3o8 



WIND FA LLS. 



grandest of all Oriental fruits. Was brought over by 

 the ex-Governor. 



Burbank — This is a fine variety, which I have fruited. 

 Described as follows : The fruit is usually from 5 to 

 •^Yz inches in crcumference, and varying less in size 

 than any other Japan plum ; nearly globular, clear, 

 cherry red, with a thin lilac bloom ; the flesh is a deep 

 yellow color, very sweet, with a peculiar and very 

 agreeable flavor. The tree is a vigorous grower, and 

 large and rattier broad leaves ; commences to bear usu- 

 ally at two years old. This plum was named by H. E. 

 Van Deman, chief of the U. S. Department of Pomo- 

 logy, in honor of the introducer. 



Japan CJierry (dormant bud) — Not fruited yet with 

 me ; a vigorous grower on the Mariana plum stock. 



Hattonkin A^o. /. — A beautiful straw-colored plum, 

 twice the size of the Wild Goose, and ripening the 

 latter part of May ; a delicious plum, and will become 

 very popular when better known. 



I now have thirty varieties of Japanese plums in my 

 orchard. 



The Kawachi Orange, which was illustrated in the 

 February issue (page 119) promises to be a valuable 

 fruit. A specimen sent to us was sweet and pulpy, al- 

 though too green to enable us to judge fully of its merits. 



J. L. Normand, of Marksville, Louisiana, the intro- 

 ducer, considers it an acquisition. 



New Michigan Grapes. — C. Engle, of Paw Paw, 

 Michigan, has made a careful endeavor for many years to 

 procure new varieties of fruits. His best new grapes are 

 thus described by one of our leading pomologists. 



Herta — Bunch medium, compact ; berry black with 

 a reddish tinge, large, round, juicy, sweet ; pulp rather 

 tough, slightly foxy ; season medium ; good. 



Elaine — Bunch rather loose ; berry medium, dark pur- 

 plish red, with bluish-white bloom, juicy, very rich, 

 sweet, sprightly ; pulp very tender ; aftertaste, astrin- 

 gent ; very good ; early. 



Piilpless Black — Bunch slightly loose ; berry medium, 

 round, black with blue bloom ; skin thin ; juicy, vinous, 

 high flavored, rich, sprightly, nearly pulpless ; very 

 good to best. 



Honey — Bunch rather small, loose ; berry round, white, 

 almost translucent ; bloom thin, whitish ; skin thin, tough, 

 astringent ; sweet, pleasant, not rich ; pulp tender ; good. 



Iris — Bunch above medium, long, compact ; berry 

 above medium, round, dark amber ; bloom thin bluish ; 

 skin rather thin, firm ; pulp slightly tough ; meaty, slight- 

 ly astringent, rich, foxy ; good. Berries were dropping 

 from the stems. 



Vesta — Bunch above medium, long, shouldered , rather 

 ompact ; berry greenish white, with whitish bloom, 

 .arge, round ; skin medium, juicy, vinous, rich, slightly 

 acid at center ; pulp tender ; very good. 



Metis — Bunch rather small, short, not very compact, 

 sometimes shouldered ; berry medium to large, dark red 

 with whitish bloom ; skin thick, juicy ; flavor high, vin- 

 ous ; pulp rather tough ; good. 



Giiinevra — Bunch large, long, very compact, some- 

 times shouldered ; berry above medium, round, pale. 



greenish white, with whitish bloom ; skin thick, tough • 

 juice vinous, rather acid (perhaps not fully mature) ; 

 pulp rather tough ; scarcely good. 



Michigan — Bunch long, sometimes shouldered, com- 

 pact ; berry medium or above ; greenish or yellowish 

 white, with whitish bloom ; juice sweet, vinous, sprightly, 

 rich; pulp tender slightly astringent; very good. — T. 

 7. lyon, in Allegan [Mick.) Gazette. 



Sizes of Peach Baskets. — The following is part of 

 a discussion before the South Haven and Casco (Mich.) 

 Pomological Society : After the report of the committee 

 there was a lively discussion, some expressing surprise 

 that the honest fruit grower should still persist in trying to 

 cheat the consumer with small packages, against the law 

 and common honesty, by saying the consumer could not 

 tell the difference between fourth and fifth bushel baskets 

 and the grower got the same price for each. It was 

 agreed that if we stamp ours "full pecks," with our 

 name as a guarantee, we could sell them quicker when 

 side by side with the fifths and for a better price. The 

 commission men are already pointing out the difference 

 between the fourth and fifth baskets to their customers. 



Sonie propose that the manufacturer stamp the pack- 

 age "full peck," for we are not ashamed to stamp on 

 our goods just what they are and put our names to it. 



The cost of shipping a bushel of peaches was consid- 

 ered, and for basket, tarltan, freight and drayage it cost 

 us just ten cents more for a bushel in the fifth packages 

 than for one in full pecks, and the price from numerous 

 instances was just the same per bushel. Some thought 

 we might reduce expenses by leaving off the tarltan, but 

 it was shown that at present the tarltan was necessary 

 to hold the peaches in place and it also improves the 

 appearance of the package. 



Japanese Fruits. — I am much interested in Professor 

 Georgeson's articles on Japanese fruits, and I want to 

 know who is to introduce them into this country. — B. B. 

 Illinois. 



[Some concerted effort should be made to obtain all 

 the promising fruits of eastern Asia. Many of the spe- 

 cies are now upon our markets, but the best varieties of 

 some of them are probably entirely unknown to us. The 

 Government could afford to introduce them, and it 

 might even pay a commercial establishment to make an 

 effort to bring in a complete list. The ornamental plants 

 are quite as important as the fruit plants. There is at 

 present a great interest in Japanese plants, and we should 

 like to see an effort made to introduce them.] 



Should be Better Known. — The following discus- 

 sion took place before the last meeting of the Michigan 

 Horticultural Society : 



Professor Tracy : Sugar beets are simply sweet. 

 They have not fine flavor and are not best for the table. 



Mr. Reid : The Scarlet Horn carrots should be 

 more generally grown for the table. They are best 

 while young, and are then a real delicacy. Kale is 

 another vegetable too little known. It's culture is sim- 

 ple, its growth strong, and, cooked as cabbage, its flavor 

 is delicious. 



