Notes and Gleanings. 245 



Pears in Clusters. — In looking through a large pear-orchard recenllv. 

 we could not help observing that on many trees were isolated clusters of pears, 

 generally on the lower part of the tree, and in jjlaces well sheltered by the upper 

 limbs. We are told that this appearance of isolated clusters is characteristic 

 of very many pear-trees this year ; and we take it for granted that the blossum.s 

 succeed in setting their fruit simply by reason of being sheltered from the M.iv 

 rains. 



We have raised this season the new English Vegetable-Cream Marrow 

 Squash : and, for fear that some of our readers should do the same thing next 

 year, we give them Punch's " advice to young men about to marry ; " viz., don't. 

 This squash is, with us, insipid and almost worthless ; not worthy of com- 

 paiison for a moment with the Summer Crookneck. If the experience of any 

 of our correspondents differs from ours, we hope to hear from them on the 

 subject. 



Cynthiana Wine. — We have lately had the satisfaction of tasting, for the 

 first time, a good sample of Mr. George Husmann's red wine, made from tlie 

 Cynthiana Grape. It is, in our opinion, and in the opinion of some good judges 

 among our friends, a better wine than the Norton's Virginia. 



It is, in fact, a rich, full-bodied Burgundy, of an exquisite flavor ; and it leaves 

 on the palate the delicious a?'riere gout that marks the finest wines. 



With tl>e Norton's Virginia, the Ives Seedling, and the Cynthiana at com- 

 mand, we shall have three choice red wines which nobody need be ashamed to 

 recognize, and point out to foreigners as the results of American vine-growing. 

 We hope the time is not far off, when all three, and especially the Cynthiana, 

 W'U be abundant and cheap. 



Fruit-Culture in Wisconsin. — L. L. Fairchild of Dodge Countv, Wis., 

 writes as follows in reference to the progress of fruit-culture in his section of 

 the State : — 



" There are a goodly number of orchards in this county producing from two 

 hundred to five hundred bushels, and occasionally higher, — up to fifteen hundred 

 bushels. We are in latitude 43^° north ; and the severity of our winters (the 

 mercury occasionally running as low as 35° below zero) makes it absolutely 

 necessary that only the very hardiest varieties of fruit-trees be planted. Many, 

 having failed with favorite trees brought from the East, thought it useless to try 

 to grow fruit ; but the persevering ones, who kept on trying, have found a few 

 varieties that bid fair to stand the test of our severest winters. The Duchess 

 of Oldenburg, Red Astrachan, Golden and Perry Russets, Winesap, Tallman's 

 Sweet, Fameuse, and some others, seem reliable. The quality of our apples I 

 think superior to fruit produced in Southern Illinois. 



" We have plenty of wild plums : some of them are quite good, and, on account 

 of the toughness of their skin, not so liable to be stung by the curculio as the 

 tame varieties. The hardier varieties of the tame plums grow finely; but the 

 curculio stings all the fruit. 



" Wild black and choke cherries are plenty ; but the cultivated kinds are 

 mostly failures. The common Morello grows well, and bears sparsely. The 



