158 



The Horticullunist and Journal 



The Riitlei- J'cnr for Cannhit/. 



Specimens of this pear have been canned 

 the past fall by Richardson & Robbins, of 

 Dover, Del., which were obtained from the 

 trees of Mr. Satterthwaite. We judge, from 

 the tests and specimens placed at our disposal, 

 that the pear is a success for this purpose. It 

 cooks all through firmly, does not soften, is 

 white, sweet flavor and large size. It is not 

 as handsome in appearance as the Bartlett 

 when canned, but is more sweet. Neither of 

 them, however, can compare with a canned 

 Lawrence. The test we consider a satisfactory 

 one, and fruit growers may plant the Rutter 

 freely, knowing that it is desirable both for 

 market and canning. The more we can have 

 of such sorts, the greater the value of each 

 variety. 



t'liriftii-s of 1'ears Not Good for Cirnniuij. 



Richardson & Robbins, who have experi- 

 mented considerably in canning, say that the 

 Belle Lucrative, Howell, Beurre Clairgeau, 

 Onondaga, are entirely unsuitable. Thus far 

 only the Bartlett, Lawrence, Duchess, Vicar, 

 Beurre D'Anjou and Rutter are esteemed best. 

 The test for pear for canning is, that it shall 

 not be too soft, either on surface or at core, 

 but must be firm enough to cook all through. 

 Pears with good flavor are of no value if their 

 flesh is too soft, yet pears of good, firm grain, 

 without any Jlavoi, are also equally undesi- 

 rable. 



A Good Pfofectiou Aijiiinst Mice, 



Take common horse shoe tile, set two of 

 them around the tree, so that the edges will 

 meet, wrap them with twine to keep them in 

 place ; let them set close around the body of 

 the tree, sinking the ends slightly into the 

 earth, and the mice are nonplused completely. 

 They can be applied any time, even after snow 

 has fallen. 



p'orti/- Kif/fit I'eovs to tlie liiishi'l. 



J. C. Parsons, of Vineland, N. J., raised, 

 in 1873, from dwarf pear trees, but three 

 years planted, some Duchess pears, forty-eight 

 of which filled a bushel measure, and the av- 

 erage was nineteen ounces each. 



A I'rosjK-roiis I'U'iiit Si-clioii . 



Niagara county, in Western New York, is 

 probably the best apple growing section of the 



United States. Its crops are uniformly relia- 

 ble, and its fruit is of superior quality. Dur- 

 ing the past fall season of 1873, the apples 

 shipped to market amounted to nearly 500,000 

 barrels, for which the farmers received an av- 

 erage of $2.50 to $3 each. 



li'lnvor of (Jnlifornia I'eiirs. 



Some Easter Beurre pears, shipped from 

 California to London, arrived in good condition 

 and were put on exhibition in the shop win- 

 dows of Covent Grarden. They were pro- 

 nounced by connoisseurs, in regard to quality, 

 as decidedly superior to that of either English 

 or French fruit of the same variety, " Easter 

 Beurre.'' The flavor was considered as very 

 fine, and the flesh of a more even and tender 

 texture than that of European grown fruit. 



This opinion is very singular, as the fruit 

 growers of the Atlantic coast States will not 

 admit that the flavor of California or Pacific 

 coast fruits is as fine, sprightly or consistency 

 as juicy as their own. 



As we have tasted fruits on both sides of 

 the Continent, it is fair and honest for us to 

 express the candid judgment that the Califor- 

 nia pears or peaches cannot rival in flavor or 

 color those of Delaware or Central New York. 

 But we make one exception, viz., the Easter 

 Beurrt, which, shipped to New York and 

 eaten in its prime, is far more delicious than 

 the same sort raised on the Atlantic coast. 

 The long season in California develops it 

 finely, but our season is not long enough. 



AUi'hia Qiiinata. 



In England, this is classed as a curious 

 greenhouse climber, and practically it is un- 

 known here to lovers of popular flower garden- 

 ing. 



Recently, a correspondent of The London 

 Garden wrote an enthusiastic description of 

 its great beauty and easy culture in the United 

 States, and it called to mind the propriety of 

 once more directing public attention to it as a 

 desirable favorite for every garden. The 

 plant is as vigorous as an ordinary honey- 

 suckle, starts early and lasts down to the 

 latest frost. " The leaves appear in sets of 

 five, like the horse chestnut, but the leaflets 

 are only about an inch in length. The flowers 



