152 [Assembly 



We have some spleudid apples in America j but I fear we do 

 not experiment sufficiently in our grafts and flower buds, or we 

 should surely root out every poor and unprofitable apple in the 

 country. The advantage of these continual experiments was 

 shown at the Guernsey Fruit Exhibition last fall (1847) where a 

 Chaumontel pear was presented from a graft on a quince stock, 

 weighing two pounds four ounces and-a-half avoirdupois. No 

 artificial means had been employed to increase the weight of the 

 fruitj of which there was in addition a fair crop on the tree. 



With respect to these experiments in grafting, particularly in 

 hybrids, we may refer at once to the successful results of the 

 strawberry on the Eglantine, recorded, if I mistake not, in the 

 reports of your institution ; and I am induced to believe that 

 vast improvements can yet be made in our peach orchards^hoih. in 

 size and quality, by a continued series of crosses and experiments 

 on hardy stocks of plums, apples, pears, and quinces of an acid 

 quality; this I believe to be an essential observance in order to 

 prevent deterioration in flavor. 



I have the pleasure of stating that a new J^eciarvie has re- 

 cently been introduced into England from Syria. It is called 

 the Stanwick Nectarine, and is recommended in almost extrava- 

 gant terms. It is pronounced by the best fruit growers, in ex- 

 ©ellence as far beyond all other nectarines, as a green-gage is be- 

 yond all other plums. The flesh is white, exceedingly tender, 

 juicy, rich and sugary, and without tlic slightest trace of the 

 prussic-acid flavor. 



Melons. — The next I find on my list is the melon, a noble fruit, 

 could we but add an acid to the flavor ; and I do not see why 

 we could not accomplish even this, by mixing the pollen of dif- 

 ferent varieties, or even of extraneous fruits. The melon is 

 especially rejected by some on account of its sickly sweetness ; 

 now a process by which this fruit could be acidulated would re- 

 move every objection even of the most fastidious. 



On the subject of frame culture I may mention, that white 

 glass is found highly disadvantageous as admitting the scorching 

 rays of the sun ; this is now remedied by employing green glass 



