2b2 PLAIN AND PLEASANT TALK 



different from the Yellow Bellflower. The Monstrous Bell- 

 flower the only other one Coxe describes is a large 

 autumn fruit, while the Detroit keeps till April ? 



&quot; My work on Fruits has cost me a great deal of labor, 

 but will still contain many imperfections. When it is out 

 of press in about six weeks I promise myself the plea 

 sure of sending it with the copy of each of my previous 

 works for the acceptance of your Horticultural Society. 

 And I then hope to be favored with your criticism. 

 Hoping an early answer to my queries herein, 



&quot; I am sincerely yours, 



&quot; A. J. DOWNING. 



&quot; H. W. BEECHER.&quot; 



We should have said &quot; Monstrous Bellflower &quot; instead of 

 White. 



The Bellflower here mentioned is the White or Green 

 Bellflower of Indiana, the Ohio Favorite of western Ohio 

 about Dayton, etc., the Hollow-cored Pippin of some ; and 

 it has been inquired for, at Mr. Alldredge s nursery, as the 



Cumberland Spice. Mr. A considered, from the 



description given, that the white Bellflower only could 

 have been meant. But from the following description ot 

 Cumberland Spice in Kenrick, from Coxe, I am inclined to 

 think that the true Cumberland Spice may have been 

 inquired for. 



&quot; The tree is very productive ; a fine dessert fruit, large, 

 rather oblong, contracted toward the summit ; the stalk 

 thick and short ; of a pale yellow color, clouded near the 

 base ; the flesh white, tender, and fine. It ripens in 

 autumn, and keeps till winter, and shrivels in its last 

 stages.&quot; 



The fruit was brought to Wayne County, Indiana, by Mr. 

 Brunson. He came from New York to Huron county, 

 Ohio, and thence to Wayne County, Indiana. It is unive* 



