240 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



Oct. 



few years, and he is well aware of this, for if our 

 impressions be correct he is not a man who works at 

 random or invests his capital in a way that will not 

 in the end accrue to his advantage. 



Draininor is greatly needed tlirourrhout the country. 

 Go where we may this is evident. How common it 

 is to see an acre or two of fine land left to weeds in 

 the very heart of a wheat or corn field because too 

 wet, whilst an outlay of five dollars would make it 

 the best spot in the field. 



THE BRADSHAW PLUM 

 Synonyms *-Large Black Imperial, 



Twelve years ago we received this variety from 

 Mr. Ke.vrick, of Boston, under the name of " Large 

 Black Imperial,"' and five or six years ago we re- 

 ceived from Messrs. IIovey k. Co., of Boston, the 

 " Bradshaw," and they prove synonymous. Two 

 years ago, we received specimens of the same plum 

 from Judge Burroughs, of South Bend, Indiana. — 

 We believe it is an old French variety that has lost 

 its true name. We think that Mr. Hovky described 

 it some years ago, and gave an account of it ; but 

 in referring to his Magazine, we are unable to find 

 it. It id on account of its being cultivated and ex- 

 hibited at Boston, as the Bradshaw that we consider 

 it best to adopt that name. It is a large and beau- 

 tiful plum, and though not of first quality when com- 

 pared with a Green Gage, it is nevertheless good 

 and deserving of cultivation. At the present mo- 

 ment it is the most admired of any in our collection. 

 SrzK — very large, nearly equal to the yellow egg. 

 Form — obovate, smallest at the base, with a suture 

 on one side. Color — dark violet red, with a blue 

 bloom. Stalk — half to three-fourths of an inch 

 long. Flesh — yellowish green, when fully ripe 

 erect, adheres to the stone. Tree— vigorous and 

 swcet, one of the finest growers. Young shoots 

 smooth and reddish, buds short and pointed, foliage 

 large, glossy, serrated and waved on the edges. — 

 Ripe middle of August, witli Early Orleans one of 

 the earliest very large varieties. 



THE BEURRE GIFFART PEAR. 



About four years ago this variety was sent us from 

 France as " one of the finest early pears." It has been 

 rather more tardy in fruiting than many others, so 

 that we have not had specimens fit to form judg- 

 ment upon, till this season. Half a dozen trees have 

 now borne, and we are vhappy to say that in size, 

 beauty, and quality, it meets our expectations, and 

 we have only been disappointed in its season of ripen- 

 ing. Instead of coming in as we expected, about 

 the last of July, it lias not ripened till about the mid- 

 dle of August. This, however, is a late season, full 

 two weeks later than the average, on account of the 

 cold and rainy weather that has prevailed during 

 June and July. It will succeed the Madelaine, 

 which yet stands the first very good pear that 

 ripens. Size — medium, rather larger than the Mad- 

 elaine. Form — turbinate, tapering to a point at 

 base of stem, very regular. Stalk — about an inch 

 long, rather slender and slightly curved, dark olive 

 color. Calyx — open, in a shallow smooth depres- 

 sion. Ski.v — smooth, pale yellowish green in the 

 shade, sprinkled with small brown dots, dull reddish 

 brown in the sun, sprinkled thick with small crimson 

 dots and indistinctly streaked. Flesh — white, fine 

 grained, very juicy, of a mild refreshing sweet, sim- 

 ilar to the Madelaine to which it is probably related. 

 Tree a free grower on both pear and quince, very 

 peculiar in its appearance, and easily distinguished 

 from all otiiers by those who have seen it two or 

 three times. The shoots are long and slender, gen- 

 erally erect, and the bark is of a deep reddish brown, 

 almost mahogany color. The leaves are smooth, 

 flat, and pemlulous, having, long slender footstalks 

 and very conspicuous stipules. Season first to mid- 

 dle of August. 



The hot sun, during the last week or two, has in- 

 jured dahlias, and on this account we fear the show 

 at our State Fair will not be as good as it otherwise 

 would have been. 



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