148 Notes and Gleanings, 



size, roundish oblate ; skin greenish yellow, often shaded with brownish red in 

 the sun, and slight nettings of russet ; stalk long, inclined, inserted in a slight 

 depression by a lip ; calyx small, open ; basin rather small ; flesh whitish, fine, 

 juicy, melting, sweet, slightly vinous ; quality good to very good. This is much 

 like Beurre Beaumont, and may prove that variety. Charles Downing. 



[We have long entertained the opinion which Mr. Downing mentions as held 

 by the majority of pomologists, that the pear which Van Mons so highly extolled 

 under the name of the Beurre Spence, was the Flemish Beauty. But we print 

 these descriptions and outlines in the hope of throwing some light on the sub- 

 ject, and perhaps of ascertaining the true names of these pears, since it is evi- 

 dent that they cannot all be Beurre Spence. — Ed.] 



The Duchess of Bordeaux Pear was exhibited by Mr. Henry Vandinc, 

 at the Massachusetts Horticultural Society's room, on the seventh day of 

 January. In external appearance it so strongly resembles the Catillac, that sev- 

 eral good judges were quite sure it was that variety ; but the diflFerence was im- 

 mediately perceived on cutting it, as though not melting, it approached that 

 texture much more nearly than the Catillac ever does, being fine-grained and 

 tender. It is of large size and handsome appearance, and altogether gives 

 promise of becoming a valuable, late keeping variety. 



Horticultural Professorship. — We are glad to see that the appoint- 

 ment of our correspondent, Francis Parkman, Esq., as Professor of Horticulture 

 in the Bussey Agricultural School connected with Harvard University, has been 

 confirmed by the overseers. The duties of this professorship will so far occupy 

 Mr. Parkman's time, that he will be under the necessity of relinquishing his 

 nursery business. 



American Potatoes in England. — The English journals generally con- 

 demn the new American varieties of potatoes ; but the Rural New Yorker, of 

 April I, says, " Within the past few days one of our New York seedsmen has 

 received orders for twelve tons of Early Rose, and we presume others have been 

 drawn on for the same variety. 



Aid to French Farmers. — The Commissioner of Agriculture has issued 

 a circular to the farmers of the country, in cooperation with the relief committee 

 of the New York Chamber of Commerce, inviting contributions of seed for the 

 French peasants, whose farms, gardens, and vineyards have been destroyed, 

 dnd who have neither food to eat, nor seed to plant. A similar movement has 

 been made in England, and over $2,700,000 has been raised. 



Strawberries at Norfolk, Va., are grown on an extensive scale. A Mr. 

 Anderson has fifty acres, and is planting as much more, besides a large patch in 

 the country. He expects to employ from six hundred to eight hundred pickers. 

 He is the largest cultivator, but there are about a hundred others whose opera- 

 tions are nearly as extensive. 



