Cornish GiWjlower Apples. 201 



Black Gilliflower. — Rather large, oblong conical, very- 

 dark reddish purple in the sun ; often light red, with faint 

 approach to yellow, on the deeply shaded side ; stem three- 

 fourths of an inch long ; segments of the calyx closely 

 pressed together ; basin shallow, narrow, and furrowed ; 

 flesh yellowish white, with a shade of green ; flavor rich, 

 mild, sub-acid, fine ; flesh tender, large grained, dry when 

 fully ripe, which is its greatest objection. Tree a free grow- 

 er, great bearer, fruit always perfectly fair, and, as a long 

 keeper, scarcely inferior to the Roxbury Russet. 



The chief points of difference between the two varieties, 

 are, the much lighter color, very irregular and often flattish 

 form, scabby surface, and superior flavor of the Red Gilli- 

 flower, as contrasted with the oblong and remarkably smooth 

 and even form, very dark color, inferior flavor, and great pro- 

 ductiveness of the Black Gilliflower. If the Red Gilliflower 

 possessed the fair fruit and bearing qualities of the Black, it. 

 would rank, in desirable qualities, with the Baldwin, Esopus 

 Spitzenburgh, and Rhode Island Greening. The past season,^ 

 when nearly all our best sorts were wormy, defective, or 

 small, the Black Gilliflower was, almost uniformly, large, 

 fair, and perfect. It is a fine baking fruit, but as a table va- 

 riety, is esteemed only by a few persons." 



We deem it unnecessary to extend our remarks upon this 

 subject, as, from what we have already said, in connection 

 with what follows by Mr. Goodrich, it will be seen that the 

 Red Gilliflower of Mr. Thomas is a misnomer ; and the true 

 and only Red Gilliflower, is that originally, we believe, de- 

 scribed by Mr. Manning, in the Magazine of Horticulture, 

 for 1841, (Vol. VII., p. 49,) — for we cannot find any pomo- 

 logical work which contains any account of it, prior to that 

 date, — and more fully noticed and figured, at the page re- 

 ferred to, in the Magazine for February : 



Sir, — I notice, in the March number of your Magazine, a. 

 description of the Black or Red Gilliflower, by which I sup- 

 pose the Cornish Gilliflower is not much known in the vicin- 



VOL. XVI. NO. V. 26 



