Pomological Gossip. 119 



Chaplin, of Cambridge, was exhibited at a late meeting of the 

 Horticultural Society, and tasted by the committee. This 

 specimen was blown off the tree by the gale, in the early 

 part of October last, and did not acquire its full size ; but, 

 notwithstanding this, it ripened off so as to maintain the high 

 reputation which it had previously acquired. In size, it is as 

 large as the Napoleon, and something of the same form, with 

 a smooth, deep green, glossy skin, slightly shaded with red on 

 the sunny-side, — claiming a rank among the handsomest, as 

 well as the best pears. It has a very fine grained, buttery, 

 melting and juicy flesh, and a rich vinous sprightly flavor, 

 quite different from most winter varieties. We have a draw- 

 ing and full description of it, which we shall present to our 

 readers in the course of the spring. It will be an indispen- 

 sable addition to every collection. A brief account of this 

 pear will be found in our Vol. XII., p. 336. 



The Plum in the vicinity of Albany and Buffalo. 

 N. Y. Dr. Wendell, of Albany, in his report to the North 

 American Pomological Convention, supplies the following in- 

 formation on the culture of the Plum in the neighborhood of 

 that city, so long celebrated for its superior growth of this 

 fruit, and from whence have been disseminated many of the 

 finest native varieties we possess. His remarks are worthy 

 the attention of those who are making selections of this fruit, 

 as those kinds which succeed around Albany will all do 

 equally well farther North and East ; the climate being fully 

 as severe as in any part of Massachusetts : — 



The vicinity of Albany, having long been known as a 

 region of the state in which plum trees have grown and 

 bore fruit in great perfection, I may be expected to treat 

 more voluminously of them than of some others. The soil 

 apparently best adapted to the well doing of this tree and 

 fruit, being that which contains in it a large proportion of 

 argillaceous matter ; and as nearly every locality in the im- 

 mediate vicinity of the city, is well supplied with that ingre- 

 dient, the reason of the success in the cultivation is very 

 obvious. All varieties of hardy constitution grow well, and 



