1863.1 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST 
resemble the Downing, but do not have that 
sprightliness of flavor which makes this variety 
so desirable. The fruit is about an inch and-a- 
half long, half an inch in diameter, and black 
when fully ripe. The tree is hardy, very vigor- 
ous, a rapid grower, and is also ornamental ; 
leaves, very large, heart-shaped, often ten inches 
long and seven broad. It is said to be a seedling 
of the Morns Multicaulis,' which it very much 
resembles in foliage, but it has not the peculi- 
arity of the mnlticaulis, of growing readily 
from cuttings. We are not aware of any one 
having succeeded in growing it in any quan- 
tity in that manner. The most successful 
method has been to graft it on roots of other va- 
rieties, performing the operation in the months 
of March and April, under glass. In this man- 
ner every graft can be made to grow, and as 
soon as they have become firmly united to the 
stock, they may be planted out into the open 
ground. The planting should always be de- 
ferred until all danger of frost is past. It may 
also be grafted or budded upon stocks in the 
open ground, at the usual time for budding and 
grafting other trees. We know several instances 
where this has been practised with moderate 
success. The fruit begins to ripen in this vi- 
cinity by the middle of Juue, and continues 
without intermission until the middle of August, 
thus filling up the space between the strawber- 
ry and grape. It is too soft for market purposes, 
and has one other serious fault, viz.: the stem of 
the fruit adheres to it so firmly that it must be 
either cut off or eaten with the berry, as it can 
not be pulled off without breaking the pulp. 
Severe Treatment for Peach Trees. 
A correspondent, Samuel Godshall, of Hub- 
bard, O., seeing hot water noticed as a remedy 
for diseased peach trees, in the Agriculturist for 
January, sends an account of his experience 
which, like the others, is published for those 
who wish to make an experiment. It strikes us 
as rather a severe remedy. If the heat did not 
kill the tree it would be quite sure to destroy 
the grubs. It may be that the killing of the 
grubs is due to the potash contained in the 
ashes, and that cold ashes would be as effica- 
cious. At any rate the potash contained in the 
ashes would be useful as a manure to the tree, 
y Some years ago, I had a large peach tree 
standing in the corner of my garden. When it 
put out in the spring the leaves were yellow, 
knotty, and curled ; every thing indicated that 
the tree must die. When digging that part of 
my garden, I concluded I would try an experi- 
ment on the old tree. I took my shovel and 
bared the roots for more than a foot round the 
body of the tree. I then carried three large 
shovelfuls of hot hickory coals and ashes, threw 
them on the roots, and immediately covered 
(hem up with the fresh dirt. I noticed immedi- 
ately a great steam rising from the roots. In a 
few days the tree cast off its leaves, and put out 
afresh, and before harvest it was covered with a 
dark green foliage, and year after year while I 
lived on that property, that old tree was the ad- 
miration of all who saw it, both in fruit and fo- 
liage. Since that time my cure for the peach tree 
is hot coals and ashes, and I have always found 
it a success. I have on my lot at this time a 
small orchard of perhaps as healthy peacli trees 
as can be found in the State of Ohio. And my 
mode of treating young trees is, in the Spring to 
examine the roots, and if I see signs of grub, to 
apply the hot ashes immediately, and through 
the season apply night soil." 
The Great California Pear. 
This pomological monster, the anticipated ar- 
rival of which was announced in the February 
American Agriculturist, came safely to hand — 
thanks to the careful packing of Col. Warren, 
and the courtesy of Wells, Fargo & Co. It 
was placed on our Exhibition Tables, and was 
examined by many thousands, and we have 
had it engraved for the benefit of other tens of 
thousands who were not able to see the origi- 
nal. The engraving is of the exact size, and 
gives a very faithful representation of the pear. 
It is 20 inches in circumference one way, 16 
the other, and weighed here 3 lbs. 7 ozs. A 
model in wax, colored by Dr. Newberry, so truth- 
fully that many were in doubt which was the 
original — is still on exhibition. No information 
as to the variety of the pear, accompanied it. 
A committee of the Fruit Growers' meeting was 
appointed to test it, Jan. 20, but decay had pro- 
gressed so far that they were unable to form a 
satisfactory opinion. It was thought by some 
of the committee that, notwithstanding the dis- 
similarity of form, it was a monstrous specimen 
of the old Pound Pear. Whatever it may be, il 
has certainly been very interesting to amateurs 
in fruits, and others, and our thanks are due to 
Dr. Bellows, to whom it was sent by Thomas 
Brown, Esq., and to all who participated in eny 
abling us to show what the wonderful soil and 
climate of California can produce in the way of 
