366 An Account of some new P^arieties of Fruit. 



We are exceedingly indebted to the kindness of the Messrs. 

 Downing', in sending us the above description of new and 

 valuable fruits, accompanied with fine specimens of the 

 same, which reached us in most excellent preservation. We 

 would scarcely have supposed it possible for fruit, particu- 

 larly plums, to be carried to such a distance without spoiling 

 their beauty and injuring their appearance; but these, when 

 we received the box, were as fresh and sound as they were 

 when taken from the tree. The manner of packing, which 

 will perhaps be interesting to some of our readers to know, 

 who wish to send choice fruits to their friends at a distance, 

 was as follows : Perfectly dry, soft moss was placed in the 

 bottom of a small box, of the size wanted to contain the fruit, 

 to the depth of two inches ; on this the fruit was placed, 

 each plum, peach, or any other variety, wrapped up in a 

 piece of soft paper; on this layer was put one of dry moss, 

 and then a layer of fruit wrapped up as before ; thus pro- 

 ceeding until the box was filled. We have no hesitation in 

 saying, that grapes might be transported in this manner 

 several hundred miles. 



Agreeably to the Messrs. Downing's request, we presented 

 specimens of the muscadine pear and the scarlet gage plums, 

 before the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. 



We also showed them to several other gentlemen who 

 have considerable knowledge in pomology, and who pro- 

 nounced the muscadine pear to be a very valuable variety : 

 for ourselves, we confess we have not tasted a finer kind 

 for the season, as yet, in this vicinity ; and the sorts we 

 have tasted have not been a few, as we have had the pleas- 

 ure of visiting the gardens of several of our most eminent 

 horticulturists, where we had nearly all the specimens 

 worthy of cultivation before us. We have, consequently, 

 appended a figure, which we took from one of the largest and 

 finest of those that were sent us, to the Messrs. Downing's 

 excellent and true description. The form of the pear is very 

 handsome ; the color delicate ; the flavor highly perfumed ; 

 flesh juicy, rich and melting. The scarlet gage plums were 

 also very fine ; but it is so different, as is stated above, from 

 the character of the gages, that we should think it judi- 

 cious to alter the name ; it is evidently worthy of extensive 

 cultivation. Cruger's Seedling was also pronounced by the 

 gentlemen to whom we showed the specimens, a very fine 

 variety ; its flesh is not so rich as the scarlet gage, but its 

 form and appearance is highly striking ; it is an excellent 

 kind for transportation. 



The other varieties with which we were favored, were the 

 violet pedrigon and blue gage plums, and a Capiaumont 

 pear. The violet pedrigon is a fine plum, of rich appear- 



