38 NATIVE FRUITS. 



Pears. 



Among the New Pears the Hoosic is destined to hold a high place in 

 public estimation. Its size, attractive appearance, fine quality and pro- 

 ductiveness, will soon render it popular among fruit growers 



Frederick Clapp, another fine pear of recent introduction, combines 

 valuable qualities which will make it a general favorite. As it has been 

 pronounced by competent judges superior to Beurre Superfine, we have a 

 right to expect that it will prove to be one of our best native pears. 



Plums. 



Mr. S. D. Willard, of Geneva, says : "A few years since my attention 

 was called to a plum being grown on the Hudson River, styled the Gweii, 

 which I have fruited for the secon'd season, and while the quality can 

 scarcely be regarded as equal to many other varieties, the beautiful bloom 

 which appears upon the fruit as it matures, coupled with its great produc- 

 tiveness, and hardy and fine growing qualities of the tree should, I think, 

 make it a very desirable market sort for this section. The fruit sold at 

 good prices in Philadelphia." 



Peaches. 



This is a prolific subject. Several favorable peach seasons in Western 

 New York have given a fresh impetus to peach culture. While the yellows 

 in some localities is destroying many fine orchards, a large number still re- 

 main in a thrifty condition and yield large crops, to the great satisfaction 

 of those who enjoy this luscious fruit. While great progress has been made 

 in producing early sorts, several choice old kinds are very much neglected. 

 Prominent among these are Brevoort, Druid Hill, Malta and Poole's 

 Large Yellow. Several of Mr. Rivers' productions have proved to be very 

 valuable, but they hardly come within the province of this report. 



Briggs' Red May and Harper's Early, two of the very early sorts, are 

 growing in favor. The first named appears to be less disposed to decay 

 than the other early sorts. Harper's Early has fine flavor. From in- 

 formation received from many cultivators of the peach in different States, 

 I learn that a large number of the new sorts which gave promise of remark- 

 able earliness, failed during the past year to fulfill the expectations which 

 were raised about them. A great many of them opened later than usual 

 and about the same time as Alexander. It is a singular circumstance, and 

 difficult to account for. It will require Another season's trial to determine 

 the value of these sorts. An objection is frequently raised to the very early 

 peaches, as they decay so easily. Those who are cultivating the peach on 

 an extensive scale are experimenting with the very early varieties, in the 

 hope of finding one which is free from this defect. Unfortunately the 

 severity of this winter has been so great that peach trees will have suffered 

 more or less in every section of the country, and it is to be feared that this 

 will delay many important experiments which cultivators had been intend- 

 ing to make. 



Grapes. 



The number of new grapes now in course of propagation and dissemin- 

 ation is very great. Several of the hybrid varieties raised by Mr. Ricketts 

 are being tried in various sections of the country, and reports as to their 



