36 Notes and Gleanings. 



]\Ir. Parsons's incidental strictures on the style of horticultural writers are, if 

 possible, even more valuable than what he says on his main subject, and the 

 calmness and force with which they are stated, not less than the source from 

 which they come, one would think must cause them to be respected. 



California Fruit. — I have been informed, by a somewhat extensive grower 

 of fruit in California, that the apple tree flourishes there with a rare degree of 

 health and vigor. The foliage is developed in almost spotless perfection, and 

 one can scarcely realize the amount of growth made in a single season. The 

 fruit also attains a size and degree of external perfection unsurpassed by that 

 from any other State. With regard to quality, however, there is a marked de- 

 gree of inferiority. Nothing of the aroma, and very little of the rich, sprightly 

 flavor, common to the apples of the Middle and Eastern States, is found in those 

 produced in California ; and apples from Oregon, though more or less insipid and 

 flavorless, are uniformly preferred to those of home production. 



One instance related of the extraordinary growth of trees is that of a row 

 about lialf a mile in lengt/i, of the Northern Spy apple, which, in jDoint of 

 growth, vigor, and health, was unexampled ; such as we have no conception of in 

 the older States, and such as, if they could be produced here, v/ould cause people 

 to flock together to see them. In a word, they were absolutely perfect in every 

 point but one. The owner came, year after year, seeking fruit, and finding none. 

 The whole row never produced any fruit at all, and the owner finally gave orders 

 to cut them down. 



Grape-growing in Virginia. — I wish we miglit hear oftener from such men 

 as Mr. Robey about fruit culture in a region which certainly has immense advan- 

 tages over the more northern climates, where grape culture has been most exten- 

 sive ; and I wish we might hear about floriculture, too. No matter if it is but experi- 

 mental tell us all about your successes and failures, too. They are waking up to 

 a knowledge of the adaptation of the soil and climate of Virginia to the vine, and 

 Mr. Robey's article is a most excellent contribution to the assistance of begin- 

 ners there. And if I am not greatly mistaken, there are indications that we shall 

 receive from Virginia before many years such supplies of pears, for quantity and 

 quality, as will make sleepy pomologists (if there are any such) open their eyes 

 pretty wide. 



Poppies and Marigolds. — O, si sic omnia., Mr. Rand. If you would only tell us 

 always of our old friends that we are never weary of hearing about, and that we 

 have seen growing in our gardens ever since we were as tall as the flowers 

 themselves, — if you would only tell us how to get the best seeds, and produce the 

 best plants, and the finest flowers, — we could wilHngly forego all the stove plants 

 that ever were written about. Yet I suppose that if I could afford to raise stove 

 plants I should do it ; and so you must consider those who can, but do not forget 

 that they are few in number comparctl with those who must depend on the hardy 

 garden flowers like poppies and marigolds. It is true that to many — I think to 

 most — the odor of the marigold is disagreeable ; but it is only given off when the 

 plant is bruised, and it must be confessed that one would not wish to cultivate 

 the poppy for its fragrance ; but there is nothing more gorgeous in the flower bed, 

 and nothing richer tlian the velvety brown and gold of the French marigolds. 



