The Huhbardston Nonsuch Apple. 63 



so fatal in many parts of onr countr3^ In this attempt, I fear, 

 like many others in which we carry our prejudices too far, I 

 am to be defeated. It is true, that, in examining these ex- 

 crescences upon phmi trees late in the season, I have found 

 the larva of two species of curculio nestling in this soft 

 spongy matter, but .have been undecided whether they were 

 the cause of the spongy growth, or whether this peculiar 

 groAvth did not invite their locality. Reasoning upon the 

 strength of the old adage, "like causes produce like effects," 

 and that family habits are often hereditary, 1 have watched 

 the effects produced by the puncture in plants made by 

 other members of this family, as those in peas and other 

 plants, but have not found an instance where an excrescence 

 is produced bearing any resemblance to those upon the plum ; 

 neither have I been able to detect an egg or larva in any of 

 those bunches until they have been in an advanced state of 

 development. 



In my examinations of these bunches, I have thought I de- 

 tected that peculiar " fungus smell," which accompanies 

 most of the plants of this family, and, having once got a' 

 "//5^," as the sailors say, that way, each succeeding exam- 

 ination has strengthened my opinion, until I am convinced 

 that those bunches are produced by fungus plants, and not 

 by insects. 



Rochester. January lOih, 1849. 



Art. III. The Hiibbardstoti Nonsuch Apple. 

 By the Editor. 



In our last volume, (XIV. p. 545,) in our list of select ap- 

 ples, we described this excellent variety, and gave an engrav- 

 ing of the fruit. We there stated, that " its season of maturity 

 was in October and November, and that it could not be classed 

 even among the early winter varieties." For four or five 

 years, v/e have made exertions to procure some fine specimens 

 of this well known, though not very extensively cultivated 

 apple ; and have invariably been disappointed, imtil the past 

 season, when we had them from three or four different sour- 



