100 Notes and Gleanings. 



a. rough handle to guide it. With this instrument, good work appeared to be 

 done. The furrows were run straight, and evenly turned, but seemed to be shoal. 

 It seemed to me somewhat remarkable that ploughs of this character, proba- 

 bly made by the farmers themselves, should be in general use, and that those 

 of an improved character had not been introduced ; particularly as I had seen 

 at the Paris Exposition, as part of the contribution of Prussia, models of ploughs 

 of all kinds, in great numbers ; tending to show that it could not be from igno- 

 rance of any improvement having been made that these primitive instruments 

 were adhered to. 



The soil and climate of much of Germany, particularly of the southern and 

 central part, seem well adapted to the raising of fruit ; and its capabilities for 

 this purpose seem to be generally taken advantage of Large quantities are 

 raised along the Rhine and the Elbe. The valley through which tiiis latter river 

 flows in the upper part of its course, through what, from the wild and picturesque 

 character of its scenery, is generally known as Saxon Switzerland, seems for a 

 long distance to be wholly occupied by fruit-trees, mainly of pears and apples. 

 Cherries are very abundant and excellent, especially about Dresden. Such as 

 would be probably successfully shown for a prize in your Horticultural Society's 

 Exhibition can be found at anytime, during their season, in tlie market, in large 

 quantity, at a low price. Apricots, plums, and peaches are plenty : selected and 

 the best peaches are very good ; but the small and inferior ones very indifferent. 

 Wild berries, such as whortleberries and blackberries, are very common, espe- 

 cially the former, that seem identical with those of the United States, as well as 

 the latter with what is there known as the high-bush variety. In almost all the 

 large towns, public gardens or promenades are provided as places of recreation. 

 These are grounds of considerable extent, planted with shade-trees, and laid 

 out as walks, and sometimes as drives, provided with coffee-houses or other 

 places of refreshment, that are general places of resort ; and it is very customary 

 to lay out the ground attached to the stations on the railways in a similar man- 

 ner, planting them with trees, shrubbery, and flowers. Joseph S. Cabot. 



March 27, 1S68. 



Pruning. — I noticed, in a report of the Alton Horticultural Society, that 

 winter-pruning is considered preferable. This agrees with my experience. I 

 would remark, however, that when large limbs, two inches or more in diameter, 

 are to be removed, a safe plan is to saw off within eight or ten inches of the de- 

 sired place, and leave the spur to be removed in June or July following. The 

 wound then speedily heals, and leaves no bad scar, while all the benefit of winter- 

 pruning is secured. TJiomas y. Pulten. 



HiGHTSTOWN, N.J. 



Seedling Seckel Pears. — Thomas H. Gerrin, St. Clairsville, O., forwards 

 the secretary a number of seedling pears, under numbers, of which descriptions 

 have been made and retained until the originator shall give to them a name. 

 Several of them are of great excellence in quality, but small in size. Their 

 season, November and December, or into January, ^^w. Pom. Soc. 



