BOTANICAL INDEX. 
70 
fnsely in early Spring, flowers white, in panicles, and reddish purple fruit much 
smaller and less abundant than the dwarf form. 
I have another Amelanchier sent me from Bloomington, 111., as Dwarf Service, but 
the fruit, which is produced in clusters of ten to twenty, is small, about one-quarter 
of an inch in diameter, black, astringent, and of no value here. It ripens in August 
and hangs on the plant till frost. 
A favorite plan of the Indians in preparing this fruit for future use is to take a 
tub holding twenty or thirty gallons, on the bottom of which bark of the spruce 
tree is placed; upon this bark a quantity of berries is laid; stones nearly red hot are 
next laid on ; then another layer of berries, then hot stones, and so on until the tub 
is tilled. The whole is then allowed to remain untouched for six hours, when the 
fruit will be thoroughly cooked. It is then taken out, crushed between the hands, 
and spread on splinters of wood tied together for that purpose, over a slow lire, and 
while it is drying the juice which was pressed out in cooking in the tub is rubbed 
over the berries. After two or three days’ drying they will keep a long time, and 
are very palatable, more so when a few huckleberries are mixed with them. 
E. Y. Teas. 
Dunreith, Ind., Aug. BO, 1879. 
THE MARSHALL PEAR. 
BY P. II. FOSTER, BABYLON, LONG ISLAND. 
HE above named little known Pear, is now being introduced to the horticul- 
% tural world through the Babylon nurseries, of P. H. Foster, Babylon, Long 
Island ; and a history of its origin may he interesting to our readers. It was 
fUjwfgi first noticed by J. T. Whipple, a nurseryman living in Washington County, 
N. Y., on the farm of Mr. Mar- 
^ shall, but as Mr. Whipple soon 
after gave up the nursery business and 
removed to Long Island, its distri- 
bution as a new fruit, was delayed a 
number of years. Mr Whipple, how- 
ever, brought scions of this Pear to 
his new home, and upon its fruiting, 
it attracted the favorable attention of 
Mr. Foster, who is so delighted with 
its merit and worth, that lie has prop- 
agated quite a stock, which lie is now 
distributing, with the fullest assur- 
ance of a really worthy, new variety. 
The above cut simply slfows the 
shape of this most excellent fruit, 
and its full size. Mr. Whipple, the 
original discoverer of it says: — “I 
consider it as good a bearer, and of 
better quality than the Bartlett.” — 
John Robbins, Esq., of Babylon says : 
— “As to quality, it stands as number 
one on my list.” — Thomas Meehan, 
Esq., editor of the Gardener’s Month- 
ly, says: — “Few Pears will exeell it 
in flavor; we regard it as a valuable 
acquisition, and we say this, knowing 
full well that the list of Pears recom- 
mended for cultivation is already too 
large.” 
The tree is moderately vigorous, 
very productive, fruit rather large, 
bell-shaped, greenish, russet yellow 
when ripe, thin skins; flesh white, 
juicy, buttery, flavor neither sweet 
nor sour; about ten days later than 
the Bartlett, as good a bearer, and 
better fruit; smooth, does not crack 
nor canker, and is always much ad- 
mired when growing and when ripe. m „ , „ D 
00 i F 10 . 152. — The Marshall Pear. 
