Observations upon the Season of 1849. 19 



fruited for the first time in this vicinity the past season, de- 

 serves a particular notice, because it will, it is thought, from 

 its size, beauty, reported productiveness, and good quality, 

 prove highly desirable ; that is, the Swan's Orange or Onon- 

 daga pear. Specimens of this pear, grown in three different 

 places, — though some of them were small and inferior, as 

 was to be expected from trees bearing for the first time, — 

 were all good; and others, raised by W. F. Gardner, Esq., of 

 this city, from grafts inserted on the top limbs of an old tree, 

 (on the quince,) were of large size and great beauty, — equal- 

 ling, in these respects, any brought from New York, and 

 quite or very nearly of first quality. Further opportunities 

 have, the past season, been afforded for trying " Knight's 

 Monarch." A single specimen of this variety was exhibited 

 in 1846, by the Hon. M. P. Wilder ; but it was so small and in- 

 different, that that gentleman, at that time, though his doubts 

 have since been set at rest, questioned its correctness. Others, 

 raised by Messrs. Hovey, were exhibited in 1848. It is a 

 juicy, melting, brisk, sub-acid fruit ; and, though it will nev- 

 er, in this country, be thought worthy of its European repu- 

 tation, may be considered a desirable acquisition. 



Although the season was so unpropitious to the production 

 of a crop of apples and pears, yet some of the specimens of 

 pears produced were of unusual size and beauty, — fully 

 equalling, if not surpassing, anything ever before placed upon 

 the tables of the Horticultural Society. Whether this supe- 

 riority is to be attributed to increase of skill and attention to 

 their cultivation, or to be sought for in other causes, no means 

 are possessed for judging, though it is fair to presume that 

 the former has essentially contributed to it. The same re- 

 mark is no way applicable to the apples exhibited, that, on 

 the contrary, have been generally inferior ; and it is a fact 

 especially noticeable, that the apples have been, the past 

 year, not only very few in number, but also, — probably ow- 

 ing to that very circumstance, — almost uniformly infested 

 with the curculio. 



Plums without a name, of very fine quality, were sent, the 

 past season, to the rooms of the Horticultural Society, from 



