300 Notes and Gleanings. 



Fruit Items from Maryland. — The prospects for fruit in this section of 

 the country are very good indeed. The pear, peach, and other fruits are just 

 budding forth, promising a generous yield of Nature's choicest gifts — good fruits. 



The gooseberry and currant leaves are peeping forth, warning us that spring 

 has fairly opened, bringing with it its never-failing share of labor and vexations 

 to the enthusiastic and thorough culturist. 



The peach and pear buds are very forward, the mild winter giving them an 

 unusually early start ; but the cold snaps since have backened them a little, 

 although almost imperceptibly. It injured some of the earliest and most forward 

 buds, which, I think, is rather an advantage than otherwise, as it lessens the 

 quantity of fruit, and in the same ratio increases the quality ; for an overburdened 

 tree will not produce as fine specimens as one that has set a moderate quantity 

 of buds and matured them all ; and peach growers who marketed their fruit last 

 year can fully testify that it was one of the least profitable peach years that has 

 been known for several or many years, owing to the crowded state of the mar- 

 ket, and, as a matter of course, a general depression in the prices for all grades, 

 even the best paying but poor and hardly adequate returns. 



The apple blossoms indicate a moderate amount of fruit for the coming year, 

 and no doubt will yield a fair return to the careful planter, the one who has given 

 his trees the most attention reaping a reward accordingly. 



No very definite prospective fruit opinion can be given in regard to the grape, as 

 they have not yet grown sufficiently for us to do so knowingly ; yet, from the vig- 

 orous look of the vine, and from the buds beginning to swell with regularity and 

 seeming healthfulness, I should judge that there need be no apprehensions of a 

 scarcity of this really excellent fruit, nor need any fear be entertained that they 

 will not yield bounteously, those which have been properly attended to giving 

 the best returns of crops, and, as a matter of necessity, of cash profits. 



In this state, wherever the grape has been tried, it succeeds admirably well — 

 so well, in fact, that those who have given it a fair, though small trial, are con- 

 tinually increasing the size of the vineyard to their evident profit. 



Tliis country is very well adapted to the growth of this fruit, surpassing the 

 best of the famous grounds in Missouri ; which is rating it high, although a truth- 

 ful comparison. 



All the different sorts of fruits throughout Maryland indicate good crops, and 

 from that to large, the size of the crops depending upon the care, culture, and 

 other important observances. David Z. Evans, Jr. 



"Cecil Fruit and Truck Farm," Chesapeake City, Md., April 4, 1S70. 



Agricultural Societies. — There are said to be eight hundred and nine- 

 teen agricultural societies in Prussia. The books of the United States Agricul- 

 tural Department record the names of more than thirteen hundred agricultural 

 and horticultural societies. 



The Duncan's Falls Blackberry is said to be one of those most deserv- 

 ing of trial among new kinds. It is described by Downing as of upright, vig- 

 orous growth ; fruit large, black, moderately firm, juicy, sweet. 



