1847.] WendelPs Mottled Bigarreau. 199 



WENDELL'S MOTTLED BIGARREAU. 



The appreciation of good fruit is an important feature in the 

 husbandry of this country at the present time. In Europe, espe- 

 cially on the continent, no subject has elicited more attention, or 

 engaged men so ardently as the cultivation of good fruit. There 

 are many reasons why it should be so. The business itself is 

 profitable, and this will always be encouragement as well as in- 

 ducement to engage in the business. Then the value of good 

 fruit in domestic life, the healthfulness it creates, to say nothing 

 of the pleasure enjoyed in its consumption, will always constitute 

 motives for the investment of a small capital at least, in order to 

 secure the advantages we have enumerated. In this country no 

 time has been so highly distinguished as the present for the rear- 

 ing of fruit trees, and it is a pleasure to observe that success has 

 most always crowned the efforts of the fruit culturist. One im- 

 portant discovery has been made in this business, viz., that our 

 own climate is equal to any for the production of the best varie- 

 ties of the most valuable fruits. The valley of the Hudson and 

 Champlain must be ranked highest in the scale for producing 

 those which possess flavor and taste. Pears, apples, plums and 

 cherries succeed most remarkably, and in each species, there are 

 many kinds which are not excelled, and it is to be remembered 

 that we have but just commenced the business systematically, and 

 hence the probability is, that we have not yet seen the best pear, 

 apple, plum or cherry. These remarks were suggested by a seed- 

 ling cherry, raised in the garden of Dr. H.Wendell of this city. The 

 seed was sown eight years ago, and was from the White Bigarreau. 

 The tree is of a vigorous growth, with stout limbs, and large 

 deep green leaves, indicating hardiness and strength, and though 

 it has been in bearing only one year, still it bids fair to rank high 

 in the amount of fruit which it is capable of ripening. 



The character of the fruit, wood, and leaf is well represented 

 in the plate accompanying this number. When it is ripening it 

 is quite distinctly mottled. When however, it is ripe, this cha- 

 racter is in a measure lost in the deep red the fruit attains. The 

 flesh is then fine, juicy, and an excellent flavor. The size is re- 

 spectable, and in our opinion about right; for we doubt the practi- 

 cability of combining a very great size with a very high and 

 agreeable flavor. The size is given in the plate. While it would 

 probably be improper to say, that this cherry is the very best which 

 grows here, we are willing to be committed so far as this, as to 

 say, that it is one of the best which we tasted this last season. 

 We have the testimony of others to about the same thing. 



