I885.J 



AND HORTICULTURIST. 



275 



figs. Now, what I want to know is about the dried 

 figs that come from Europe, their names, habits 

 and where to be had. The true fig of commerce 

 is what is needed here, and when introduced pro- 

 perly you will hear of the great strides of fig grow- 

 ing on this coast." 



[We have never understood that it was neces- 

 sary to use any particular variety of fig in drying. 

 The Smyrna fig, the one commonly used for dry- 

 ing in that part of the world, is also to be had in 

 nurseries. It must not be forgotten that no fig 

 will dry properly in its natural condition. In fig- 

 drying countries each fig is dipped in scalding 

 hot lye before it is placed in the sun to dry. This 

 causes the pores to open and the fruit rapidly 

 loses its moisture after this treatment. The lye is 

 made from the ashes of the fig tree, all pruning 

 being carefully saved for that purpose Ed.G.M.] 



R. E. Lee Peach. — These were received from 

 Mr. J. H. Parnell, West Point, Georgia, on the 

 26th of July. It is rather larger than the average 

 of early peaches that come to our table, measuring 

 seven and a half inches round, and eight inches 

 round lengthwise, it being rather oblong in form. 

 In weight it is nearly five ounces, color greenish 

 yellow, with deep rosy blush on the sunny side. 

 Flesh, greenish white with very deep red around 



the sub-clinging stone. It is very juicy and rich, 

 I and excellent in eating qualities. If it does every- 

 where as well as in these Georgia specimens, it 

 must be a very superior variety. 



The Springfield Black Cap Raspberry — 

 " W. F. G.," Springfield, Mass., writes : " I send 

 you by express a sample of our new thornless 

 black raspberry, " Springfield." We claim it is the 

 earliest black cap grown ; is prolific and of extra 

 good quality ; also perfectly hardy and free from 

 disease. The weather here is extremely hot, but I 

 hope they will reach you in good condition. 

 Ripens the last week in June." 



[These reached us in a moist condition from in- 

 cipient fermentation, on the 18th of July, but still 

 with evidences that it might be a desirable variety. 

 —Ed. G. M.] 



The English Gooseberry A letter received 



after our note on the gooseberry went to press, ex- 

 plained that it was an accidental seedling raised 

 at Cat.^wissa, Pa., and that it was sent to show 

 that it was a very abundant bearer, and free from 

 the mildew which is such a foe to most of the En- 

 glish race. This plant has been growing at West 

 Chester four years and has been as clear of mil- 

 dew all that time as the original plant at Cata- 

 wissa. 



Forestry. 



EDITORIAL NOTES. 



Forest Fires of 1885. — This is a sample of 

 what we have seen almost daily in the morning 

 papers ; " Large forest fires are raging at Harvey's 

 Lake, twelve miles from Wilkesbarre. Fifty men 

 are fighting the flames, and it is hoped they will 

 be able to save the cottages in the vicinity." 



In New Jersey alone the damages this year will 

 not be less than ,?i, 000,000. Fifty men clearing 

 out underbrush and dead material from forest 

 land, would render these forests secure and save 

 the miUions annually lost by fire. All we can do 

 is to reiterate these facts. It may some day be 

 somebody's business to get legislation in this 

 direction. 



The Age of Yew Trees. — The Garden has an 

 interesting paper on Yew trees, and their ages. 



One at Fountaine Abbey in Yorkshire, was cer- 

 tainly a large tree of great age when the monastery 

 was founded in 1 132. The trunk of one is now 26 

 feet 6 inches in circumference, 3 feet from the 

 ground. The Tisbury Yew, at Tisbury, Dorset- 

 shire, is 37 feet in circumference. It is now 

 hollow and 37 people have taken breakfast to- 

 gether in the interior. The Arlington is in the 

 churchyard of that village, near Hounslow. It 

 has been 50 or 60 feet high. The Darley Dale 

 Yew, Derbyshire, also in a church yard, at 3 feet 

 from the ground it is 28 feet round. The Mam- 

 hilad Yew, in the churchyard of that name near 

 Ponty pool, at 2 feet 6 inches from the ground is 

 29 feet 4 inches. The Gresford Yew, in that 

 churchyard, near Wrexham, Derbyshire, is 22 feet 

 at the ground, and 29 feet at 5 feet 2 inches, where ' 

 the main branches separate. The Fortingal Yew, 

 in Fortingal churchyard, near Glen Lyon in Perth- 



