MARCH. 137 



drought, which I have no doubt will ever keep them from 

 maturing. 



Olives. — So far as the experiment with this South-of- 

 Europe plant has been tried, it seems to give the hope that 

 olive oil may be produced in this country. We have one 

 tree which has been planted out several years and is growing 

 vigorously ; neither the cold of winter nor the heat of sum- 

 mer seems to affect it. 



Figs. — This is the fruit of the South which we are certain 

 of having one crop per annum ; and if the spring is mild, the 

 first crop matures in June, the second or reliable crop in 

 August and September ; as an extra hit of fructification they 

 bear a third crop, but, like the first, seldom matures, being 

 cut off by early frosts. 



Such is my report on the orchard. It might be somewhat 

 better if our mode of culture was not at fault. 



IMPROVED VARIETIES OF THE SHELLBARK. 



BY S. HALE, KEKNE, N. U. 



Although it may not be possible to improve the qualities 

 of our indigenous fruits by cultivation merely, yet the skill 

 and perseverance of man may assist nature to produce new 

 and improved varieties. If the luscious plum is, as some- 

 body has said, a lineal descendant, by a fortunate line, of the 

 sloe ; and if the trees, which bear what is called the English 

 Walnut, may trace their remote parentage to the same an- 

 cestor as the trees scattered over Europe, in forests and hedges, 

 bearing small and thick-skulled nuts, there is good reason to 

 believe that the fruit of our own wild walnut or hickory may 

 be at least enlarged in size, and its shell made thinner. 



If it can be done by any aid furnished by man to nature, 

 it ought to be done, and begun to be done quickly, though 

 the chief benefit may be enjoyed by those who shall come- 

 after us. 



Reason, enlightened by experience, tells us that it can be 

 done, and how it can be done. 



VOL. XXI. NO. III. 18 



