1879.] 



AND HORTICULTURIST. 



149 



affected. This tomato disease, so far as we are 

 aware, has not made its appearance in the 

 United States." But we have seen what we 

 suppose to be tlie same disease in the tomatoes 

 for some years past. So far as one might judge 

 from tlie effects it is the same or very closely 

 allied to the verbena rust, and is possibly some 

 form of Perenospora. 



Tobacco. — The statisticians are reporting a 

 wonderful decrease in the use of tobacco the 

 lust year or two. A Mr. James of Reed's Lan- 

 ding, Minnesota, probabl}^ believing this to 

 result from a decreased supply instead of a dim- 

 inishing consumption, has taken out a patent for 

 a " substitute " asfollows : Spikenard, red clover, 

 hyson, hops, slippery elm bark, tarred rope, 

 pennyroyal, mullein leaves, kinnikiuic, wild 

 cheny bark and ginseng, "as and for the pur- 

 pose specified." 



NEW OR RARE FRUITS. 



Bassett's American Plum. — This native 

 seedling plum which we have already noted as 

 a most abundant bearer, is stated to be much 

 less liable to suffer rot after being " stung" by 

 the curculio than the common garden plum, 

 which, as our readers too well know is "' gone " 

 after the curculio deposits its egg therein. This 

 is one of the best features of the American 

 class of plums, and we are glad to see attention 

 turned to their improvement. 



Highland Beauty Apple. — March 22d, 

 we had samples of this variety in admirable 

 condition; but we still believe that in view of 

 the immense number of varieties of apples 

 known, it is not advisable to disseminate another 

 unless it has some striking peculiarity. This is 

 a small sweet apple, and though good to eat, is 

 not better than others. 



The Marshall Pear. — We are glad to hear 

 from Mr. Foster that there is inquiry for this 

 variety, described sometime since in our maga- 

 zine, as we believe it is one of the most valuable 

 of our native seedlings. 



Miner's Seedling Grapes. — The late T. B. 

 Miner, at the time of his death had about com- 

 pleted some experiments with grapes covering 

 several years before. Out of 1500 seedlings 

 Mrs. Miner has selected twelve which have been 

 named, and will be distributed this Spring. 



Haskell's Grapes. — Mr. George Haskell 

 who has been so successful in raising improved 

 seedling grapes, has decided to put twelve of the 

 best on the market. Mr. Haskell has spent 

 much time and money on his experiments, and 

 it will be a satisfaction to those who wish well 

 to horticultural improvement, should their trial 

 under varied circumstances result in widespread 

 popularity. 



RiCKETTS' Highland Grape. — Most persons 

 know of the famous Ricketts' Seedling Grapes. 

 Unquestionably they are the greatest step for- 

 ward grape improvement has made. It has been 

 a source of trouble to many that improvers have 

 not been paid as well as their labors deserve. 

 Mr. Ricketts has endeavored to get some fittle 

 return by selling the stock of any one seedling 

 a buyer might prefer to one person, leaving to 

 that one person all the profit beyond the adver- 

 tising and propagating expenses that can be 

 made. Messrs. Asher Hance & Sons have in 

 this way purchased the whole stock of the High- 

 land, certainly one of the best of Mr. Ricketts' 

 varieties. We hope that their venture will be a 

 successful one, as if they are encouraged it may 

 induce others to venture on some others of Mr. 

 Ricketts' Seedlings, and thus in some measure 

 bring him the remuneration he so well deserves. 



The Gibbon's Peach.— This is a California 

 seedling, and is regarded there as of much 

 promise. It is thus decribed : 



"The leaves have uniform glands. The fruit 

 is large and oval; the suture runs on one side, 

 and terminates by an acute swollen Doint at the 

 top. The skin is clear yellow, showing a fine 

 dark red cheek when fully exposed ; flesh yellow, 

 melting, juicy and delicious. The fruit ripens 

 about the middle of August." 



SCRAPS AND QUERIES. 



The Le Compte and the Sand Peak.— 

 Mr. Chas. Downing writes : " W. F. H., asks you 

 if the Le Compte and Kieffer's Hybrid are iden- 

 tical ? They are not the same. They are quite 

 distinct. Though the Le Compte is derived 

 from the Sand Pear, its origin is obscure. It is 

 generally believed that the original tree came 

 as the true Chinese Sand Pear, from a New 

 York nursery to Major Le Compte, the well- 

 known botanist of the last generation. It may 

 have been Prince's Flushing nurseries." The 



