HORTICULTURAL JOURNAL. 377 



tion it so richly merited. Concerning it, however, we may remark generally, 

 that it indicated either a peculiar pomological adaptation in the soil and cli- 

 mate of Beaver county, or extraordinary skill in fruit culture, on the part of 

 Mr. Thornily — probably both. 



From P. R. Freas, Fsq., of the Germnntown Telegraph — Large and beau- 

 tiful specimensof two varieties of Pears. 



1. Vicar of W 'ink [field ',' or le Cure. The size, productiveness, and uniform 

 bearing tendency of this variety fully entitle it to be ranked in quality "very 

 good." 



2. Doyenne d' Hirer. — This name is given as a synonyme of the Easter 

 Beurre by the London Horticultural' Society, and of the Easter Bergamot 

 by Andre Leroy,«of Angers. The Easter Beurre is a Winter Pear, of the 

 "best" quality, when properly ripened, It must be confessed, however, that 

 our knowledge of the pear ripening process, of the Winter varieties, is ex- 

 ceedingly defective ; and on this account, it often happens that they fall far 

 short of their intrinsic excellence, at their appropriate season of maturity. 



From Col. Charles R. Belt, of the District of Columbia — Specimens of 

 Belt's Hybrid Walnut. The history and appearance of this unique and 

 interesting hybrid present unequivocal-evidence that it is a natural cross 

 between the Butternut (Juglans cinerea,) and the English Walnut ( Juglans 

 regia,) the latter being the maternal parent. It originated about twenty 

 years ago at Chevy Chase* the 'residence of Col. Belt, near Washington, 

 District of Columbia, from an English Walnut planted by his brother, Capt. 

 Wm. I. Belt, late of the United States Navy. Capt. Belt procured the nut 

 from an English Walnut tree in the garden of Mrs. Bowie, of Prince 

 George's County, Maryland. Within a few hundred yards of Mrs. Bowie's 

 residence, grew a number of Butternut trees, some of the pollen from tile 

 blossoms of which had n*> doubt been wafted by the wind, or conveyed by in- 

 sects to the English Walnut tree in the garden and occasioned hybridism. 

 After the nut had sprouted, Col. Beit took it up and replanted it in the lo- 

 cality it at present occupies.- The tree is a vigorous grower, and is repre- 

 sented as being exceedingly ornamental. 1852 it fruited for the first time; 

 and in September of the same year, specimens of the nuts, with the w T ood 

 and foliage, were exhibited by Mr. Joshua Pierce, of Washington, at the 

 meeting of the American Pomological Society, in Philadelphia. The nut, 

 in its general appearance, differs very materially from any others of the 

 Juglans family : — size, large, one and three-fourths inches long, one and 

 seven-twelfths wide, and one thick, exclusive of the remarkable carena, ele- 

 vated a fourth of an inch above the surface and extending entirely around 

 its longitudinal circumference ; form, ovate, pointed at its apex; exterior 

 surface, deeply and boldly, but interruptedly and irregularly sulcated, with- 

 out having the continuous longitudinal furrows usually noticed in the But- 

 ternut ; color, light brownish yellow ; kernel fine. Mr. Pierce has succeed- 

 ed in two instances in grafting this variety on the English Walnut. What 

 has been the success of others, in propagating it, to whom scions were sent, 

 we are not informed. It is extremely difficult to graft the Walnut in any 

 of the ordinary ways. Owing to the excitability of its buds, they are apt 



48 



