^ ) ■ 284 THE GENESEE FARMER. (Q 



crops. Ripe here this season on the 20th of July, and lasting till 10th of August. It 

 is one of those varieties that succeed particularly well on the quince ; but is so prolific, 

 that unless pretty closely pruned every year, it will soon become enfeebled. 



Madelaine. (^Citron des Carm,es.) — This is one of the best known and most gen- 

 erally cultivated of all our early pears. J^'ruit medium size, quite uniform. Stalk 

 varying from one to two inches long, moderately stout. Calyx small, closed, in a shal- 

 low, somewhat wrinkled basin. Skin pale greenish yellow, with a few small reddish 

 dots on the sunny side. Mesh white, melting, juicy, sprightly and fine flavored. 

 Ripens here from 1st to 10th of August. Tree a vigorous and rapid grower both on 

 pear and quince. Shoots long, dark olive. Leaves large, glossy, dark, slightly waved 

 on the edges. Bears young and abundantly. Like the Doyenne d^£te, although pos- 

 sessing great natural vigor, it bears so profusely on the quince that it requires close 

 pruning to sustain its vigor. 



Skinless. {^Sanspeau.) — Fruit medium size, pyriform, largest near the base, but 

 slightly contracted at the eye. Stalk long and slender, with a fleshy projection at 

 the base. Calyx closed, and set in a shallow, furrowed basin. Skin thin, smooth, 

 greenish yellow ; cheek brown, with reddish dots. Flesh half melting, sweet, delicate, 

 and finely flavored. Does not last long. Tree an upright, free grower, with slender, 

 reddish brown shoots, and flat, glossy, wavy leaves, on long, slender footstalks. Bears 

 regular and abundant crops, and fruit always fair. Ripens here about 1st of August. 



tij). 



THE POMOLOGICAL CONVENTION. 



On the 13th of the present month, this body assembles in Philadelphia. This will be 

 its fourth session. The first was held in New York, in 1848, and the second in 1849, 

 in the same place. The third was held in Cincinnati, in 1850, and was comparatively 

 a failure, owing to the nonattendance of eastern and northern delegates, and a local 

 misunderstanding in regard to the preliminary arrangements for the accommodation of 

 the Convention. Four years have thus elapsed since the organization of the institution, 

 and we may reasonably expect to see brought forward during the approaching session, 

 some of the results anticipated by its originators. Committees were appointed in all 

 the fruit-growing States of the Union, to collect information on everything concerning 

 fruits and fruit-culture in their respective localities, and to arrange the same in the form 

 of reports, to be laid before the Convention. We trust these committees have not been 

 idle, but are prepared to present such an array of useful facts and statistics, in regard to 

 the great business of fruit growing, as has never before been collected jn this country. 

 The last four years have been a period of wonderful activity in this department of indus- 

 try. Never before were so many fruit trees planted in so short a time in this country, 

 nor certainly in any other. Never before were so many persons actively and zealously 

 making inquiries and investigations on the subject- — in testing varieties, modes of prop- 

 agation and culture, soils and manures, and the various theories and practices suggested 

 by writers, and by the active imaginations of the most energetic, original, and inventive 

 cultivators in the world. With all this we can not but anticipate a rich and varied fund 

 of information, that will aid in clearing up some matters that are yet imperfectly under- 

 stood, and give a fresh and healthy impetus to the art of fruit culture. 



One thing we must take the liberty of suggesting to the committees, and that is, to 

 exclude from their reports all extraneous or irrelevant materials, all common-place or 

 general facts, all discussion of settled points, or descriptions of well known objects. 

 Give all the information in your power in regard to your own localities, and your own, 

 actual, downright experience. State the facts as briefly as cossible, without an array of 



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