-.^^^^^i 



GUAl'KS AM) OKAl'i: rlJ-TLl;!-:. 



Louise Boiuie de Jersey. — This has fruited on my ground for tLe first time tli is 

 year, and I must confess that I am somewhat disappointed with it. Aithougli it is a 

 good bearer, and the fruit fine in appearance, yet there is an astrinr/ency about its 

 flavor wliieh would destroy its reputation in the estimation of all who know what a 

 good pear is. I hope, however, this is but an accidental circumstance, arising from 

 some peculiarity in the season, and that it '' will be better next time." 



Belle of Brussels. — Fruit large and handsome, but worthless. 



Winter Nelis. — This is an early and good bearer, and the fruit excellent in quality, 

 but it proves a ftiU pear with us. Ripens from the last of October to December. 



I might enlarge these notes by speaking of a number of new varieties which have 

 produced single specimens of fruits, but as these are hardly sufficient to lead to a 

 correct estimate of the character of the fruit, I will defer it till after another year's 

 experience. 



[ We thank our correspondent for his notes, and hope he will continue them from 

 time to time, as he gains information and experience. We are glad to learn that our 

 New York favorites, the Northern Sjyy, Warner, Baldwin, and Greening apples, and 

 Bartlett, Seckel, and White Doyenne pears, sustain their excellence as they go west- 

 ward. We feel confident that the Northern Sjjy will do well in the west and south. 

 The Louise Bonne de Jersey will be all right. It never is a sivcct pear, like a Flemish 

 Beauty or a Belle Lucrative, but vinous, like Broum Bcurre ; and all vinous pears 

 are liable, if mismanaged in any way, to be more or less astringent. — Ed.] 



GRAPES AND GRAPE CULTURE. 



BY A. MESSER, GEXEYA, N. Y. 



It may perhaps be gratifying to some of your readers engaged in grape culture, 

 to have a few words more at the close of the season. The vines in my house 

 did well, and the fruit was in good condition, until about the first of September. The 

 Royal Muscadine were perfectly ripe, and as well flavored as the same variety can be 

 expected to be, under any circumstances. Other varieties were not quite matured. 

 But the rains had fallen quite copiously for several weeks, at short intervals. The 

 border outside was becoming thoroughly soaked ; and a few cold and cloudy days 

 sadly arrested the ripening process. If, from this time, two-thirds of the falling rain 

 could have been carried off without penetrating the earth, the fruit would have con- 

 tinued to improve. But for the want of this precaution, unnecessary in common sea-' 

 sons, it was deficient in color and flavor. I think I have never witnessed such an 

 excess of moisture at this season of the year. From the 15th of September to the 

 1st of November, the soil has not been suflBciently dry to allow us comfortably to dress |j 

 our strawberry beds. 



grapery is designed to be a cold house ; but, on account of the proximity of 



