NOTES ON SOME DESIRABLE FRUITS. 4'.' 



apple as a dessert fruit. I had no intention of recommending it for mar- 

 ket, although I believe that when it is properly appreciated it will command 

 a ready sale at good prices. For family use no apple of its season equals 

 it. Those who know its value will readily pay an extra price for it. It 

 sometimes cracks and spots, but this undoubtedly comes either from allow- 

 ing the trees to overbear, or from their unthrifty condition. We all know 

 that judicious thinning and good culture are necessary to produce fine fruit. 

 To obtain perfect specimens of the Fameuse, it is highly important to have 

 the tree vigorous, and if the crop is too large, the fruit should be thinned 

 out. If growers find that this sort is more difficult and expensive to raise 

 than others, then a higher price should be demanded for it. No better 

 proof of its widespread popularity could be offered than the fact that in the 

 catalogue of the American Pomological Society, it is recommended for 

 nearly every State in the Union. 



C. E. C. suggests the Gravenstein apple as equally good in quality, growing 

 more uniformly fair, and much more profitable. The Gravenstein is an 

 excellent apple, and 'probably more profitable for market than the Fameuse, 

 but it will not take the place of that apple. The Gravenstein ripens in 

 September and October, when there is an abundance of choice fall fruit. 

 The Fameuse is in perfection from November till the middle o f January, 

 before the best winter apples are ready to eat. The Gravenstein is high 

 flavored, tender and juicy, but rather acid, and is liable to derange the 

 stomach of many persons. The Fameuse, on the contrary, has such a 

 mild, sub-acid flavor that it never disturbs even the weakest stomach. This 

 constitutes its chief value. 



I think the idea which I wished to convey could not be made clearer than 

 by comparing these two apples. Now-a-days a great deal of money is ex- 

 pended on medicines for the cure of indigestion, and I would suggest the 

 daily use of this apple, during its season, as one of the best remedies for this 

 disorder, as well as one of the most valuable means to keep the digestive 

 organs in a healthy condition. I am so convinced of the superior excellence 

 of the fruit that I have no hesitation in recommending its introduction to 

 every garden, no matter how small. In time the public will understand its 

 real value, and then there will be a demand for it. A family which has 

 once enjoyed the fruit, will not be without it. 



[Published in the Country Gentleman.] 



A, Valuable Chinese Peach. 



One of the most remarkable peaches produced in our extensive collection 

 during the past season was the Shanghai. This variety, although known to 

 cultivators for a long time, having been sent to this country from China 

 several years ago, has received very little attention. We have fruited it 

 once or twice under glass, and have been struck with its distinct and attract- 

 ive appearance, but it has never shown itself to such good advantage as it 

 did the past season in the orchard. The young tree producing the fruit was 

 heavily laden, and all the specimens were large to very large, many measur- 

 ing nine and one half inches in circumference and weighing eight ounces. 



In form it is roundish oblong, somewhat irregular, with a deep suture on 

 one side. The skin is of a pale green color, occasionally marked with red 

 next the sun. The flesh is white, red at the stone, to which it clings ; very 



