152 



THE FLORIST AND P0M0L0GIST. 



hearts (arrd their number is legion, as the responses to appeals so loudly 

 testify), help the honest, loyal, factory-workers ; mark how patiently are borne 

 evils that they have had no hand in raising ; give them of your abundance, 

 and the blessing of him that was ready to perish, as well as of the widow and 

 orphan, will bring down Heaven's favour upon you and yours. Pardon these 

 few extraneous words, but the thoughts toould find utterance. 



It was to one of these operatives (a plain, rough, but well-read and intelligent 

 man), that I applied for a solution to the question. I sent the paragraph witb 

 suitable explanations. He replies thus : — " Besides my own knowledge [and 

 he is a colour-maker at a large print-works], I have made many inquiries 

 respecting ' Dye Apples.' There is not an atom of truth in the assertion that 

 the juice is used for the fixing of colours, or used in any way thereto. I have 

 asked one friend who, you know, served his apprenticeship with Professor 

 Calvert, of Manchester [a man of notoriety as a chemist], and he says that 

 both Calvert and O'Neil [another celebrated chemist in Manchester], affirm 

 that there is not the slightest truth in the statement ; it was simply a hoax 

 upon the public to make a rise in Apples. It was noticed in the local papers 

 at the time ; I have not them by me, or you should have them. You must know 

 that the new colours (mauve and magenta), are made from gas tar. If this note 

 is of any service I shall be glad*." And there is nothing left me but to echo 

 the same wish. 



Radcliffe-on- Trent, near Nottingham. N. H. Pownall. 



MITCHELSON'S PLUM. 



WITH AN" ILLUSTRATION. 



This valuable Plum was raised many years ago by Mr. Mitchelson, a 

 market-gardener and nurseryman at Kingston-on-Thames. Its origin is said 

 to have been from the seed of a Damson ; but whether that is correct or not 

 cannot now be ascertained. That it has all the appearance of being an ame- 

 liorated form of the Damson there cannot be a doubt, for both the habit of the 

 tree and the dense masses of fruit that are produced lead to that conclusion. 

 The tree is remarkably hardy and bears enormous crops almost every year in 

 sxiccession. Of late years this has become a great favourite among some of the 

 leading market-gardeners about London, who find in it one of the most profit- 

 able varieties for market purposes. For the last three seasons we have our- 

 selves seen it prodvicing such masses of fruit that the branches of the trees 

 have required support. Whether as a dessert Plum or for culinary purposes 

 it is equally useful, but more particularly so as a cooking variety. It makes 

 an excellent preserve, which has a fine deep purple colour, and very rich and 

 sprightly flavour. 



Fruit above medium size, oval, not marked with a suture on the side. Skin 

 black when fully ripe, dotted with a few very minute fawn-coloured dots, and 

 covered with a very thin blue bloom. Stalk half an inch long, stout, and 

 inserted in a depression. Flesh yellow, tender, very juicy, sweet, and of good 

 flavour, separating from the stone. Shoots smooth. 



An excellent preserving Plum. Ripe in the beginning of September. In 

 general appearance it is like the Diamond, but smaller, and does not possess 

 that very brisk acidity Avhich characterises that variety. It is a prodigious 

 bearer, the fruit being produced in clusters, and it is invaluable as a market 

 Plum. 



