518 Horticultural Societies. 



From Peter Williamson, 296 South Second st., specimens of a Seedling 

 English Walnut, of extraordinary size and excellence ; two and one-six- 

 teenth inches longr, one and five-eighths wide, one and one-half thick ; shell 

 remarkable for its thinness ; kernel delicious ; quality " iesf." The tree 

 sprung from an imported nut planted in 184G, and is now fifteen and one- 

 half inches in circumference at the surface of the earth. It bore in 1852, 

 for the first time. The attention of nurserymen is directed to this variety, 

 which could probably be dwarfed and brought into speedy bearing by being 

 worked on the Juglans prasparturiens. 



From Mrs. Geo. Liggett, 140 Christian st., the Regnier Pear — size full 

 medium, two and one-half to three inches long, by two and one-half to two 

 and three-quarters broad ; some specimens weighed eiglit ounces ; obovate ; 

 yellow, with a number of minute russet dots, and very often a brilliant car- 

 mine cheek ; stem cinnamon color, three-quarters to seven-eighths of an 

 inch long, by one-sixth thick, inserted in a rather deep, narrow cavity ; ca- 

 lyx open, with short erect segments, set in a wide, shallow basin ; seed 

 dark, plump, acute, with an angle on one side of the blunt end ; flesh fine 

 texture, buttery, melting; flavor exceedingly luscious; quality "bestJ" 

 Under the name of White Doycnn6 or Butter pear, which it is to all intents 

 and purposes, this variety has repeatedly received a premium at our annual 

 exhibitions. And not until recently were we informed by Mrs. Liggett that 

 it originated from seed of the Butter pear, planted about twenty-five years 

 ago, by her grandmother, Madame Regnier. On examining the tree, which 

 is now two feet, seven inches in circumference at the surface of the eartli, 

 there is no appearance of its having been worked. Many suckers have 

 sprung up from the root, presenting a similarity in wood and foliage to the 

 tree itself. The growth is more erect and the top more full and rounded 

 than is usual with the White Doyenne. We would suggest a trial of this 

 variety in localities where the White Doyenne has long since ceased to 

 flourish. 



From H. W. Terry, Hartford, Conn., the Clai-k Pear, a supposed seed- 

 ling. Size medium, two and one-half inches by two and seven-eighths ; 

 roundish, inclining to turbinate, broad at the crown, rounded at the base ; 

 skin smooth, greenish yellow, with numerous small russet dots, and some- 

 times a warm salmon cheek ; stem one inch by one-seventh, inserted in a 

 very superficial depression ; calyx small, closed, set in a wide, rather deep, 

 furrowed basin ; seed brown, flat, inclining to oval, with a slight angle at 

 the blunt end ; flesh fine texture, buttery, melting ; flavor excellent, witli a 

 delicate aroma ; quality at least '^ very good ;^ perhaps tee shoidd not err in 

 saying " best." The Clark pear bears a good deal of resemblance in form, 

 texture, flavor, and seed, to the Autumn Bergamot of Col. Carr, described 

 in the Trar^actions of the National Congress of Fruit Growers, for 1849, 

 page 72. 



From Peter Raabe, four varieties of his Seedling Grapes. In 1845, Mr. 

 Raabe obtained a collection of grape seed from Germany, which he planted 

 in a bed in his garden. Many of these seeds vegetated ; and as the young 

 plants were exposed, without the slightest protection, to the inclemency of 



