EDITOR'S TABLE. 



Shenk Pear.— The dignified coolness with which you receive the bold assertions of Messrs. 

 T., S., H. <fe Co., is quite refreshing. I am pleased that said company have now boldly asserted 

 that which by implication they had said before, that I am not acquainted with the Pear about 

 which I presumed to give an opinion. It is possible that after an acquaintance of more than ten 

 years with this variety, and a Pomological tour through Lancaster County, (see Report Am. Fom. 

 Soc., 1852,) I may never have "tasted a true specimen in full perfection." How many of the 

 "lovers of the Pear," where the She7ik is known, are familiar with the Barlldt, Ott or Tyson? 

 It is uniformly " very good" in Lancaster, very worthless here. In many localities it will 

 undoubtedly fail. 



In order to correct the correction in your August number, permit me to say there is no such 

 Pear as Shenk's Atigust known in Lancaster Co. There is, it is true, in the garden of Mr. Von- 

 DERSMiTH, (recently so notorious,) whence the Shenk scions sent to Syracuse were obtained, a less 

 desirable Pear called August, scions of which accompanied the Shenk. Whatever may be their 

 relative growth at Syracuse, in Lancaster County and here the Shenk is one of the most vigorous 

 growers. Indeed, among hundreds of varieties not one has grown more vigorously. 



In regard to the note in your last number, permit me to say that my first acquaintance with 

 the Sh^nk Pear was on the ground of Mr. Eshleman, in Lancaster Co. Not being able to trace 

 its history it was temporarily named after him. Subsequently specimens and scions were sent to 

 Dr. Brinckle, who- distributed them under that name. 



"Would it not be well for that Co., who have demonstrated their acute discrimination in Roses, 

 to speak with more becoming modesty about this Pear, of which they certainly have had very 

 limited experience. J. K. Esuleman. — Downington, Pa. 



Dwarf Pears. — "We never saw finer bearing dwarf Pears than the present season on the 

 grounds of Bissell & Hooker and of Ellwanger & Barry, of Rochester, N. Y. The former 

 showed us several Bartletts in a row, six or seven feet in height, bearing a good crop, and appear- 

 ing in every respect as healthy and thrifty as trees of the same variety standing near them, on 

 Pear roots. Two trees of the Louise Bonne c/e /erscy presented a beautiful appearance, both from 

 their tliriftiness and dense crops of handsome fruit. "We never saw fruit trees of any kind more 

 heavily laden — an acre of such would certainly afi'ord a large pecuniary profit. Ellwanger & 

 Barry have lai'ge numbers of fine specimen trees; and although tlie season has been unfa- 

 vorable to some, others were haudi^omely loaded. A small tree of the Tyson, about four feet 

 high, was profusely filled with Pears, and we never saw a more beautiful picture than this grace- 

 ful little tree with its trusses of ruddy cheeked specimens presented. It is to be daguerreotyped. 

 The Beurre Giffard, on the same grounds, afforded specimens, notwithstanding the unusual season, 

 having all the freshness, juiciness, and high flavor which in foi-mer years it has been found to 

 possess. It ripens before the Tyson and Rostiezer, or about the time of Osband's Summer, and, 

 although much inferior in the vigor and beauty of the tree, is certainly decidedly ahead of the 

 latter in the quality of the fruit. This and the Summer Doyenne are the two greatest acquisitions 

 of late years among summer varieties. — Country Gentleman. 



The Xutmeg Tree. — The California Farmer says that at Bird's Valley and Eldorado Canon, 

 this valuable tree is found in its greatest perfection. Trees are found here from eigthteen to 

 twenty-four inches in diameter, and full of the fruit which is contained in a covering like the 

 coating of the English walnut. Before ripe it is soft, and quite stringent, but when mature the 

 cover opens and the nutmeg drops. Tiie berries or nuts ripen at various periods. Upon the 

 same tree may be found ripe and green fruit. The ripe nutmeg is the same form, and is as fully 

 aromatic as this fruit from Sumatra. The foliage is like the pine or the hemlock, each leaf 

 having, however, sharp briars or thorns upon it. The fruit grows in cluslei-s similar to the 

 cherry, and is indeed quite ornamental. This tree can be easily grown and will become an 

 acquisition, and we trust ere long to see it generally cultivated. 



