1 86 Notes and Gleanings. 



As has been stated, the appetite is keen for early fruits ; for good specimens 

 of which, extravagant prices are paid. No variety of fruit is so well adapted for 

 forcing as the grape. It is easy of management ; it retains the highest excellence 

 of flavor under glass ; it is an attractive and salable fruit in the market. As a 

 pecuniary enterprise, we think, that in sheltered positions, and in low houses 

 adapted solely to this purpose, grapes may be forced with great success, and at 

 prices much below those now ruling, during the months of April, May, and a 

 part of June. M. H. Simpson was the only exhibiter of early grapes. His 

 Muscat of Alexandria, on the 22d of June, were compact and fine bunches, yet 

 scarcely ripe. C. S. Holbrook has been very successful in growing forced 

 peaches, bringing them in just before the ripening of strawberries, in June, 

 and obtaining from twelve to eighteen dollars per dozen for the fruit. The 

 liouse in which these are grown is sixty feet long, and contains thirty trees, in 

 boxes three feet square. The present was the thirteenth crop, and on one tree 

 two hundred and twenty fruit were picked. These figures are remarkable, and, 

 it must be added, are entirely deceptive in estimating the profit of the crop. We 

 may say it is an extraordinary crop of an extraordinary tree, at an extraordinary 

 price. Probably the crop of this tree did not attain the size to command any 

 thing like the price named. Yet enough is seen and known to warrant the state- 

 ment, that, with skilful and high culture, forced fruits are a source of profit as 

 well as highest enjoyment. It is to be hoped that the number of contributors 

 of forced strawberries, peaches, and grapes, instead of diminishing, may at least 

 increase relatively with our population. 



On the 15th of June, the Jenny Lind Strawberry opened the list of out-door 

 fruits ; a worthy herald of the continuous and bountiful supply which fills out the 

 year to its close. Other varieties are almost equally early ; the Boston Pine, for 

 example, being exhibited on the same day with the Jenny Lind. The Wilson has 

 been an unpopular fruit in our markets, on account of its poor quality ; but its 

 productiveness is so marked, that it is gaining favor. The Jucunda is a fine- 

 looking fruit, yet not equal to La Constante in this respect ; while it has disap- 

 pointed us, as to quality and productiveness, upon its first year of trial : but 

 we trust another trial, and in various soils, may demonstrate its claim to the high 

 praise it has received in other sections. 



The favorable opinion entertained last year of the Seedling Strawberry of 

 Hon. M. P. Wilder, a cross between La Constante and Hovey's Seedling, and 

 now designated as No. 60, is confirmed this season. The fruit is of the largest 

 size, of good flavor, in appearance a medium between its parents, not so polished 

 or glazed, and with seeds more embedded than in La Constante. An examina- 

 tion of the bed gave indications of vigor and decided productiveness. Mr. 

 Wilder's other seedling was shown as No. 13, and more nearly resembles 

 Hovey's Seedling. Both varieties are promising, and we trust the former may 

 prove worthy of the name of the distinguished originator. Other new straw- 

 berries were exhibited, but did not appear to be noteworthy. La Constante 

 continues to be the finest exhibition-fruit, though not sufficiently productive to 

 compete with the Hovey, Triomphe de Gand, Agriculturist, and Wilson, in the 

 market. . . . 



Pears have been abundant and of fine size, but very deficient in quality, 



