bear, and the price at which 

 he sells his fruit, they are an object to the humblest gardener, who is under great 

 tions for this plain and well illustrated communication. 



