EDITOE'S TABLE. 



Horticultural Notes. — The horticultural season in "Western Massachusetts has been prolific 

 bej-ond our anticipations, and consequently of a nature to call for more vigorous action. 



Peaches. — The freezing and thawing of last winter we siipposed, at the time, to be fatal to 

 our Peach buds ; yet, as frequent as these variations of temperature were, they produced no 

 unfavorable effect. Every Peach tree which came under our observation was loaded to its 

 utmost capacity. One farmer in this place, where a dozen j^ears ago planting Peach trees was 

 thought an act of folly, after supplying his family and remembering his neighbors with kind 

 libera'ity, had a surplus of forty bushels for market. At the horticultural exhibition in Septem- 

 ber, the display of this fruit from Central and Southern Berkshire, would, for quality, challenge 

 competition with any section of our country. An individual in Stockbridge exhibited twer.ty- 

 two varieties of Eeedlings, which were all fine, and of which three-fourths were worthy of 

 general cultivation. So there is no mistake but that Western Massachusetts, as rough as her 

 soil and as severe as her climate is, may raise at least a good sujiply of Peaches for her own 

 consumption. 



Pears. — As long as Pears have grown in our country, how many of our population, think ye, 

 have yet to learn what a real delicious, melting Pear is? More than one half, we believe, are yet 

 wholly ignorant of this fact, and will remain so as long as they are satisfied with the crabbed, 

 bitter, puckery things that grow on the old self-planted tree in the corner of the garden ; or 

 are afraid to invest a few shillings for a choice tree, because somebody thinks that nurserymen 

 may palm off a fictitious article. Yet it is a matter of rejoicing that public opinion is improv- 

 ing in the former, and mere confidence is being felt in the latter case. Every fall and spring 

 an increasing number of trees is planted, and each autumn shows the benefits of doing so. The 

 past season, Pears have grown in perfection, and in proportion to the number of trees growing, 

 of liberal quantity. 



Apples, too, have been abundant and very fair; yet the price has in no way diminished, nor 

 will it, probably, whatever number of trees may be set, for half a centwry to come. And when 

 we see a farmer selling $300 worth of apples from a fonr-acre orchard, which has a few months 

 preN'ious given a good crop of grass, we wonder that more attention is not given to orchards. 



The Louise Bonne de Jersey Pear. — We never deemed that this Pear would fail upon the 

 Quince, until we saw your notice in the last Horticulturist.* Our experience with it is limited, 

 to be sure, but we are able to say this in its favor. From a tree planted in 1853, we had the 

 last spring a profusion of blossom, and some two dozen of fruit set. Eleven of these Pears 

 seemed determined to grow. We allowed them to remain on the tree iintil the latter part of 

 June, when in mercy to the tree we removed all but four. These all attained a large size, and 

 were beautiful specimens of the variety. The tree also, made a good growth, and now exhibits 

 a very healthful appearance. The soil is a clay loam on a stiff subsoil The manure was 

 thoroughly decomposed chip and rotten yard manure. 



Injects. — With regard to insects, they have been very sparing in their ravages the past season^ 

 We have heard of no instance where the Peach has suffered at all. The only mischief to the 

 Apple has arisen from the borer ; and the only remedy we know of, is to "cut out" the mischief- 

 maker. With proper care, we believe the insects peculiarly injurious to the three named 

 varieties of fruit may be kept in tolerable subjection. W. Bacon — Uickmond, Mass. 



Apples laid upon Straw. — In June, 1853, I sent to a neighbor a basket of fine IIovci/'s Sfedling 

 and Bishop's Orange Strawberries, thinking to give them a pleasant surprise. The bearer, how- 

 ever, gave me quite as much of one, on his return, when he handed me the basket full of Apples. 

 They were of the Pound Apple of Pennsylvania ; the proper name I believe is Fallen Waldcr, 

 and in better condition I never ate that kind at any season. How those apples were kept was 



* We do not remember having s.iid anytliing about the failure of the Lmiifse Bonne on Quince —we have 

 known it fail. Arc you not mistalceii ? Terhaps you mean Fltmish Beauty. 



