283 Pomological Mtices. 



fruit which abound in the French gardens, have not been in- 

 troduced. The whole number of grapes cultivated in our 

 graperies and gardens does not much exceed half a dozen. 

 We have now, however, the gratification of naming a new 

 fruit, which is said to be a splendid variety. 



The Royal Victoria Vine. — 'This variety was raised at 

 Burcot Park. The berries measure from three to four inches 

 in circumference, and are of an exquisite flavor. The bunch- 

 es weigh from three to four pounds. It is a prolific bearer, 

 and well suited for graperies or green-houses. 



What the real merits of this variety are, we shall soon as- 

 certain, as Col. Perkins brought out a plant the past spring, 

 when he returned from London. It came in good order, and 

 is now grown so vigorous, under the good management of Mr. 

 Cowan, that it may show a few clusters next year. When it 

 has fruited, we shall endeavor to speak of it further. 



Cherries. — The J\Iay Bigarreau. — Under this name, 

 Mr. Wilder, the President of the Massachusetts Horticultu- 

 ral Society, exhibited the fruit of a cherry, the tree from 

 which they were picked having been received from France 

 under the name of the May Bigarreau. Mr. Wilder sent 

 for the very earliest cherry that was known in the French 

 market. It is a dark colored cherry, of medium size, and of 

 very good quality for an early variety. It is ripe about a 

 week earlier than the May-duke. 



Strawberries. — Since the production of Keen's Seed- 

 ling, upwards of twenty years since, there has not been any 

 new variety raised in England, of sufiicient merit to displace 

 that kind. It still stands pre-eminent among all the numerous 

 sorts, upwards of fifty in number, which have from time to 

 time been ushered into notice, and many of which, at this 

 period, have been thrown aside as worthless varieties. A 

 few years since, a new one was offered for sale, called My- 

 att's Pine-apple. It has not, however, been very generally 

 cultivated. The flavor of it is said to be very superior, but 

 it is so difficult of cultivation, requiring very j)eculiar soil and 

 treatment, that it is in a great degree rendered worthless. Mr. 

 Wilder has a small bed of this kind, but it did not fruit suffi- 

 ciently this season to form any opinion of its merits. 



The Swainstone Seedling. — We noticed the introduction 

 into this country of this new kind som.e time ago, (p. 35;) 

 but we have since learned, that none of the plants sur- 



