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630 EDITOR'S TABLE. 



Nortii-Westkun Convention ok Frvit Growers. — The above mentioned Convention held its 

 third annual so^ion at Chioairo, 111,, from the 4th to 7th last month (October.) Dr. Kknnicott 

 ]»ro^iilod, and it was wi-ll attoixlod. Some fifty contributions of fruit were exhibited, which 

 wore well grown — large in size, very fair, and almost entirel}* free from blemish. I did not 

 cxjioct to find such fine specimens, and if the quality of winter fruits corresponds with the size, 

 then the West and Nortli, with portions of the South, can boast of as good as we grow at Roch- 

 ester and hereabouts. Illinoiis Indiana, Wisconsin, Ohio, Michigan, and New York States, with 

 Iowa territory, were represented by a class of earnest and intelligent men, whose discussions, 

 when published, will be found of value, 



I took particular pains to learn the varieties of apples most esteemed, and quote those in 

 their season : 



F(.iU Apples. — Maidoii's Blush, Fall Wine, Porter, Monarch, Rambo, Jersey Sweeting, Fameuse, 

 Fall ri]ipin, St. Lawrence, IIoss Apple, and Cooper. 



]Vlntcr. — Swaar, Fsopus Spitzonburgh, Rawles' Janet, Jonathan, Baldwin, Newtown Pippin, 

 Vaiulervere, Roxbury llusset, Pomme Grise, Yellow Bellflower, Winter Pearmain, Rhode Island 

 Greening. Talman Sweeting, Belmont, Dominie, Black Detroit. 



Having taken specimens for exchange, I brought some fine apples home with me, which have been 

 universally admired. Specimens of the Northern Spy, grown by Loomis <t Co., of South Bend, 

 Ind., and Mr. Ewixg, of Burlington, Iowa, compare favorably with the fine ones grown in our own 

 region. The Wagener, also shown by Loomis &. Co., was equal to ours in appearance. I have 

 never seen so fine specimens of Rambo, and it being a favorite with me I am to have a quantity 

 for trial : so also of the Rawles' Janet, which is the highly esteemed Ohio apple. Specimens of 

 Goes Golden Drop and Jefferson plums, with nectarine?, and figs were upon the tables, rather out 

 of season, but of large size. Large j>eache3 of several varieties were shown from Iowa, but I did 

 not taste them. 



Being one of the committee on seedling apples I helped to examine over one hundred different 

 specimens, and could not but regret that so few could be called of any value. 



Pears of the Flemish Beauty, Duchesse d' Angouleme, Seckel, White Doyenne, or Virgalieu, and 

 Steven's Genesee, and many foreign kinds were shown. They all appeared well, except some 

 White Doyenne, which were spotted and not as fair as those of Western New York. 



I was well satisfied with my visit to this (to me) new country, and was surprised at the rapidity 

 of its growth. Michigan produces fine fruits in some parts of the State, and at Detroit, at 

 Hubbard <fe Davis's, and also at Mr. Adair's — both nurserymen — we found and ate as good 

 President and Red Cheeked Malocoton peaches as we ever ?aw. The first named is one of the very 

 best fall peaches. At Detroit are the celebrated Pear trees planted by the early French settlers, 

 which have attained a large size. They bear plentifully a tolerably fair and early fruit, shaped 

 much like the White Doyenne ; and some grafted by Mr. Adair produced fine specimens, which 

 carried off the premium at the Michigan State Fair this fall. 



At Mr. A. E. Brush's private garden in Detroit, we were shown the first California grapes 

 grown in Michigan. Mr. Angel, his gardener, was so kind as to allow us to test them, and gave 

 us its history. The vine was planted in a large tub, and grown under glass; and in its appear- 

 ance was much like the Sweet Water in its wood and leaf, but not hardy. Fruit colored like the 

 Catatehcu, growing this season in clusters of a pound or more in weight, not compact, but straggling. 

 It is very sweet, and without flavor very like the Sweet Water. I did wish it could have been a 

 better fruit It is likely from the novelty of the thing to have a " run," and Mr. Adair had 

 secured quite a number of cuttings. 



We went into Mixen A Co.'s grounds, and although their gardener, Mr. Puon, was suffering 

 from the ague, he went to point out their Pear trees, which were looking well of one season's 

 growth. A Vi^^ar of Winkfield tree was showing splendid specimens of that variety. Such 

 Vicars any one would be glad to put into cellars, barreled for winter days or evenings. 



We felt that our friend Baurv ought to have been at Chicago to meet so many who wanted to 

 see the new editor, but I may be allowed to tell him that the Horticulturist stands high with the 

 cultivators of fruit at the West I shall expect to see a large show of fruit at the next Conven 

 tion to be held next year at Boston by the enterprising cultivators of the prairie world. 



