166 



VALUABLE NEW NATIVE FRUITS. 



tic trees and broad meadows to extend, 

 seemingly, to tke horizon ? 



The tradition runs thus : This beautiful 

 valley was a favorite hunting ground of the 

 Indians. In order that they might render 

 it as perfect as possible for this purpose, 

 they were in the habit, every year at the 

 proper season, of lighting fires. These 

 fires swept over the whole surface, and de- 

 stroyed all the lesser forest growth. The 



trees which survived, grew on, larger and 

 larger every year, until at length the whole 

 reached the condition of a great park, as it 

 was transferred to the white man. 



There are many beautiful features in the 

 scenery of the broad state of New-York ; 

 but there is no picture of sylvan or pastoral 

 scenery daguerreotyped in our memory, at 

 once so fair, and so grand, as the meadow 

 park at Geneseo. 



VALUABLE NEW NATIVE FRUITS. 



I. THE BRANDYWINE PEAR. 



For a knowledge of this delicious new 

 American pear, we are indebted to Dr. 

 Elwood Harvey, Chaddsford, Delaware 

 county, Pa., who has sent us an abundant 

 supply of specimens of the fruit, as well as 

 the leaves and wood. 



Among the multitude of new varieties of 

 pears, both of foreign and native origin, 

 which are continually presented to public 

 notice, there are very few that really de- 

 serve general cultivation. When we say, 

 therefore, that not one in fifty is equal to 

 the Brandywine, we at once affirm that this 

 new variety must be placed among the few 

 finest American pears yet known. Although 

 we do not think a satisfactory and final 

 opinion can be passed upon a new pear, 

 without several seasons' experience of its 

 qualities, yet there are certain infallible 

 signs about the Brandywine, which con- 

 vince us that it is a most valuable new 

 standard pear, not surpassed in flavor by 

 any variety of its season. 



The Brandywine ripens in Pennsylvania 

 from the 10th to the last of August, about 

 the same time as the Bartlett. Although 

 it will not compare in beauty with the lat- 

 ter variety, since its colour more nearly 



resembles that of the Brown Beurre ; yet 

 its more juicy flesh, and rich and sprightly 

 flavor, will, we think, nearly compensate 

 for its less brilliant complexion. It keeps 

 well when picked from the tree, without 

 the slightest inclination to rot at the core, 

 (that defect of so many summer pears,) and 

 bears transportation admirably. The fol- 

 lowing is a pomological description of the 

 fruit : 



Fruit of medium size, varying in form in 

 different specimens from Fig. 25 to Fig. 

 26; though Fig. 25 appears to be the ordi- 

 nary form. In all cases, the fruit tapers 

 gradually into the stalk, which is fleshy at 

 the base, and from three-fourths of an inch 

 to an inch and a half long, and rather 

 obliquely set. Skin smooth, dull yellowish 

 green, much marked with russet dots and 

 streaks, and always thickly russetted around 

 the eye. Calyx open, composed of few 

 segments, set in a smooth basin of moderate 

 depth. Flesh white, very melting, full of 

 sweet, rich and refreshing juice, with a 

 flavor like that of the White Doyenne and 

 Marie Louise combined. Core small, much 

 filled up ; seeds few, dark brown, often 

 imperfect. The leaves are rather small, 

 smooth, dark green, slightly serrate. The 



