Domestic Notices. 425 



startecl, this spring, I discovered that the black spot was in the heart of the 

 cherry and tlie plum, the same as the peach, though not universal. A very 

 few buds developed flowers, and now and then may be seen a cherry, and 

 on some seedling sorts of " Damsons," quite a show of plums,— all marked 

 by the curculio though. Did not know there were any plums until too late 

 to try the lime remedy. 



On perliaps a quarter of my ap])Ie and pear trees there is a great quantity 

 of fruit. On a few trees occasional specimens, but on most trees there 

 were no flowers and consequently no fruit ; but on every tree where I saw 

 flowers, (except nursery trees,) I now find fruit. Indeed I never knew apples 

 and pears " set" better. But I cannot account for the irreg-ularity of bear- 

 ing, — as, in some cases, trees of the same age and tlie same variety, stand* 

 ing side by side, the one will be loaded and the other barren,— 'where 

 both either bore or were alilce unfruitful last year. My White Doyenne (St. 

 Michael) is loaded with fruit. My quinces flowered very full, but the ends 

 of tlie shoots, (generally from two to eight inches) are dying or dead^ We 

 cut off" the blackened ends yesterday. It looks like the work of an insect. 

 My German gardener says, " too much manure." New wood is starting 

 below the disease. 



Our losses in the nursery have been great ; in our spring planting, espe- 

 cially of evergreens. 



We have this season proved the efficacy and even necessity of mulching 

 trees newly planted. One lot of fine yearling pear seedlings, from Geneva, 

 N. Y., came in apparently bad order, quite dry. We covered them lightly 

 (aft;er watering them) in mellow earth, and, after a day or two, planted and 

 covered the whole surface three or four inches deep, with hay, that had been 

 threshed for the seed. Of tliese, we have not lost .10 per cent., while of 

 some not mulched we have lost .75 ; though most of these last had leaf 

 blight last year, and yet they were planted much earlier and Avith greater 

 care, and appeared safer when planted than the mulched ones. 



In a few days, I hope to start on a tour of observation through a portion 

 of our country, and I shall doubtless see many things worth communicating" 

 next month. — Until then, farewell. Your friend, John A. Kinnicott, of the 

 Grove, Illinois. To Dr. E. Iflght. Sccretarij Mass. Hort. Soc. 



Boston Pine Strawberry. — The Boston Pine has fruited with me for 

 the first time this season, and thus far it fully sustains the high character it 

 has acquired with you. — Respectftdli/, yrs., J. Battey, Keeseville, .V. F., 

 July, 1850. 



New Plants from California. — Our old correspondent, W. R. Prince, 

 of Flushing, who has now been a resident of California more than a year, 

 has sent us an interesting communication on the prospects and condition of 

 California, which having more reference to the mining operations now going 

 on, than to agricultural or horticultural matters, we have only room for the 

 concluding portion, in wliich he gives some account of the botanical riches 

 of the country, and the acquisitions lie has made : — 



I will now leave this brancli of California wonderments, and 1 had in- 

 tended to comprise in this communication some account of the agricultural 



VOL. XVI. NO. IX. 54 



