120 o ee 
forms ; but I suppose they have not been systematically attended 
to. Their extreme liability to black-knot and other attacks renders 
them for the present unpromising. 
Finally, if pomology includes mith, there is a promising field- 
uncultivated. Our wild chestnuts are sweeter than those of the- 
old world; it would be well to try whether races might not be 
developed with the nuts as large as marrons or Spanish chestnuts, 
and without diminution of flavor. If we were not too easily sat- 
isfied with a mere choice among spontaneous hickory. nuts, we 
might have much better and thinner shelled ones. Varying a8 
they do excessively in the thickness of the shell and in the size 
and flavor of the kernel, they aré inviting your attention, and 
promising to reward your care. The pecan is waiting to have the 
bitter matter between the shell and the kernel bred out ; the but- 
ternuts and black walnuts to have their excess of oil turned into 
‘farinaceous and sugary matter, and their ‘shells thinned and 
smoothed by continued good breeding; when they will ogo sur- 
pass the European walnut. 
All this requires time, almost unlimited time ; but it is not for 
` those who are enjoying the fruits which it has taken thousands 
years to perfect, to refrain. from the good work which is to increase 
, the enjoyments of far future 2 pet ‘Gray, in Horti 
 elturiii. 
/ 
-= 
ae 
? ZOOLOGY. 
CAPTURE OF A GIGANTIC SQUID AT Eia pr 
the following letter from Mr. Murray, of the Canadian Geolog 
a Bere, kindly forwarded to us by Professor Agassiz shortly be 
a — fore his death : an 
: Sr. J. NEWFOUNDLAND, Nov. 10, 1873. 
“My Deas Sir :—The following account of a remarkable marine 
. monster, which made its appearance off the shores of this islan¢ 
` and of a severed arm or tentacle of the same, now in my poss 
m on) I dare say be interesting to you, and also to Prof. 4 
as m I should like to offer it. 
Oi or pen the 25th of October last, while a man by the: 
ae ‘aon Picot was engaged at his usual occupation of 
ae 
_ water, which ata distance he supposed to be a sail, or the 
“of some wreck, but which proved upon nearer inspection to 
: dowed with T life. age on worl that the object was 
