FEBRUARY. 75 



The season here has been a very favorable one for fruits, 

 and most of the leading kinds have been good. 



Doyenne' d'Hiver, (Nouveau of some.) This promising 

 winter variety I omitted when mentioning the winter pears ; 

 it is not yet ripe, except a few specimens, but, from what I 

 have seen of it, I am inclined to think that it will prove a 

 very valuable late fruit, even surpassing E. Beurre ; of a fair 

 size, and seems to keep without decaying. I have tasted a 

 few specimens that were ripened in a high temperature, and 

 thought them very superior. This pear has many synonyms. 



Glout Morceau I need hardly mention, only to say that, 

 of all the winter pears ripening here at this season, this is by 

 far the most valuable. Good specimens command, readily, in 

 the fruit shops in New York, twenty-five cents each. It 

 grows vigorously, and makes a fine hardy orchard tree, either 

 on pear or quince. 



I must not forget to mention that cherries the past season 

 were remarkably fine, and continued a long time in season. 

 I have noted three varieties as being very fine, viz. : Belle 

 d'Orleans, Coe's Transparent, and Belle de Choisy. I am in- 

 clined to think that Coe's Transparent is one of the best 

 American seedlings that has been raised. Belle d'Orleans has 

 but just come into bearing ; it is early, and of very superior 

 flavor, being soft fleshed. But I know of nothing equal to a 

 fine dish of Belle de Choisy cherries, grown on a good 

 healthy tree, not overloaded ; it is then of a small size. This 

 variety is not so profitable for market as some of the Heart 

 varieties, such as Black Tartarian, Bigarreau, and May Duke, 

 which will pay a better profit, bearing greater crops, and also 

 carry better. Reine Hortense has had a high reputation ; it 

 has borne fine crops. It is also very beautiful, of a fine light 

 red, or amber color. It has never been worth eating with 

 me ; only fit for cooking, being extremely acid. 



We had also a fine crop of apples this season, though I 

 have nothing worthy of particular notice at present. Mon- 

 mouth Pippin, in my fruit room, is not yet quite ripe. This 

 is a valuable apple, of good quality, keeping until spring ; it 

 is also a very fine looking apple, color greenish yellow, with 

 a red cheek, smooth and fair. 



