54 Notes and Gleanings. 



The Pitmaston Duchess Pear. — This new pear, of which we gave an 

 outline and description from an English journal, in our vol. vii., p. 239, has 

 fruited in this country the past season, and, we regret to say, has not come up 

 to its English reputation. We have tasted specimens grown near Boston, and 

 also further south, and while we hope that it will do better in future j-ears, we 

 must at present advise our readers to plant the standard varieties rather tlian 

 the Pitmaston Duchess, except for the purpose of testing it further. 



Mildew of the Grape Vixe. — In Mr. Underhill's article on this subject, 

 in our January number, on page 7, instead of the last word " above," read " on 

 the next page." There was not room for the cut "above." 



The Washington Royal Apple. — Mr. John Pettengill, of Bunker Hill, 

 lUinois, writes to the St. Louis Journal of Agriculture, that the above apple, a 

 native of Massachusetts, succeeds admirably at that place. It is fair, and free 

 from insects, makes a beautiful round-headed tree, and grows well in both 

 orchard and nursery. The fruit sticks to the tree tenaciously, and keeps all 

 winter. 



Liberal Prize for a New Seedling Potato. — The late Mr. Le\T Wliit- 

 comb, a member of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, evinced his attach- 

 ment to the society, and his interest in the objects it seeks to promote, by a 

 bequest of five hundred dollars. By vote of the society, the income from this 

 bequest is to be known as the Whitcomb Premium, and from this income a prize 

 of two hundred dollars is oflFered for the best Seedling Potato which may be 

 originated after January i, 1871. Such seedling must be tested by a committee 

 of the society for at least five years, and must be judged by them to be of superior 

 quality. The first premium is not to be awarded prior to 1878. 



Agricultural Exhibition at Toronto. — The Ontario Farmer contains 

 the official prize list of the Provincial Exhibition at Toronto, 1870. The num- 

 ber of entries of fruit in class 30 was ninety-eight ; in class 31, comprising the 

 general list, from which professional nurserymen are excluded, there were eight 

 hundred and fourteen entries of fruit ; in class 32, garden vegetables, four hun- 

 dred and fifty entries ; in class 33, plants and flowers, one hundred and eighteen 

 entries. So extensive an exhibition indicates that our Canadian neighbors are 

 in earnest in their horticultural pursuits. 



