330 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



number of persons attended, but not so many as 

 usually attend in fair weather. 



There was a large number of teams on the plough- 

 ing field, and the match was nobly contested, regard- 

 less of the pelting storm. Generally the work was 

 done remarkably well. The show of cattle was 

 larger than usual, and there were many fine animals. 

 There was a good number of horses, mostly young 

 ones — a larger show of this class of animals than is 

 usually seen at our exhibitions. 



The display of fowls was very fine, and larger than 

 we have ever seen at similar shows, excepting that at 

 Dedhara, and it nearly equalled that in extent and 

 variety. 



The exhibition of fruits was among the finest of 

 the season. The pears, in extent and fine appear- 

 ance, surpassed this branch in any show that we have 

 witnessed this season. Several noted varieties, that 

 have generally been inferior this season, were very 

 large and fair at this show. 



At the dinner there was a very large number. Mr. 

 Proctor, the president of the society, presided at the 

 table in a courteous manner. Short speeches were 

 made, and sentiments given by several gentlemen. 



We came away before the address was delivered, 

 which was by Hon. Caleb Gushing. The worthy 

 officers of this society politely attended to invited 

 guests. 



CUSHING AND MANNERS PEARS. 



Some years ago, several good judges of fruit, after 

 several close investigations of the subject, stated that 

 these two pears were the same ; and regarding their 

 opinions as good authority, we stated in the Amer- 

 ican Fruit-Book that they were probably the same. 

 We expressed a doubt on the subject, as there were 

 opinions to the contrary. Mr. Hovey, in his Mag- 

 azine, remarked that these two pears were not iden- 

 tical, as he had both growing on his grounds, and 

 the wood and the leaf were diff'erent. At this time 

 Mr. Hovcy's Gushing tree had not borne ; and when 

 it did bear, it proved to be the Dearborn's Seedling. 

 As he had it from what he considered a reliable 

 source, he depended on its correctness, and drew his 

 inferences accordingly. 



After Mr. Hovey had yielded his opposition to the 

 identity of these two pears, it seemed to be a settled 

 question among pomologists generally, that Gushing 

 and Ilanners were identical. But from some late 

 facts brought forward on this subject, it seems that 

 the question was settled wrong. Mr. Edward Marsh, 

 of Quincy, a fruit-grower, and a nice observer, re- 

 cently informed us that he cut scions from the origi- 

 nal Gushing tree in Hingham, and from the original 

 Hanners tree in Boston, and he set them into differ- 

 ent trees in his garden. In due time both bore fruit, 

 and the growth of the trees, the form of the leaf, 

 and the size and appearance of the fruit, are different. 



A few days since, Mr. Marsh kindly favored us 

 •with specimens of these two fruits, and they were 

 evidently different. The Hanners was larger than 



■we ever saw the Gushing. They differ considerably 

 in form ; tiie Ilanners being broader at the stem, or 

 shouldered, while the Gushing tapers nearly to a 

 point at the stem, having a small cavity, and of 

 course only slightly shouldered. Sometimes the 

 Gushing is considerably shouldered, but generally it 

 is not, while the Hannei's almost invariably is. 



The Gushing is usually a very smooth pear, of a 

 yellow color, while the Hanners is not very smooth, 

 but has slight inequalities, and has considerable rus- 

 set sprinkled over the yellow. We could not judge 

 of the Ilanners pear from its quality, as it was past 

 its prime ; but Mr. Marsh thinks that its quality is a 

 little superior to the Gushing, and it is generally con- 

 siderably larger. He says that it is a greater grower 

 than the Gushing, and the leaf is shorter, and ap- 

 proaches nearer to a round form. 



These facts from Mr. Marsh's experiments are stub- 

 born things, and as he has gone so thorough into the 

 investigation of the subject, we think that they arc 

 entitled to respect. It is supposed that the Hanners 

 pear was imported from Europe, and it was named 

 for the gentleman who owned it. 



ROT IN TURNIPS. 



Mr. Editor : I have noticed, recentlj-, several ar- 

 ticles in the agricultural journals, complaining of 

 the prevalence of this disease. It is no new thing, 

 but has been more or less fatal to the turnip crop for 

 several years. As long ago as the year 1839, I had 

 a yard of ruta bagas nearlj^ ruined by it ; and in a 

 yard containing not less than six distinct varieties, 

 the same season, scarcely one was unaffected. This 

 fact proves conclusively that the disease is not con- 

 fined, as many have supposed, to the ruta baga, but 

 that it attacks, indiscriminately, every variety of the 

 turnip tribe. What the cause of this disease may be, 

 is a question I am not prej)ared to decide. It may 

 originate in excessive manuring Avith green, unfer- 

 mented manure; or from too great a supply of hu- 

 midity in the soil, accompanied with a high temper- 

 ature ; or it may be the consequence of a physical 

 deterioration, the same as in the case of the potato. 

 Lime used in large quantities is said to have pre- 

 served some crops ; but this, I think, is a gratuitous 

 assumption, as no systematic experiments have as 

 yet been made, to demonstrate its preservative or 

 remedial powers. It is to be hoped that efforts will 

 be made by our farmers to ascertain both the cause 

 of the disease and the remedy to be applied. 



RUTA. 

 — Garmantotcn Telegraph. 



PRESERVATION OF THE PUMPKIN. 



Preservation of pumpkins through the greater part 

 of the winter, if sound and well ripened- '" easily 

 attained, by stowing them in a mow of dr^ hay or 

 straw, or placing on a barn floor and covering with 

 any Ught forage. A dry cellar will frequently keep 

 them sound, but these are usually too moist for this 

 purpose. They ought occasionally to be looked after, 

 and any showing evidence of incipient decay, should 

 be immediately used. All the partially ripe, small, 

 and imperfect, should be fed soon after taking from 

 the field. 



