124 The Canadian Horticulturist. 



VARIETIES OF PRUNES. 



Sir, — Would you be so kind as to inform us whether the Italian prune, French prune, 

 Prune d'Agen and Fellemburg are the same, or names of different varieties ? 



Allan Bros, Winona, Ont. 



The Fellemburg is an Italian prune, and the Prune d'Agen is a French 

 prune. The terms Italian, French and German prune are somewhat general, 

 and may each include several varieties, having similar characteristics. For 

 instance, there is a variety of the German prune grown at Collingwood, known 

 as Baker's German Prune, which is counted by them the most profitable plum 

 that can be grown in that district for market. 



There is a prune known as the French prune or Petite prune, a good bearer 

 and excellent for drying, but it is not of as good quality as the Prune d'Agen, 

 and not as hardy. Mr. Felix Gillet, a famous plum grower of California, says 

 of the latter : " This is the kind that produces the famous French prune, shipped 

 all over the world from Bordeaux ; it is the very variety cultivated in the great 

 prune district of the Lot, with Agen for an entrep6t. It is of medium to large 

 size, sometimes quite large ; and generally pear-shaped, tapering toward the 

 stem. Very productive." It must be grown on the plum root. 



THE MOUNTAIN BEET APPLE. 



Sir, -I see in our Horticulturist for the year 1878, page 50, Dr. Hoskins describes 

 an apple called the Mountain Beet. Can you give any information about it ? I have been 

 looking for a report of it, but have never seen it spoken of since. 



J. Pegg, Kolafore. 



Reply by Dr. Hoskins, Newport, Vt. 



Regarding the apple called Mountain Beet, I regard it simply as a curiosity 

 in having a red flesh. It has no particular value otherwise, and like so many 

 Quebec apples, it suffers greatly from the spot fungus. 



PEARS FOR THE NORTH. 



Sir,— Will you please tell us throiigh the Horticulturist, what would be the two 

 best kinds of pears for this section of country ? 



L. Pasche, Bryson, Qtie. 



Among our first quality pears, there is perhaps none, more often com- 

 mended for northern sections, than the Flemish Beauty, for, although worthless 

 in southern Ontario, on account of the scab, it is one of the best at the north. 

 The late Charles Gibb recommended it for the Province of Quebec, and, in 

 addition, the following three : Clapp's Favorite, Oswego Beurr^ and St. Ghislain. 



