72 The Alton Nutmeg Melon. 



very sweet, juicy, and rich, with some degree of muskiness. Under the 

 influence of a warm and dry season, it is possible that the quahty was 

 somewhat above the average. At the West, where rain was excessive, 

 and the weather generally less favorable, the variety appears to have 

 been deficient in flavor. 



]Mr. O. L. Barler, of Alton, 111., who introduced this melon to pub- 

 lic notice, remarks as follows : — 



" Melon growing with us is a specialty. We have tried all the 

 old varieties of the musk-melon family, and very many of the new. 

 Skillman's Fine Netted and Ward's Nectar are of small size, but very 

 sweet and good for family use. The Long Green Persian, twelve to 

 fifteen inches in length, is a superior fruit, excellent for family use, and 

 good for market. It is our first choice for eating, and our second for 

 the market. 



" The Alton Nutmeg is unquestionably the best shipping melon that 

 has come to our knowledge. The past season has been severe on the 

 crop, and something has been lost in quality ; but the yield has been 

 abundant, and the market good. One grower, who had under cultiva- 

 tion from twelve to fifteen acres, forwarded by a single shipment one 

 hundred and twenty-seven crates, including three hundred dozen. We 

 ai-e still (September 24) sending these melons to market, and they com- 

 mand the highest price. Two years ago we shipped melons till Octo- 

 ber 2ist ; last year, till the 6th of the same month." 



Mr. Barler describes the fruit as being round, regularly ribbed, and 

 measuring from six to nine inches in diameter. Compared with this, 

 our specimen was smaller, more elongated, and less distinctly ribbed. 



THE WILD-GOOSE PLUM. 



I RECEIVED last evening a box of Wild-Goose plums from Tennessee. 

 They are handsome plums, medium size, though much larger than the old 

 Chickasaw, which they somewhat resemble in color, taste, and general ap- 

 pearance. If we can grow them here in quantity, they will be valuable for 

 the Philadelphia and New- York markets. 



Very respectfully, William Farry. 



CiNNAMINSON, N.J., 7th mo., 8, 1869. 



