April 30, 1874. ) 



JOURNAL OP HOBTIOULTDKS AND COTTAGE QABDENEB, 



349 



Figue de Naples, Sftiut Ghislaiu, Soldat Labonreur, and Sum- 

 mer Bell I also find very reliable bearers, with some other 

 good qualities to recommend them to the amateur Pear-culturist. 

 — B. O. CuuTis, Paris, III. 



As the father of Mr. Curtis set out a Pear orchard of 

 175 trees of some fifty varieties in Edgar county iu 1840, now 

 nearly thirty-four years ago (see Keport 111. State Hort. Soc, 

 1869), the above facts are given from a long observation and 

 ey.perience, and are of unusual value. — {Prairie Farmer.) 



THE CHAPEL OAK OP ALLONVILLE. 



We were about acknowledging that we have a " weakness" 

 for remarkable trees, but we altered the word at once to 

 " Btrongness," and we have had our BtroDguess strrngthened 



by an iron gate. Above the ckapel is a small chamber con- 

 taining a bed, reached by a staircase winding round the tree. 

 At certain seasons Divine service is performed in the chapel. 

 The summit of the tree was broken off many years since, and 

 over the cavity is a pointed steeple-like roof, slated, and sur- 

 mounted by a cross. Over the chapel entrance is an inscrip- 

 tion stating that Abby du Detroit, cure of AUonville, constructed 

 it in the year 169(i. On a label over the door of the bed-chamber 

 is its dedication to " Our Lady of Peace." AUonville is about 

 a mile from Yvetot, on the road between Eouen and Havre. 



FEUIT PROSPECTS IN RUTLAND. 

 SoMMEP.-LiKE weather has burst upon us like a hurricane. 

 To-day (April 25th) we had 75' in the shade, and the conse- 



THE CHAPEL OAK OF ALLON'^'ILLE. 



since we have become acquainted with that most useful book, 

 just published, " Wood and its Uses." We shall refer to that 

 again. Our strongness for trees — and that of many of our 

 friends — has brought one and another of us under the shade 

 of a majority of celebrated trees ; we have had a Simpkin 

 tiffen (anqlict', a champaign luncheon) under a Banian tree, 

 the branches of which extended over an acre ; we have gathered 

 leaves from the Upas tree, and yet survive; wo have lodged in 

 the Chestnut of Mount Etna, and eaten its fruit ; we have 

 sat upon a trunk of the loftiest of the world's trees — the 

 Wellingtonia gigantea ; and one of ns, some Easter in years 

 long ago, attended service in the Oak of which we now give a 

 portrait. That Oak, according to M. Du Breuil and Mr. Loudon, 

 is about eight hundred years old. It measures, just above the 

 roots, 35 feet in circumference, and, at between 5 and 6 feet from 

 the ground, 26 feet. A little higher up the trunk extends to a 

 greater size, and at 8 feet it separates into enormous branches, 

 overshadowing a very large extent of ground. The trunk is 

 quite hollow, but the leaves and acorns are abundant. The 

 lower part of the trunk has for many years been employed as 

 a chapel, being paved and wainscoted, and the entrance closed 



quence is that fruit trees of all kinds are rushing into bloom. 

 Pears in orchards and on walls are now a " blaze of beauty," 

 and the prospect of a full crop is most promising. Plums ate 

 remarkable for the great quantity of flowers they are pro- 

 ducing ; on walls dessert varieties are sat, and, we hope, past all 

 danger of frost. Cherries are a sight worth going a journey to 

 see, they are one mass of flowers ; oa walls they are set and 

 swelling fast. Among Apples many of the late-keeping varietie-! 

 are in flower, while the early kinds will not be in flower for a 

 week hence. If the weather prove at all favourable we may 

 expect an abundant crop of this esteemed fruit, as the trees 

 are everywhere showing well. Small fruits of all kinds pro- 

 mise an abundant supply. Strawberries are showing for flower, 

 and are strong and healthy. Apricots were very much cut-uji 

 by the frost on the 11th of March, when the thermometer 

 registered 5°, or 27° of frost. All the flowers which had started 

 to grow were killed, those which bad not commenced to grow 

 were saved, and a moderate crop is left ; those on an east wall 

 have suffered most. Peaches are a moderate crop. The pre- 

 sent mild weather is very favourable for the setting of all kinds 

 of fruit ; therefore, from the present appearance of our gardens 



