Apple Stossoms, 343 



The Martha G-rape. 



T?D. Western Horticulturist: — I noticed ia a late issue of your journal, an 

 -L^ inquiry about the Martha Grape, and think I can answer the query to the 

 satisfaction of all. 



It has always been satisfactory with me, and this season it has done even better 

 than usual. Side by side with the Concord, and in fact in the same row, for some 

 were grafted w^ith Martha on the Concord, it bore a fine crop of grapes, while the 

 Concord rotted fully nine-tenths. It was ripe when the Concord was not 'yet fully 

 colored. The bunches get larger as the vines get strong. 



As Mr. Elliot lately said, it is about the most valuable white grape we have, all 

 things considered. Of course it is not equal to Maxatawny in quality, but then it is 

 hardy and reliable, while the latter is not. That we may have a better one .«oon, 

 is very likely, but as yet it is not in our knowledge. The next best white thing 

 coming, is a seedling Taylor in this vicinity, which bids fair to fill the bill of a 

 white wine grape in every way reliable ; the old Taylor not being productive enough 

 as a rule, although with me it bears abundantly. 



My Martha and Taylor brought me 10 cents per lb., while the Concord, scarce as 

 they are, bring but o\ cents, for wine of course. I did not sell any for table use. 



Bluffton, Mo. S. Miller. 



G-rimes G-olden Apple. 



ED. Western Horticulturist : — There appears a question about the hardiness of 

 this apple. As I no doubt planted the first trees of the Grimes in Iowa, it may 

 be presumed that I should know something about its hardiness. I planted my first 

 trees in 1850. They were not injured by the winter of 1855 and 1856, while some 

 other kinds near them were badly damaged. Last winter did injure my old trees 

 some, in common with others. 



Four years ago I planted one hundred each of Grimes and Ben Davis. A few 

 trees of each were killed last winter, the main cause of which I think was fall 

 drouth. The balance are flourishing. I think the Grimes as hardy as any variety 

 I have tested. 



I got my first Grimes Golden cions from Samuel Wood, of Jefferson county, Ohio. 



Afterwards I went to Thomas Grimes in Brook county, Va., and cut cions from off 



the original tree. 



Vince7i7ies, Lee Co., loica. . Johnson Meek. 



*^ 



Apple Blossoms. — There is a peculiarity in the flowers of apple trees which I 

 have not heard mentioned by observers or noticed in books. Each flower bud almost 

 invariably produces a cluster of six flowers, one of which is a robust flower in the 

 center of the cluster, and this flower is nearly pistillate ; in a circle around this are 

 the five others, which are more feeble and a lighter shade of color than the center 

 one ; these five are nearly staminate, and attached to the side of the little bulb, while 

 the base of the stem of the pistillate flowers in the center, and these five drop off as 

 the center one matures into an apple. This fact is a pleasant one to investigate; 

 perhaps some good may come of the investigation. — Mark W. Stevens in N. Y. Trib. 



