340 



77^6 Hoiiiculturist and Jommal 



Farmers' Cfiib This is another of 



David Thompson's grapes, less in size of 

 bunch than the N. C. Ely. The vines on 

 the grounds of Mr. Tucker of this place, are 

 not yet old enough to say exactly what this 

 v?ill prove to be, yet its flavor is better than 

 the N. C. Ely, berry is greener and more 

 even in their size. 



Most of David Thompson's black seedlings 

 are late, and appear like enlarged Isabellas, 

 as far as I have proven or seen them here ; 

 thus the Ketchum, S. J. Parker and others 

 are but feebly to be commended, so far as 

 proven. The Carpenter is a large, red grape, 

 cannot be grown here unless the vine is taken 

 down off the trellis and covered with earth 

 each winter, a thing we do not do in proving 

 new seedlings — it being my rule to let all 

 vines sent me for proving die, unless they can 

 endure the Ithaca climate, tied on the open 

 air trellis in exposed situations. The Car- 

 penter dies to the surface of the ground every 

 year. 



A gentleman whose name I have forgotten, 

 about forty miles north of Pascagola, Miss., 

 several years ago, sent me by mail a vine, 

 saying it is an early white grape, very sweet, 

 and I wish you to try it. Having no con- 

 fidence in it, I paid but little attention to it. 

 This year it was loaded with not a white, but 

 a red grape, which in flavor and appearance is 

 very similar to, but far better than the Sugar 

 grape of the Shakers, of New Lebanon, near 

 Albany, N. Y., on the stage road to Pittsfield, 

 Mass. The Shaker grape I condemn. This 

 I can commend as a " Sugar grape," very 

 sweet, singular m the "Shaker"' flavor, pro- 

 lific in bearing, with a cleft leaf also similar 

 to the Shaker. Its larger bunch and berry, 

 its sweetness and hardiness at the north are 

 its principal features after its very peculiar 

 flavor. It falls like Hartford from the stem. 

 It is also a Fox grape. 



Such are a few grapes out of the many 

 proven, and which may interest the readers 

 of The Horticulturist. I have tried to 

 speak impartially and truly of them as they 

 appear to me, this season, until the October 

 rains gave us very fine grapes. 



Experience with Pears. 



Hi/ If. Ji. lyicf, I^'fotn jnfj>fr ri'ml before M<ull- 

 soti Ilorticiiltiiritl Socii'tij, Wisconsin. 



Clapp\s Favorite — I have fruited this 

 two years, and consider it a valuable addition 

 to our first-class pears, both for family use 

 and market. It is claimed to be a cross 

 between the Flemish Beauty and Bartlett. 

 It resembles the former very closely in tree 

 and leaf, and appears to be equally hardy 

 with that famed "iron clad" variety. In 

 fruit it resembles the Bartlett somewhat in 

 size and color and here it ripens about ten 

 days earlier. It is a sturdy grower, and ex- 

 ceedingly productive. Its fruit though not 

 very rich is very fine grained and juicy — in 

 quality best ; comes into fruit young, and is 

 so far healthy in foliage and tree. The fruit 

 must be gathered as soon as mature and 

 ripened in the house, like nearly all summer 

 pears. 



Doyenne Boussock — This, though not 

 a new pear, is not as well known as it should 

 be. It is so far the handsomest and healthiest 

 both in wood and foliage of any variety in my 

 collection. It is of sturdy, though not very 

 rapid growth ; gives an abundance of fruit in 

 from eight to ten years as a standard. The 

 fruit is very large and handsome, and of 

 uniform size and quality. Downing says : 

 " Flesh buttery, juicy, melting, sweet, aro- 

 matic and excellent ; very good. I would 

 amend by saying vinous in the place of 

 " sweet " and best in the place of " very good." 

 Tree appears to be perfectly hardy ; a splendid 

 fruit either for family or market. Like the 

 Clapp, Flemish Beauty, Bartlett and some 

 others, it will ripen up in perfection if taken 

 from the tree when the fruit is two-thirds 

 grown. 



Goodale. — A native of Saco, Maine, 

 appears as hardy as a Norway Pine and 

 appears to be in every way desirable. Fruit 

 large, handsome, and of very good quality ; 

 tree a strong, sturdy, leafy-twigged grower. 

 Good ale is good, but Goodale is better for 

 the people of the Northwest. 



3It. Vernon. — I have only had this one 

 season. It resembles the Flemish Beauty 



