FRUITS. 139 



selected, will amply suffice for all the wants of 

 private families. For the market-gardener in the vicinity 

 of great cities, a more ample list may be of great use and 

 profit. So, also, the amateur of great fortune may be desi- 

 rous, as a matter of curiosity, of having in his possession 

 every known variety. Yet he will acknowledge, after all, 

 that, if he cannot sell them, seven eighths of the whole 

 number will perish, because better fruits are in eating at 

 the same time. HOAV few apples and pears can be dispos- 

 ed of by a private family during the period when the 

 peaches are in perfection ! The famous Duhamel, the 

 greatest cultivator and writer on fruit-trees in any country 

 or age, after devoting two quarto volumes in describing all 

 the fruits of France known in his day, terminates by giving 

 a list of forty or fifty sorts which would suffice for the lux- 

 ury of any private man. It is our purpose to make a 

 selection, we will not say of the best, for as the tastes of 

 men differ, it would be arrogant to say this, but of what 

 we esteem the best, and which are most generally esteem- 

 ed, adding something of the qualities of each. We shall 

 introduce them in the order of ripening. 



APPLES. Juneting or Jenneting. This is the earliest ap 

 pie of our country, and is very pleasant and valuable for 

 its quality of early ripening. It is fit for apple-sauce on 

 the 20th of June, and for eating early in July. 



Early summer pearmain. This is said to be one of the 

 finest summer apples ; is of a reddish colour, fit for the tabk- 

 and for cooking ; it has the desirable quality of flourishing 

 in light and sandy soils ; ripens the first of August. 



The codling. This is a favourite apple in England for 

 pics and stewing; is fit for this use in August, and lasts till 

 October. 



Siberian crab. This apple is remarkable for its beauty. 

 It makes a beautiful preserve, to be used in winter. One 

 small tree will suffice for a family. It is ripe in Augustj 

 and should be preserved before it becomes mealy. 



Monstrous pippin. This is an enormous apple, of tran- 

 sient duration, but of good flavour. One tree would suffice 

 It is a small bearer, but as a cooking apple it is valuable , 

 ripens in October. 



Pomme d'api, or lady apple. This is a beautiful little 

 apple; a constant bearer; an ornament to the dessert, from 

 November to April. It is pleasant to the taste, but its 

 principal value is its ornament to the table. One tree 

 will suffice. 



