"No. 129.] 151 



Apples. — Of this great staple fruit of our country, I find some 

 varieties mentioned by Malte Brun "vyhich may, perhaps, merit 

 our attention. On the subject of the different species grown in 

 Central Russia, he notices that they were brought from Astrachan, 

 Persia, and other sections of the eastern country. The European 

 kinds are very rare. The apple of Kircusk^ though very large, 

 is agreeable to the taste, and some of them weigh from three to 

 four pounds. The transparmt apple, to which I would particu- 

 larly call your attention, thrives in the governments of Vladimer 

 and Moscow ; it is said to have been imported from China, though 

 many consider it indigenous to the Crimea. This apple is so 

 permeable to light that the seeds are distinctly seen through it. 



It is not a little extraordinary that the gardiners of Rostorn, in 

 the government of Jaroslau, are superior to any in Europe. 

 Though unaided by the lights of science, and without resources, 

 contending againit a rigorous climate, they supply the entire 

 cities of St. Petersburgh and Moscow with every variety of early 

 vegetable. It is probable, however, that these industrious mea 

 are the descendants of a foreign colony; as the real Russian 

 gives himself but little trouble about such pursuits. 



Scottish Orchards. — Cobbett, speaking of the Scottish orchards, 

 describes them as sources of prodigious profit. All the space 

 ground is planted with gooseberries, currants and, in some situa- 

 tions, with raspberries, the whole of which are kept entirely clear 

 from weeds and spurs that the air may have thorough access to 

 the fruit and branches, so that tlie berries are kept from what we 

 call sioeat or scurf. This is worthy of remembrance. These 

 orchards frequently realize from £80 to XI 00 sterling per acre; 

 and Mr. Gavin, of Hamilton, told Cobbett that his orchard, less 

 in extent than an English acre, yielded him in good seasons <£80 

 clear profit. Proprietors frequently sell by auction the fruit of 

 ten or a dozen acres at prices closely approaching .£100 per acre. 

 Tlie French champaign growers (!) are notorious for their com- 

 mercial visits to the pear countries in England, and particularly 

 Hereford, when they sweep off all they can purchase for the use 

 of their wine factories in their native countries. 



