Editors Letter- Box. 6 1 



W. N. B., Salem, Mass. — I find the Stevens's Genesee Pear put down in tlie 

 books as first-rate, while with me it is nearly worthless. Can you give me any 

 explanation of the mystery ? — Downing, in his fruit-book, says, "This admirable 

 pear, combining in some degree the excellence of the Doyenne and Bergamotte, 

 is reputed to be a seedling," et ccetera. Again : " Flesh white, half buttery, 

 with a rich aromatic flavor, somewhat like that of Gansel's Bergamotte." We 

 have never been able here in Massachusetts to get it fit to eat. It is never 

 even half melting, while it has the very bad habit of rotting at the core. Of 

 some thirty or forty trees we set out in our orchard of this variety, not one re- 

 mains. We have grafted them all to some better kind. There are, doubtless, 

 parts of the country where it does much better. 



Portland. — The Catillac was strongly recommended to me as the best 

 baking-pear on the list, and I set out three trees. Of these, two have been 

 winter-killed, as I believe. Is it tender? What pear can I set out to take its 

 place ? 



It is inclined to be tender ; its wood is soft and spongy, and does not seem 

 to withstand the winter well. It is a splendid stewing and baking pear; none 

 better that we have ever seen. The Pound, or Uvedale's St. Germain, is a very 

 fine, large pear, and much esteemed for cooking in various ways. It often grows 

 to a very large size. 



Market-Gardener. — Several years ago, I saw in the market some fine 

 cabbages called the Drumhead Savoy : can you give me any information about 

 this variety ? — Yes: we raised it for several years. It is claimed as a cross 

 between the Green-globe Savoy and the Drumhead, and resembles the former 

 somewhat in the curl of the leaf and quality, and the latter in form and size. It 

 is a good cabbage, but not equal in quality to the smaller and finer kinds of the 

 Savoy. A good market sort. 



S. S., Newton, Mass. — Is there any benefit to be derived from covering 

 strawberry- beds in W'inter ? — We think so. It depends very much on what 

 kind of a winter it is. If there should be but little snow, and a good deal of 

 freezing and thawing, then it would be a decided advantage to cover ; but if you 

 could be sure that there would be snow that would keep them covered all winter, 

 then there would be no need of artificial covering. 



N. E. G. — How shall I manure my pear-orchard ? — In the fall, either by 

 putting the manure around the tree in a heap, or by spreading the same late 

 over the ground, and ploughing it in. It is best to avoid putting any unfer- 

 mented manures in direct contact with the roots of trees ; but spread or pile it 

 on the surface, and let the rains wash its virtues down about the roots. 



Young Florist, Pittsburg, Penn. — You will find all the information you 

 need about cyclamen in our last volume. The flower is a very beautiful one, 

 and well worth any care and attentioo. 



