248 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



light yellow blush, flecked with small red spots, is of medium 

 size, reverse pear shaped, the calix in a deep cup, stem short 

 and set in a deep cup, the flesh juicy and rich. I consider it a 

 valuable apple, and shall be glad to furnish members of the club 

 with scions for grafting. 



Several members tested this, and considered it a very rich 

 apple. 



R. G. Pardee. — This is almost identical with a sort in Western 

 New York, somtimes sold as the Talman Sweeting, and never 

 objected to by purchasers when they find that it is not the Tal- 

 man, as it is really superior. I find this has the same peculiar 

 flavor. The only objection is its size. 



THE POTATO DISEASE. 



Solon Robinson. — This disease has made its appearance this 

 year in a very modified form. May we hope that the day of its 

 great ravages have gone by ! I hear of it here and there in 

 Westchester county, slightly affecting some of the varieties. 

 With me, the peach-blows, after having been dug some time, 

 have rotted a little ; but worst of all, four varieties of new seed- 

 ling potatoes, which I mentioned at one of the meetings of the 

 club last spring as having been sent to me for trial. One of the 

 white sorts nearly all rotted before they were dug. A dark- 

 colored variety, and a long kind, like the Prince Albert, have not 

 rotted, but they are not valuable for cooking at present ; possibly 

 they may improve before spring. The very best variety that I 

 have ever cultivated is the Davis seedling. It is a light red 

 potato, roundish form, medium size, and the tubers are very dense, 

 weighing more to the bushel than any other sort I know of. The 

 .only complaint I ever heard about them in my family is that they 

 won't hold together to cook. This is true in some measure ; for 

 if peeled before boiling, the outside often flakes off" before the 

 center is sufficiently cooked, and when the potatoes come to the 

 table they have to be handled with a spoon. The flesh cooks 

 very white, and is excellent to the taste. There is a little 

 prejudice against this variety on account of the color of the 

 skin. Some people have a prejudice against all dark-colored 

 skins. 



Wm. S. Carpenter. — The peach-blows and Mercers, in the east 

 part of Westchester county, have rotted very badly. I hear of 

 one man on Long Island that lost 400 barrels. Mr. Carpenter 



