'ibz, PLAIN AND PLEASANT TALK 



dilFerent from the Yellow BellfloAver. The Monstrous Bell- 

 llower — the only other one Coxe describes — is a large 

 autumn fruit, while the Detroit keeps till April ? 



" My work on Fruits has cost me a great deal of labor, 

 but will still contain many imperfections. When it is out 

 of press — in about six weeks — I promise myself the plea- 

 sure of sending it with the copy of each of my previous 

 works for the acceptance of your Horticultural Society. 

 And I then hope to be favored with your criticism. 

 Hoping an early answer to my queries herein, 



" I am sincerely yours, 



" A. J. Downing. 



" H. W. Beechkr." 



We should have said " Monstrous Bellflower " instead of 

 White. 



The Bellflower here mentioned is the Wliite or Green 

 Bellflower of Indiana, the Ohio Favorite of western Ohio 

 about Dayton, etc., the Hollow-cored Pippin of some / and 

 it has been inquired for, at Mr. Alldredge's nursery, as the 



Gumherland Spice. Mr. A considered, from the 



description given, that the white Bellflower only could 

 have been meant. But from the following description ot 

 Cumberland Spice in Kenrick, from Coxe, I am inclined to 

 think that the true Cumberland Spice may have been 

 inquired for. 



" The tree is very productive ; a fine dessert fruit, large, 

 rather oblong, contracted toward the summit ; the stalk 

 thick and short ; of a pale yellow color, clouded near the 

 base ; the flesh white, tender, and fine. It ripens in 

 autumn, and keeps till winter, and shrivels in its last 

 stages." 



The fruit was brought to Wayne County, Indiana, by Mr. 

 Brunson. He came from New York to Huron county, 

 Ohio, and thence to Wayne County, Indiana. It is univei 



